Psalms 11:5
in Psalms 11The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked; His soul hates the lover of violence.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Jehovah trieth the righteous; But the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
KJV
The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
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This verse in Psalms 11
Commentary
19 notes on this verseThe Lord questions the just and the impious: but he who loves iniquity hates his own soul. For which it is better written in the Hebrew: "The Lord tests the just, but the impious and the one who loves iniquity — his soul hates him."
This site's exposition
The LORD is in His holy temple
on Psalms 11:4-5
The LORD is in His holy temple and on His heavenly throne, above the ground verse 3 calls destroyed. His eyes examine the sons of men, and the same testing falls on the righteous and the wicked. John Gill reads that watching as a King's inspection.
This site's exposition
The LORD tests the righteous
The text Augustine read has the lover of violence hating his own soul. Henry cites Hammond for that sense, the violent man bringing ruin on himself. Jerome, from the Hebrew, made it the soul of the LORD that hates him, as the Berean does.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
I do not think that anyone who keeps precious garments locked up in a chest would agree to enclose within it either a live coal or any kind of spark. Why is this, brothers? Because he would be afraid that the clothing that he wears …
If, then, you hate your own soul by loving iniquity, do you wonder that you hate the Word of God, which wishes well to your soul?
If a murderer is one who hates his brother, what is he who, loving iniquity, hates his own soul? And if the one who hates his brother does not have eternal life remaining in him, how will he who ends this life in the love …
If the one who values iniquity hates his own life, then the one who hates iniquity esteems his own life.
Wickedness, after all, is the soul's enemy, its foe and ruination, and so the wicked person pays the penalty even before punishment is imposed. Do you see how he shows on every score that his adversaries … are hoisted on their own weapons by which they protect themselves, consumed by them and damaging themselves?
11 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers1 voice
"The Lord questions the righteous and ungodly" [Psalm 11:5]. Why then do we fear lest the ungodly should be any hurt to us, if so be they do with insincere heart share the sacraments with us, seeing that He "questions the righteous and the ungodly." "But whoso loves iniquity, hates his own soul:" that is, not him who believes God, and puts not his hope in man, but only his own soul does the lover of iniquity hurt.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Here the condemnation is set forth, and concerning this he does two things: first he sets forth the guilt; second, the punishment, at "he shall rain upon sinners." He shows that as far as God's part is concerned, there is no perdition of the wicked, …
"His eyes." Here he treats of the examination of the judgment. And first he sets forth the perfection of divine knowledge. Second, the diligent investigation, at "his eyelids question the children of men." Third, the equity of the judgment, at "the Lord examines the just …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
Dr. Hammond offers another reading of this verse : The Lord trieth the righteous and the wicked (distinguishes infallibly between them, which is more than we can do), and he that loveth violence hateth his own soul, that is, persecutors bring certain ruin upon themselves ( Prov. viii. He is a righteous Judge, and therefore he will punish them,
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
1 In the L ORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? 2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. 3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:96%@v1-3
Trieth - He chastens even righteous persons, yet still he loves them, and therefore will in due time deliver them. But as for the wicked, God hates them, and will severely punish them.
The Lord trieth the righteous,....
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
The Lord trieth the righteous - That is, he “proves” them, searches them, tests the reality of their piety. His dealings with them are such as to test the genuineness of their religion, and are designed to show their sincerity and the real power of their religious principles. It is not for the purpose of destroying them, or punishing them, that he deals with them as he does, but it is to show the reality of their attachment to him. This language seems here to be used to show the feeling of the persecuted and afflicted author of the psalm.
"The Lord trieth the righteous:" he doth not hate them, but only tries them. They are precious to him, and therefore he refines them with afflictions. None of the Lord's children may hope to escape from trial, nor, indeed, in our right minds, would any of us desire to do so, for trial is the channel of many blessings. Tis my happiness below Not to live without the cross; But the Saviour's power to know, Sanctifying every loss.
"The Lord trieth the righteous:" he doth not hate them, but only tries them. They are precious to him, and therefore he refines them with afflictions. None of the Lord's children may hope to escape from trial, nor, indeed, in our right minds, would any of us desire to do so, for trial is the channel of many blessings. Tis my happiness below Not to live without the cross; But the Saviour's power to know, Sanctifying every loss. Trials make the promise sweet; Trials give new life to prayer; Trials bring me to his feet— Lay me low, and keep me there. Did I meet no trials here— No chastisement by the way— Might I not, with reason, fear I should prove a cast-away? Bastards may escape the rod, Sunk in earthly vain delight; But the true-born child of God Must not—would not, if he might." William Cowper.* Is not this a very cogent reason why we should not distrustfully endeavour to shun a trial?—for in so doing we are seeking to avoid a blessing.
The Lord trieth the righteous - He does not abandon them; he tries them to show their faithfulness, and he afflicts them for their good. His soul hateth - The wicked man must ever be abhorred of the Lord; and the violent man - the destroyer and murderer - his soul hateth; an expression of uncommon strength and energy: all the perfections of the Divine nature have such in abomination.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
The Lord is in His Holy Temple Who sees and tests their deeds, and although His throne is in Heaven and is lofty, His eyes see you on the earth.
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. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| יְהוָה֮ | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| צַדִּ֪יק | tzadik | [the] righteous | H6662 → | 206 times |
| יִ֫בְחָ֥ן | yivchan | he tests | H974 → | 29 times |
| וְ֭רָשָׁע | verasho' | and [the] wicked | H7563 → | 263 times |
| וְאֹהֵ֣ב | veohev | and [one who] loves | H157 → | 211 times |
| חָמָ֑ס | chamas | violence | H2555 → | 60 times |
| שָֽׂנְאָ֥ה | saneah | it hates | H8130 → | 146 times |
| נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃ | nafsho | self his | H5315 → | 754 times |
יְהוָה֮Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
צַדִּ֪יק[the] righteous
tzadikH6662 →206 times
יִ֫בְחָ֥ןhe tests
yivchanH974 →29 times
וְ֭רָשָׁעand [the] wicked
verasho'H7563 →263 times
וְאֹהֵ֣בand [one who] loves
veohevH157 →211 times
חָמָ֑סviolence
chamasH2555 →60 times
שָֽׂנְאָ֥הit hates
saneahH8130 →146 times
נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃self his
nafshoH5315 →754 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
James 1:12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish…
- 1 Peter 1:6–8
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
- Revelation 2:10
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful…
- James 5:11
See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
- Romans 8:28
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
- 1 Peter 5:10
Through
1 Peter 1:7so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
it leads to
- Job 23:10
Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
- James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
- Job 23:10
Through
Genesis 22:1Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered.
it leads to
- Hebrews 11:17
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son,
- Hebrews 11:17
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Psalms
This page draws on 17 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 11; Caesarius of Arles, SERMON 227:5; Caesarius of Arles, SERMONS 145:1; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 1; Evagrius Ponticus, NOTES ON THE PSALMS 10[11].5; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms; Fulgentius of Ruspe, ON THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS 2:7.1; Jerome, Homily 60, on Psalm 10 (Alternate Series); John Chrysostom, COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 11:2; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Exposition on the Psalms of David.