The Meaning of Psalms 26:4 Explained

Psalms 26:4

KJV: I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.

YLT: I have not sat with vain men, And with dissemblers I enter not.

Darby: I have not sat with vain persons, neither have I gone in with dissemblers;

ASV: I have not sat with men of falsehood; Neither will I go in with dissemblers.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I have not sat  with vain  persons,  neither will I go in  with dissemblers. 

What does Psalms 26:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 26:1-12 - A Declaration Of Loyalty To God
In some respects this psalm resembles the previous one, only, instead of entreaties for forgiveness, there are protestations of innocence. It may have been composed during Absalom's rebellion, and contains a strenuous protest against the dissembling and hypocrisy upon which that revolt was based. In these avowals of conscious rectitude, it should be borne in mind that David did not mean to claim absolute sinlessness, but rather to declare his innocence of the specific charges with which he had been assailed.
We all need the laver of purification mentioned in Psalms 26:6-7. Or better, let us repair to our Lord, who still washes the feet of His disciples, as in John 13:1-38. Hatred to evil men is one side of the coin; love to God's house, the reverse. Either implies the other. However firm our foot seems to stand, we all need the redeeming mercy and grace of God. Ah, the riches of His gentle goodness! Ephesians 2:7. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 26

1  David resorts to God in confidence of his integrity

What do the individual words in Psalms 26:4 mean?

Not I have sat with mortals idolatrous and with hypocrites nor will I go in
לֹא־ יָ֭שַׁבְתִּי עִם־ מְתֵי־ שָׁ֑וְא וְעִ֥ם נַ֝עֲלָמִ֗ים לֹ֣א אָבֽוֹא

יָ֭שַׁבְתִּי  I  have  sat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
מְתֵי־  mortals 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מֹת 
Sense: male, man.
שָׁ֑וְא  idolatrous 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁוְא  
Sense: emptiness, vanity, falsehood.
וְעִ֥ם  and  with 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
נַ֝עֲלָמִ֗ים  hypocrites 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: עָלַם  
Sense: to conceal, hide, be hidden, be concealed, be secret.
לֹ֣א  nor 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
אָבֽוֹא  will  I  go  in 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.