Psalms 15:4
in Psalms 15who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
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
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.
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This verse in Psalms 15
Commentary
5 notes on this verseIn his sight the malignant man is brought to nothing. See what he says. In his sight the malignant man is brought to nothing. Even if he is an emperor, even if he is a prefect, even if he is a bishop, even if he is a presbyter (for in the church these are the dignities), whoever is evil is counted for nothing in the sight of the holy man. And at once there follows, But he glorifies those who fear the Lord.
This site's exposition
honors those who fear the LORD
The man despises the vile and honors those who fear the LORD, and Henry read that honoring as real work, esteem and friendship and gladness when they prosper. The Hebrew verb behind revise means to alter or to barter away. A costly oath stands.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Hurt - To his own damage. As if a man solemnly swear, that he will sell him such an estate at a price below the full worth; or that, he will give a poor man such a sum of money, which afterwards he finds inconvenient to him. Changeth not - His purpose, but continues firm and resolved to perform his promise.
He honours such, esteems them very highly in love, desires their friendship and conversation and an interest in their prayers, is glad of an opportunity to show them respect or do them a good office, pleads their cause and speaks of them with veneration, rejoices when they prosper, grieves when they are removed, and their memory, when they are gone, is precious with him.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
"In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord." We must be as honest in paying respect as in paying our bills. Honour to whom honour is due. To all good men we owe a debt of honour, and we have no right to hand over what is their due to vile persons who happen to be in high places.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
A base person is despised in his eyes One who is base with his wickedness is despised in the eyes of the righteous man, e.g. Hezekiah, who dragged his father’s remains in disgrace.
2 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
He did not slander with his tongue Ankuza in Old French, to accuse, as (in II Sam.:28) “And he slandered (וירגל) your servant.” This psalm is to inform us of the [proper] measure of piety.
nor did he accept a bribe, etc. against a poor man, to condemn him in judgment by judging perversely. Our Sages explained it further to mean that he would not accept a bribe to exonerate him in judgment, and he certainly will not take a bribe to pervert the judgment.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 1 further source is cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
11 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| נִבְזֶ֤ה׀ | nivzeh | [is] despised | H959 → | 44 times |
| בְּֽעֵ֘ינָ֤יו | beeinav | in view his | H5869 → | 887 times |
| נִמְאָ֗ס | nimas | a rejected [person] | H3988 → | 76 times |
| וְאֶת־ | veet | and <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| יִרְאֵ֣י | yirei | [those] fearing | H3373 → | 64 times |
| יְהוָ֣ה | yahweh | <of> Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| יְכַבֵּ֑ד | yekhabed | he honors | H3513 → | 113 times |
| נִשְׁבַּ֥ע | nishba' | he swears | H7650 → | 186 times |
| לְ֝הָרַ֗ע | lehara' | to do harm | H7489 → | 107 times |
| וְלֹ֣א | velo' | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יָמִֽר׃ | yamir | he changes | H4171 → | 14 times |
נִבְזֶ֤ה׀[is] despised
nivzehH959 →44 times
בְּֽעֵ֘ינָ֤יוin view his
beeinavH5869 →887 times
נִמְאָ֗סa rejected [person]
nimasH3988 →76 times
וְאֶת־and <obj.>
veetH853 →10935 times
יִרְאֵ֣י[those] fearing
yireiH3373 →64 times
יְהוָ֣ה<of> Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
יְכַבֵּ֑דhe honors
yekhabedH3513 →113 times
נִשְׁבַּ֥עhe swears
nishba'H7650 →186 times
לְ֝הָרַ֗עto do harm
lehara'H7489 →107 times
וְלֹ֣אand not
velo'H3808 →5168 times
יָמִֽר׃he changes
yamirH4171 →14 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 5:33Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 23:21
If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin.
- Leviticus 19:12
You must not swear falsely by My name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
- Ecclesiastes 5:4–6
When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow.
- Deuteronomy 23:23
Be careful to follow through on what comes from your lips, because you have freely vowed to the LORD your God with your own mouth.
- Psalms 76:11
Make and fulfill your vows to the LORD your God; let all the neighboring lands bring tribute to Him who is to be feared.
- Deuteronomy 23:21
Through
Psalms 101:6My eyes favor the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way of integrity shall minister to me.
it leads to
- Psalms 119:63
I am a friend to all who fear You, and to those who keep Your precepts.
- Revelation 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will…
- Luke 12:43–44
Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.
- Psalms 119:63
About Psalms
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 1; Jerome, Homily 5, on Psalm 14; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.