Psalms 1:4-6
The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
It's easy to see the wicked as just the opposite of the blessed person described before. But this verse reveals something more: chaff isn't just different, it's actively worthless and unstable. It has no substance or root, ready to be blown away by the slightest disturbance, unlike the life-giving stability of the righteous.
After contrasting the blessedness of the righteous with their stability like a well-watered tree, this verse sharply pivots to describe the wicked. Unlike the rooted believer, the ungodly are depicted as worthless, unstable, and easily scattered, like dry chaff blown away by the wind during the winnowing process. This imagery highlights their ultimate fate: utter worthlessness and dispersal, with no lasting substance or purpose.
Ever seen grain being threshed? It’s a stark contrast between the precious wheat and the useless chaff. This psalm uses that powerful image to describe the wicked.
The wicked are compared to chaff, which is the husk of grain left over after harvesting. It has no real substance, no value, and no stability.
A Symbol of Worthlessness
Chaff is what's left behind, good for nothing. It's the byproduct, the waste. This highlights that the wicked, apart from God, lack true value and purpose. Their actions and their lives, when weighed against God's standard, amount to nothing substantial.
A Sign of Instability
Furthermore, chaff is incredibly light and easily blown away by the slightest breeze. It can't stand firm. This describes the unstable nature of the wicked's lives and their apparent 'success'. It looks like something, but it has no deep roots and can be swept away in an instant.
The wind doesn't just blow chaff around; it drives it away completely. This image carries a powerful message about the ultimate end of the wicked.
The wind is a force that separates the useful grain from the worthless chaff during the winnowing process. In this psalm, the wind represents divine judgment.
The Act of Judgment
When the Bible speaks of God's judgment, it often uses imagery of winnowing and scattering. This isn't a gentle breeze; it's a powerful act that separates the righteous from the wicked.
Ultimate Separation
The wicked are not just unstable; they are destined to be driven away from God's presence and protection. Their seeming prosperity or security is temporary, and when God's judgment comes, they will be utterly scattered, with no ability to stand firm.
Understand the original words
mots · Hebrew Noun
The husk of grain separated during winnowing. It serves as a powerful metaphor for the worthless, unstable, and transitory nature of those who lack spiritual substance and divine grounding.
mishpat · Hebrew Noun
A formal divine examination or trial where God evaluates the lives of men. It represents the moment of final accountability when God distinguishes between the righteous and the wicked.
edah · Hebrew Noun
The assembly or gathering of God’s people. It refers to the covenant community—those who have been declared righteous by God and belong to His fellowship.
tsaddiqim · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Those who are in right standing with God. It describes individuals who have been justified by God, are walking in obedience to His law, and possess integrity of heart.
This passage uses the same vivid imagery of chaff being driven away by the wind, highlighting the swift and utter destruction that awaits those who turn away from God.
Matthew 3:12John the Baptist echoes this imagery when describing Jesus' ministry, showing how the wicked will be separated and consumed like chaff in a divine judgment.
Job 21:18This passage also contrasts the fate of the wicked with that of the righteous, comparing the wicked to chaff that is swept away, emphasizing their instability and eventual demise.
Jeremiah 23:28The prophet compares false prophets to chaff, illustrating how their deceptive messages are worthless and will ultimately be scattered and disregarded, much like the wicked are disregarded in God's eyes.
cambridgePsalms 1:4: "The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away."
4 . In sharp contrast to the firmly-rooted, flourishing, fruitful tree is the chaff on the threshing-floor, worthless in itself, and liable to be swept away by every passing breeze. The scattering of chaff by the wind is a common figure in the O.T. for the sudden destruction of the wicked. Cp. Psalm 35:5 ; Job 21:18 ; Isaiah 29:5 ; Hosea 13:3 . Here it describes their character as well as their fate. It wo…
wesleyPsalms 1:4: "The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away."
1:4 Ungodly - Their condition is far different. Chaff - They are restless and unquiet: their seeming felicity, hath no firm foundation, but quickly vanishes and flees away as chaff before the wind.
It's easy to see the wicked as just the opposite of the blessed person described before. But this verse reveals something more: chaff isn't just different, it's actively worthless and unstable. It has no substance or root, ready to be blown away by the slightest disturbance, unlike the life-giving stability of the righteous.
After contrasting the blessedness of the righteous with their stability like a well-watered tree, this verse sharply pivots to describe the wicked. Unlike the rooted believer, the ungodly are depicted as worthless, unstable, and easily scattered, like dry chaff blown away by the wind during the winnowing process. This imagery highlights their ultimate fate: utter worthlessness and dispersal, with no lasting substance or purpose.
After contrasting the blessedness of the righteous with their stability like a well-watered tree, this verse sharply pivots to describe the wicked. Unlike the rooted believer, the ungodly are depicted as worthless, unstable, and easily scattered, like dry chaff blown away by the wind during the winnowing process. This imagery highlights their ultimate fate: utter worthlessness and dispersal, with no lasting substance or purpose.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Psalms 1:4-6 is available in the Sola app.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God in the Old Testament, representing His eternal existence, holiness, and faithfulness to His people. It signifies the God who reveals Himself and enters into a relationship with humanity.
yada · Hebrew Verb
To know in a biblical sense implies more than intellectual awareness; it denotes an intimate, relational, and experiential knowledge, often involving care, involvement, and active choice.
derek · Hebrew Noun
The course of life, conduct, or moral direction taken by an individual. It refers to one’s habits, lifestyle, and ultimate trajectory before God.
tsaddiq · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Those who are in a right standing with God, not because of perfect sinlessness, but because they have been declared righteous by God through faith and pursue obedience to His law. They are characterized by integrity, justice, and devotion to God.
rasha · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Those who are actively hostile to God’s law and character. It refers to individuals who live in rebellion against divine authority and moral standards, lacking the fear of God.
abad · Hebrew Verb
To come to an end, be destroyed, or lost. In a theological context, it refers to the ultimate failure, ruin, and spiritual separation from God that awaits those who reject His way.
"The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,…" — It's easy to see the wicked as just the opposite of the blessed person described before. But this verse reveals something more: chaff isn't just different, it's actively worthless and unstable. It…
