Psalms 64:5 (KJV)

What does Psalms 64:5 mean?

Psalms 64:5 describes people who plot together to do wrong, secretly planning traps for others and convincing themselves that no one will notice their schemes. The verse highlights how these people encourage each other in their evil plans and believe their actions will go unseen.

In this psalm, David is speaking about those who oppose him, describing how they work together in secret to harm others. The verse gives a glimpse into the mindset of these plotters: they not only plan evil (using the word for "evil," רַע — raʿ), but they also reassure each other and discuss their plans in detail, convinced that their hidden actions will escape detection.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 64:5

• "Encourage" (חָזַק — chazaq): This word means to strengthen or make firm. Here, it shows that these people are actively building each other up in their wrongdoing, not just passively going along.
• "Commune" (סָפַר — saphar): This word often means to count or recount, but here it carries the sense of discussing or planning together. It shows that their plotting is deliberate and organized.
• "Privily" (צָפַן — tsaphan): This word means to hide or conceal. The verse emphasizes that their traps are set in secret, not out in the open, highlighting the sneaky nature of their actions.

Why Psalms 64:5 matters

• The verse helps clarify that the evil described is not accidental or impulsive; it is carefully planned and encouraged among a group.
• By showing the confidence of the plotters ("Who shall see them?"), the verse reveals a key theme in the psalm: the arrogance of those who do wrong and their belief that they can avoid consequences.
• This verse connects to the wider passage by setting up the contrast between human scheming and God's ability to see and judge what is hidden, a theme that unfolds in the following verses.