The Meaning of Psalms 15:4 Explained

Psalms 15:4

KJV: In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.

YLT: Despised in his eyes is a rejected one, And those fearing Jehovah he doth honour. He hath sworn to suffer evil, and changeth not;

Darby: In whose eyes the depraved person is contemned, and who honoureth them that fear Jehovah; who, if he have sworn to his own hurt, changeth it not;

ASV: In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honoreth them that fear Jehovah; He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

In whose eyes  a vile person  is contemned;  but he honoureth  them that fear  the LORD.  [He that] sweareth  to [his own] hurt,  and changeth  not. 

What does Psalms 15:4 Mean?

Study Notes

fear
fear of the Lord
The "fear of the Lord," a phrase of the O.T. piety, meaning reverential trust, with hatred of evil.

Context Summary

Psalms 15:1-5 - The Citizen Of Zion And His Inheritance
The first of these psalms was probably composed to celebrate the bringing of the Ark to Mount Zion, 1 Samuel 6:20. It describes the character of those who have fellowship with God and dwell in His house all the days of their earthly lot. To the challenge of the soloist, Psalms 15:1, the choir makes response, Psalms 15:2-5, first positively, then negatively. We must act as non-conductors to evil; must mind what company we keep; and must cultivate a spirit of love and self-sacrifice which will never take advantage of others, Psalms 15:5. Here is the secret of permanence and peace.
Michtam means "golden," and may be truly applied to the next psalm, as also to Psalms 56:1-13; Psalms 57:1-11; Psalms 58:1-11; Psalms 59:1-17; Psalms 60:1-12. Others explain the word as a "secret." It is the song of the golden secret. The key is furnished in Acts 2:25. The Apostle Paul expressly emphasizes the divine authorship in Acts 13:35-38. Our Lord may have repeated Psalms 16:8-11 when He was descending the dark valley, and so may we. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 15

1  David describes a citizen of Zion

What do the individual words in Psalms 15:4 mean?

Is despised in whose eyes a vile person but those who fear Yahweh He honors He [who] swears to his own hurt and not does change
נִבְזֶ֤ה ׀ בְּֽעֵ֘ינָ֤יו נִמְאָ֗ס וְאֶת־ יִרְאֵ֣י יְהוָ֣ה יְכַבֵּ֑ד נִשְׁבַּ֥ע לְ֝הָרַ֗ע וְלֹ֣א יָמִֽר

נִבְזֶ֤ה ׀  Is  despised 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בָּזָה 
Sense: to despise, hold in contempt, disdain.
בְּֽעֵ֘ינָ֤יו  in  whose  eyes 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, cdc, third person masculine singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
נִמְאָ֗ס  a  vile  person 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: מָאַס 
Sense: to reject, despise, refuse.
יִרְאֵ֣י  those  who  fear 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct
Root: יָרֵא  
Sense: fearing, reverent, afraid.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
יְכַבֵּ֑ד  He  honors 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּבֵד  
Sense: to be heavy, be weighty, be grievous, be hard, be rich, be honourable, be glorious, be burdensome, be honoured.
נִשְׁבַּ֥ע  He  [who]  swears 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: to swear, adjure.
לְ֝הָרַ֗ע  to  his  own  hurt 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: מֵרֵעַ 
Sense: to be bad, be evil.
וְלֹ֣א  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יָמִֽר  does  change 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּר 
Sense: to change, exchange.