I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep your commands.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist isn't just sad about those who disobey God; he's filled with a profound loathing, a visceral disgust. This isn't petty anger but a deep sickness at heart, an intense emotional reaction to the rejection of God's very commands.
I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep your commands.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist is in a period of intense personal struggle and persecution, feeling surrounded by enemies who disregard God's law. He expresses his deep sorrow and longing for God's intervention and deliverance, contrasting his faithfulness with the faithlessness of others. This verse emerges from his lament, highlighting his disgust for those who betray God's commands, even as he clings to God's own word for hope and strength.
When the psalmist looks at the 'faithless,' he's not just seeing people who don't believe in God. He's seeing something that makes him sick to his stomach. What does this deep disgust tell us about who these 'faithless' people are?
The word translated 'faithless' here is actually a powerful term that can mean 'traitors' or those who are 'treacherous.' This isn't just about someone having a different opinion on theology.
Breaking Trust
These individuals are seen as breaking a sacred trust, like traitors to a rightful king. They are faithless to their covenant with God. Their actions are not just personal failings; they are a betrayal of a relationship.
A Holy Disgust
This betrayal sparks a strong emotional reaction in the psalmist – 'disgust' or even 'loathing.' It's a visceral reaction to the violation of God's commands, indicating that for the psalmist, God's law isn't just a set of rules, but the very foundation of loyalty and faithfulness.
It’s easy to feel indifferent when others disobey God. But the psalmist feels intense disgust. What does this tell us about the value he places on God’s commands?
The psalmist’s profound reaction isn’t just about personal offense; it reveals a deep appreciation for God’s Word and a clear understanding of its significance.
The Commands as Covenant
Ask a follow-up
For the psalmist, God's commands aren't arbitrary rules. They are expressions of God's very character and the terms of His covenant relationship with His people. To disobey is to violate that sacred trust and reject the very goodness of God.
A Mirror to God's Heart
When someone rejects God’s commands, it’s seen as rejecting God Himself. This isn't a light matter. The disgust the psalmist feels is a reflection of God's own sorrow and displeasure with sin and rebellion. It highlights the seriousness of sin and its offense against a holy God.
Understand the original words
bagad · Hebrew Adjective/Participle
Individuals who are unfaithful or treacherous, specifically regarding their covenantal relationship with God. It describes those who betray divine truth through disobedience.
imrah · Hebrew Noun
Specific mandates or instructions issued by a sovereign authority. In the Bible, they represent the binding obligations God places upon His people for their good.
This psalm reflects the deep pain and righteous anger felt by a faithful Israelite during the post-exilic period. The struggle to rebuild Jerusalem and re-establish covenant life was marred by the presence of those who outwardly returned but inwardly remained unfaithful, leading to the psalmist's profound grief and disgust.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, marking a period of exile and displacement for many Israelites. This event would have deeply impacted the religious and national identity of those who remained faithful.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon begins deporting Jewish people to Babylon. This is a significant moment of national crisis and loss of sovereignty.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Babylonian forces destroy Jerusalem and the First Temple, the heart of Israelite worship and identity. This event marks the beginning of the Babylonian Exile.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great Allows Return
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon and issues a decree allowing Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This begins the period of Restoration.
c. 458 BC
Ezra's Return to Jerusalem
The scribe Ezra returns to Jerusalem with a large group of exiles. He focuses on reinforcing the Law of Moses and addressing issues of religious observance and intermarriage.
c. 445 BC
Nehemiah Rebuilds Jerusalem's Walls
Nehemiah, cupbearer to the Persian king, leads the effort to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, facing significant opposition. This period saw a renewed emphasis on obedience to the Law.
Late 5th Century BC— this verse
The Psalmist's Struggles
The period following the return from exile, where the people are re-establishing their covenant life in Jerusalem. The psalmist expresses deep sorrow and disgust over those who have been unfaithful to God's commands amidst this rebuilding effort.
This verse expresses a similar sentiment of strong aversion towards those who oppose God, highlighting the deep emotional response to sin.
Romans 12:9This New Testament passage calls for a love that is genuine and a hatred of evil, mirroring the psalmist's disgust for those who disregard God's commands.
Jeremiah 12:6Here, Jeremiah expresses a similar grief and disgust towards faithless relatives who have betrayed God's covenant, showing this sentiment is not isolated to the psalmist.
Proverbs 29:1This proverb speaks about the consequences of repeatedly hardening one's heart, which connects to the psalmist's disdain for those who refuse to keep God's commands.
ellicottPsalms 119:158: "I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word."
RESH. (158) Transgressors.—Better, the faithless (or, traitors). Was grieved.—The Hebrew is a far stronger word, and the sense is intensified by the rare conjugation: was filled with loathing at; sickened with disgust. “The recreants I survey, And loathing turn away.”—KEBLE.
clarkePsalms 119:158: "I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word."
I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved - Literally, I was affected with anguish.
The psalmist isn't just sad about those who disobey God; he's filled with a profound loathing, a visceral disgust. This isn't petty anger but a deep sickness at heart, an intense emotional reaction to the rejection of God's very commands.
The psalmist is in a period of intense personal struggle and persecution, feeling surrounded by enemies who disregard God's law. He expresses his deep sorrow and longing for God's intervention and deliverance, contrasting his faithfulness with the faithlessness of others. This verse emerges from his lament, highlighting his disgust for those who betray God's commands, even as he clings to God's own word for hope and strength.
The psalmist is in a period of intense personal struggle and persecution, feeling surrounded by enemies who disregard God's law. He expresses his deep sorrow and longing for God's intervention and deliverance, contrasting his faithfulness with the faithlessness of others. This verse emerges from his lament, highlighting his disgust for those who betray God's commands, even as he clings to God's own word for hope and strength.
"I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep your commands." — The psalmist isn't just sad about those who disobey God; he's filled with a profound loathing, a visceral disgust. This isn't petty anger but a deep sickness at heart, an intense emotional reaction t…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026