The Meaning of Psalms 11:5 Explained

Psalms 11:5

KJV: The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

YLT: Jehovah the righteous doth try. And the wicked and the lover of violence, Hath His soul hated,

Darby: Jehovah trieth the righteous one; but the wicked, and him that loveth violence, his soul hateth.

ASV: Jehovah trieth the righteous; But the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The LORD  trieth  the righteous:  but the wicked  and him that loveth  violence  his soul  hateth. 

What does Psalms 11:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Lord"s testing refers to Him examining the righteous and the wicked. He sets Himself against people who love what He hates, including violence, in opposition to His will.

Context Summary

Psalms 11:1-7 - God Our Refuge And Defense
The first of these is a debate between fear and faith, and dates from Saul's persecutions. Timid friends, anxious for David's safety, urged him to flee to the mountains. Such counsels of expediency are frequently given to the servants of God, Nehemiah 6:1-19. Luther's diaries are full of such references. But unless our duty is performed, we must stand our ground; we "can do no other." We must remember that God's love is with us, and that He always exchanges glances of love with His suffering ones. Compare Psalms 11:7 with Exodus 3:7.
The opening words of the next psalm appeal for help in bad and evil days. See Micah 7:2. A double heart is literally "a heart and a heart," Psalms 12:2. Let us be true in act and speech, else we forfeit the Spirit of truth, Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9. Our sighing will make God arise, Acts 7:56. We shall be helped and kept, Psalms 12:7 and Isaiah 54:17. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 11

1  David encourages himself in God against his enemies
4  The providence and justice of God

What do the individual words in Psalms 11:5 mean?

Yahweh the righteous tests but the wicked and the one who loves violence hates His soul
יְהוָה֮ צַדִּ֪יק יִ֫בְחָ֥ן וְ֭רָשָׁע וְאֹהֵ֣ב חָמָ֑ס שָֽׂנְאָ֥ה נַפְשֽׁוֹ

יְהוָה֮  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
צַדִּ֪יק  the  righteous 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
יִ֫בְחָ֥ן  tests 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּחַן  
Sense: to examine, try, prove.
וְ֭רָשָׁע  but  the  wicked 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
וְאֹהֵ֣ב  and  the  one  who  loves 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: אָהַב  
Sense: to love.
חָמָ֑ס  violence 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חָמָס  
Sense: violence, wrong, cruelty, injustice.
שָֽׂנְאָ֥ה  hates 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׂנֵא  
Sense: to hate, be hateful.
נַפְשֽׁוֹ  His  soul 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.