I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse isn't just about loving God's law; it highlights a deep-seated aversion to falsehood, suggesting that a genuine love for truth naturally leads to a rejection of deception. This implies that devotion to God's word isn't merely about adhering to rules, but about a transformation that makes us intrinsically opposed to anything untrue.
I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist is contrasting his deep devotion to God's law with his intense aversion to falsehood, likely reflecting on the temptations and corruptions he encounters in the world. This statement comes after he has spoken of being persecuted by princes, highlighting his commitment to God's truth even amidst opposition, and it sets the stage for his continued declarations of love for God's statutes and praise for His judgments.
The psalmist doesn't just dislike falsehood; he 'hates and abhors' it. What does this intense language reveal about his inner world and God's perspective?
The Hebrew words for "hate" and "abhor" convey a visceral, deep-seated rejection. This isn't a mild disapproval, but a profound revulsion. The commentaries suggest this "lying" or "falsehood" isn't just about spoken untruths, but can encompass false systems of religion, deceptive moral teaching, and even unfaithfulness to God's covenant.
This strong language emphasizes that for the faithful, there's an absolute opposition between God's truth and the distortions of the world.
The 'but' in this verse pivots from hatred to love. What makes God's law so captivating that it eclipses all else?
The psalmist's profound love for God's law is presented as the counterpoint to his hatred of falsehood. This love isn't a casual appreciation; it's a deep-seated affection that drives his actions and shapes his entire life.
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Understand the original words
sheqer · Hebrew Noun
Any departure from truth, encompassing lies, deception, idolatry, and spiritual unfaithfulness.
torah · Hebrew Noun
The divine instruction, teaching, or authoritative revelation of God’s will and character for His people.
This verse likely reflects the deep spiritual struggle of the exiles in Babylon or those who had returned. The 'falsehood' they abhorred wasn't just personal dishonesty, but the seductive allure of Babylonian paganism and idolatry, standing in stark contrast to the truth of God's Law.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and deported a significant portion of the population to Babylon. This event profoundly impacted Jewish identity, faith, and worship, as they were separated from their homeland and religious center.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Edict
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon and issued an edict allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples.
c. 538-516 BC
Return from Exile and Temple Reconstruction
Many Jews returned to Jerusalem and began the arduous task of rebuilding the Temple, facing opposition and challenges during this period.
c. 458 BC and 444 BC
Ezra and Nehemiah's Reforms
Ezra the scribe and Nehemiah the governor led further waves of returnees and implemented significant religious and social reforms to re-establish covenant faithfulness among the returned exiles.
This verse directly contrasts the deceitful speech of the wicked with the truthfulness that delights God, echoing the psalmist's deep hatred for falsehood and love for God's law.
1 John 2:15-17The Apostle John warns against loving the world, which is tied to fleeting desires, highlighting the spiritual principle that valuing God's truth over worldly allurements is paramount, mirroring the psalmist's chosen devotion.
Romans 12:2This passage calls believers to be transformed by the renewing of their minds, so they can discern God's will, directly relating to the psalmist's strong aversion to deception and passionate love for God's righteous ways.
Jeremiah 15:16The prophet Jeremiah expresses that finding God's words and treasuring them was his 'joy and the rejoicing of his heart,' which deeply resonates with the psalmist's declaration of loving God's law above all.
pulpitPsalms 119:163: "I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love."
Verse 163. - I hate and abhor lying; or, "falsehood." False systems of religion are in the psalmist's thoughts; or, at any rate, false moral teaching, lie is not speaking of the habit of lying. But thy Law do I love (see the comment on ver. 159).
clarkePsalms 119:163: "I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love."
I-- abhor lying - Perhaps they might have made the confessions which the Chaldeans required, and by mental reservation have kept an inward firm adherence to their creed; but this, in the sight of the God of truth, must have been lying; and at such a sacrifice they would not purchase their enlargement, even from their captivity.
The verse isn't just about loving God's law; it highlights a deep-seated aversion to falsehood, suggesting that a genuine love for truth naturally leads to a rejection of deception. This implies that devotion to God's word isn't merely about adhering to rules, but about a transformation that makes us intrinsically opposed to anything untrue.
The psalmist is contrasting his deep devotion to God's law with his intense aversion to falsehood, likely reflecting on the temptations and corruptions he encounters in the world. This statement comes after he has spoken of being persecuted by princes, highlighting his commitment to God's truth even amidst opposition, and it sets the stage for his continued declarations of love for God's statutes and praise for His judgments.
The psalmist is contrasting his deep devotion to God's law with his intense aversion to falsehood, likely reflecting on the temptations and corruptions he encounters in the world. This statement comes after he has spoken of being persecuted by princes, highlighting his commitment to God's truth even amidst opposition, and it sets the stage for his continued declarations of love for God's statutes and praise for His judgments.
"I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law." — The verse isn't just about loving God's law; it highlights a deep-seated aversion to falsehood, suggesting that a genuine love for truth naturally leads to a rejection of deception. This implies that…
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Last reviewed October 2026