The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Hebrew word for "tests" here actually implies a deep examination, not just a simple trial, suggesting God closely scrutinizes the righteous to approve them. This is sharply contrasted with His soul's hatred for the wicked, revealing a profound divine discernment between those who walk uprightly and those who embrace evil.
The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm arises in a context of extreme danger and counsel to flee. Friends or advisors, seeing the widespread wickedness and the apparent inability of justice to prevail, urge the psalmist to escape like a bird to the mountains. The psalmist, however, responds by affirming his trust in God, who reigns in heaven and watches over all human affairs. This divine perspective leads to the statement that God both tests the righteous and hates the wicked.
Ever feel like God is putting you through the wringer? This verse offers a perspective shift on what 'testing' really means.
The Hebrew word used here for 'tests' doesn't just mean to examine; it implies a process of scrutiny aimed at proving something's genuineness. Think of a goldsmith carefully heating gold to burn away impurities and reveal its pure, valuable core.
A Deeper Look:
The verse doesn't just say God dislikes the wicked; it uses powerful language to describe His profound aversion to them. What does this intense 'hatred' signify?
The phrase 'his soul hates' is a strong anthropomorphism, meaning it attributes human qualities to God to help us grasp divine truth. In this context, it speaks to the absolute opposition between God's holy nature and the essence of wickedness.
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Understanding Divine Hatred:
Understand the original words
sane · Hebrew Verb
A profound aversion or detestation, frequently used in Scripture to describe God’s holy opposition to sin and those who commit evil acts.
chamas · Hebrew Noun
The use of physical force or oppression to harm others, reflecting a heart that rejects the peace and justice of God’s kingdom.
This psalm speaks from a time of intense political turmoil and danger, likely during David’s own persecutions or a similar crisis. The counsel to flee reflects the fear and chaos of such moments, urging a trust in God's ultimate justice and sovereignty above the apparent triumph of the wicked.
c. 1000 BC
David's Flight from Saul
David faced intense persecution from King Saul, leading him to hide in various wilderness locations and even among enemies. This period was marked by deep uncertainty and reliance on God.
c. 970-930 BC
David's Reign as King
Despite periods of internal and external conflict, David established a relatively stable kingdom. However, his reign was also marked by challenges to his authority and plots against him.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's death, the united monarchy split into two kingdoms: Israel in the north and Judah in the south. This division led to prolonged conflict and instability.
c. 740 BC
Assyrian Aggression Intensifies
The Neo-Assyrian Empire began its major expansionist campaigns, posing a significant threat to both the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The capital of the Northern Kingdom, Samaria, fell to the Assyrians, leading to the exile of its people and the end of Israel as a distinct kingdom.
c. 597-586 BC
Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians conquered Judah, destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, and deported many of its citizens into exile, a period of profound crisis and reflection for the people of God.
538 BC
Return from Exile
The Persian king Cyrus the Great issued a decree allowing the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, marking a new era of hope and reconstruction.
This passage mirrors the concept of divine discipline, stating that the Lord disciplines those He loves, much like He 'tries' the righteous in Psalms 11:5, not out of anger, but for correction and growth.
Hebrews 12:5-11This New Testament passage directly echoes the idea of God's refining discipline for His children, emphasizing that such 'trials' are evidence of His fatherly love and are intended to produce righteousness and peace.
Jeremiah 17:9-10This verse presents a stark contrast between the human heart's deceitfulness and God's all-knowing, discerning nature, highlighting how He searches and tests individuals to reveal their true character, just as He discerns the righteous from the wicked.
1 Corinthians 3:13-15This passage speaks of a future testing of believers' works by fire, illustrating how God scrutinizes and evaluates the actions of those who follow Him, akin to the 'trying' mentioned in Psalms 11:5, with different outcomes based on the foundation.
1 John 4:16-18This passage connects God's perfect love with the absence of fear for believers, implying that His love is the ultimate standard against which actions are measured, contrasting with His hatred for those who embody evil and violence.
calvinPsalms 11:4-5: "The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men."
Jehovah is in the palace of his holiness: Jehovah has his throne in heaven; his eyes behold, [244] and his eyelids consider the children of men. 5. Jehovah approves the righteous man; but his soul hateth the ungodly, and him who loveth iniquity.
Jehovah is in the palace of his holiness. In what follows, the Psalmist glories in the assurance of the favor…
clarkePsalms 11:5: "The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth."
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.
The Hebrew word for "tests" here actually implies a deep examination, not just a simple trial, suggesting God closely scrutinizes the righteous to approve them. This is sharply contrasted with His soul's hatred for the wicked, revealing a profound divine discernment between those who walk uprightly and those who embrace evil.
This psalm arises in a context of extreme danger and counsel to flee. Friends or advisors, seeing the widespread wickedness and the apparent inability of justice to prevail, urge the psalmist to escape like a bird to the mountains. The psalmist, however, responds by affirming his trust in God, who reigns in heaven and watches over all human affairs. This divine perspective leads to the statement that God both tests the righteous and hates the wicked.
This psalm arises in a context of extreme danger and counsel to flee. Friends or advisors, seeing the widespread wickedness and the apparent inability of justice to prevail, urge the psalmist to escape like a bird to the mountains. The psalmist, however, responds by affirming his trust in God, who reigns in heaven and watches over all human affairs. This divine perspective leads to the statement that God both tests the righteous and hates the wicked.
"The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence." — The Hebrew word for "tests" here actually implies a deep examination, not just a simple trial, suggesting God closely scrutinizes the righteous to approve them. This is sharply contrasted with His…
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Last reviewed October 2026