Psalms 139:21-22
Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The psalmist isn't just expressing a generic dislike for bad people; he's making a profound statement about his own spiritual alignment. He's essentially asking God to witness that his revulsion isn't personal animosity, but a deep, God-honoring conviction that mirrors God's own hatred for what opposes Him.
These verses come after the psalmist has marveled at God's intimate knowledge of him, from his conception to his deepest thoughts. Now, he declares his conviction that anyone who opposes God is an enemy he must detest, asserting his integrity and alignment with God's will. He then appeals to God to search his heart and reveal any wicked paths, praying to be guided in the everlasting way of righteousness.
Does your heart ache when God's name is dishonored? This verse reveals a profound connection between our love for God and our response to His enemies.
A Shared Cause
The Psalmist isn't just stating a personal feeling; he's posing a rhetorical question to God, appealing to God's own knowledge of his heart. He's asking, "Don't you see that my heart aligns with yours? I feel strongly about those who oppose you."
This isn't about a petty, personal animosity. The commentators emphasize that this hatred is directed towards the ways and actions of those who oppose God, not necessarily the individuals themselves. It's about hating what God hates: rebellion, wickedness, and defiance against His authority.
It's a declaration that a true follower of God isn't neutral when God is insulted or His people are threatened. There's a passionate alignment, a deep-seated aversion to anything that stands against the Almighty.
It's one thing to dislike those who oppose God, but this verse speaks of being 'grieved.' What does that emotional response look like?
More Than Just Disagreement
The word 'grieved' here carries a sense of deep sorrow, loathing, or even being sickened by something. It's not just a neutral observation of opposition, but an emotional distress caused by seeing God's authority challenged and His ways rejected.
This grief stems from understanding the immense value of God's truth and holiness. When people rise up against God, they are turning away from the source of all goodness, truth, and life. The Psalmist feels this loss and the inevitable tragic consequences for those who rebel.
It highlights that a heart devoted to God doesn't just recoil from evil; it mourns over its existence and the harm it causes, both to God's honor and to the souls of those who are lost in rebellion.
Understand the original words
sane' · Hebrew Verb
To feel intense hostility or aversion toward something or someone. In a biblical context, it often denotes a settled opposition to those who oppose God and His righteousness.
qut · Hebrew Verb
An intensive verb describing a feeling of utter detestation or disgust. It signifies a profound, active rejection of something that is abhorrent to God.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal name of the covenant-keeping God of Israel. It represents the self-existent, eternal God who reveals Himself to His people.
'oyeb · Hebrew Noun
One who is hostile or opposed to another. In Scripture, God's enemies are those who rebel against His sovereignty and moral standards.
This passage shows God expressing His sorrow over Saul's disobedience, highlighting a divine grief over actions that go against His will, which echoes the psalmist's intense aversion to those who oppose God.
Romans 7:15-16Paul's struggle with sin describes a similar internal conflict where his will is at odds with his actions, paralleling the psalmist's passionate commitment to align his heart and actions with God's hatred for evil.
1 John 2:15-16This verse directly contrasts loving God with loving the world, implying that a true love for God naturally leads to a rejection of worldly desires that are opposed to Him, similar to the psalmist's stance against God's enemies.
Psalm 119:158This verse explicitly states, 'I saw the treacherous, and despaired, and loathed those who did not keep your word,' creating a direct conceptual parallel to the psalmist's expressed loathing for those who oppose God.
ellicottPsalms 139:21: "Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?"
(21) Do not I . . .—Better— “Must I not hate thy haters, Jehovah, And feel loathing for thy assailants?”
pulpitPsalms 139:21: "Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?"
Verse 21. - Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? Those who love God must hate God's enemies. The psalmist claims to be of this number.
The psalmist isn't just expressing a generic dislike for bad people; he's making a profound statement about his own spiritual alignment. He's essentially asking God to witness that his revulsion isn't personal animosity, but a deep, God-honoring conviction that mirrors God's own hatred for what opposes Him.
These verses come after the psalmist has marveled at God's intimate knowledge of him, from his conception to his deepest thoughts. Now, he declares his conviction that anyone who opposes God is an enemy he must detest, asserting his integrity and alignment with God's will. He then appeals to God to search his heart and reveal any wicked paths, praying to be guided in the everlasting way of righteousness.
These verses come after the psalmist has marveled at God's intimate knowledge of him, from his conception to his deepest thoughts. Now, he declares his conviction that anyone who opposes God is an enemy he must detest, asserting his integrity and alignment with God's will. He then appeals to God to search his heart and reveal any wicked paths, praying to be guided in the everlasting way of righteousness.
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"Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies." — The psalmist isn't just expressing a generic dislike for bad people; he's making a profound statement about his own spiritual alignment. He's essentially asking God to witness that his revulsion isn'…
