It's easy to read "evil may not dwell with you" as a simple statement of God's dislike for bad things. But the original phrasing suggests something more profound: the wicked person isn't even welcome as a temporary guest, let alone a resident, in God's presence. This highlights that fellowship with God isn't just about avoiding sin, but about having a fundamental alignment with His pure nature.
For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
English Standard Version (ESV)
In this psalm, David is crying out to God amidst enemies who are actively seeking his harm with deceit and violence. He's essentially saying, "God, you know my heart is pure in this, unlike my enemies, so please hear me!" This verse serves as the foundation for his plea, highlighting God's inherent righteousness as the reason why the wicked cannot stand with Him, nor can God ever approve of their wicked ways.
Ever feel like God's favor is unpredictable, or that maybe He's okay with 'good enough'? This verse cuts through that idea like a sword.
The psalmists often built their prayers on what they knew to be true about God's character. David here isn't just stating a preference; he's declaring a fundamental truth about the Divine nature: God is not capricious. He doesn't have fleeting moods about wickedness. The commentaries highlight that 'El' (a name for God used here) emphasizes His power, but this power is intrinsically tied to His holiness. He isn't a tribal god who might be swayed by passion or favoritism. His 'delight' isn't an emotion that shifts; it's a reflection of His perfect, unchanging nature. He is absolutely, fundamentally opposed to evil. This isn't just a rule; it's who He is.
Imagine being invited into a king's presence, but the very air is hostile to you. That's the picture painted here.
The phrase 'evil may not dwell with you' is powerful. It doesn't just mean God punishes evil; it means there's an intrinsic incompatibility. The commentaries explain that 'dwell' implies more than just passing through; it suggests a settled, familiar presence. Evil cannot find a home or comfortable lodging with God. His holiness is like a consuming fire to all that is unholy. This isn't about God being distant; it's about His very presence being fundamentally incompatible with sin. Think of it like light and darkness – they can't truly coexist in the same space. For the wicked, God's presence isn't a comfort but an unbearable exposure.
Understand the original words
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resha · Hebrew Noun
Morally corrupt behavior, perversion, or injustice that stands in opposition to God’s holy character and moral law. It represents the active defiance of divine standards.
ra · Hebrew Noun
That which is morally bad, harmful, or malignant. It encompasses anything that contradicts God's nature and brings ruin to His creation.
holelim · Hebrew Noun
The state of having an arrogant, prideful, or insolent spirit. It describes those who exalt themselves against God and their neighbor.
sane · Hebrew Verb
A visceral, holy aversion to sin and sinners who refuse to repent. It expresses God’s absolute moral purity and His rejection of everything that opposes His holiness.
poale aven · Hebrew Noun/Adjective phrase
Individuals who consistently perform morally wrong or harmful deeds. They are defined by their lifestyle of defiance against God's commands.
kazab · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the act of lying or speaking falsehoods. Biblically, it signifies a deviation from truth and honesty, which is fundamentally contrary to God's nature and character.
ta'ab · Hebrew Verb
An intense, active hatred or detestation. It describes God’s holy and righteous reaction against evil, emphasizing His absolute moral opposition to wickedness.
This passage powerfully describes the absolute separation between God's holiness and wickedness, stating that only the righteous can dwell with God, mirroring the idea that evil cannot 'dwell with' Him here.
1 Samuel 15:22This verse highlights God's preference for obedience over sacrifice, reinforcing the idea that He doesn't 'delight in wickedness' but in righteousness and faithfulness.
Psalm 15:1-5This psalm directly answers 'Who may sojourn in your tent?' (a concept similar to 'dwell with you'), detailing the characteristics of those God accepts, all of whom are righteous and free from deceit and wickedness.
Habakkuk 1:13This verse echoes the sentiment of Psalm 5:4 by stating, 'You who are of purer eyes than to behold evil and cannot look on wrong,' emphasizing God's inherent inability to condone or delight in evil.
Romans 6:23This New Testament passage provides the ultimate consequence of sin ('the wages of sin is death') and the contrasting gift of God ('eternal life in Christ Jesus'), underscoring that 'evil' finds no lasting place with a holy God.
calvinPsalms 5:4-6: "For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee."
- For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness; [71] evil shall not dwell Smith thee. 5. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight; thou hatest all that commit iniquity. 6. Thou shalt destroy them that speak falsehood; Jehovah will abhor the blood-thirsty [72] and deceitful man.
Here David makes the malice and wickedness of his enemies an argument to enforce his prayer for th…
cambridgePsalms 5:4: "For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee."
4 . a God ] El , not Elohim . If the fundamental idea of this name for God is that of power [3], its use here is significant. Power without goodness is the fetishistic conception of deity, to which human nature is prone ( Psalm 50:21 ). [3] Attractive but questionable is Lagarde’s explanation of the name El as ‘the Being to Whom man turns,’ the aim and end of all human longing and effort.…
It's easy to read "evil may not dwell with you" as a simple statement of God's dislike for bad things. But the original phrasing suggests something more profound: the wicked person isn't even welcome as a temporary guest, let alone a resident, in God's presence. This highlights that fellowship with God isn't just about avoiding sin, but about having a fundamental alignment with His pure nature.
In this psalm, David is crying out to God amidst enemies who are actively seeking his harm with deceit and violence. He's essentially saying, "God, you know my heart is pure in this, unlike my enemies, so please hear me!" This verse serves as the foundation for his plea, highlighting God's inherent righteousness as the reason why the wicked cannot stand with Him, nor can God ever approve of their wicked ways.
In this psalm, David is crying out to God amidst enemies who are actively seeking his harm with deceit and violence. He's essentially saying, "God, you know my heart is pure in this, unlike my enemies, so please hear me!" This verse serves as the foundation for his plea, highlighting God's inherent righteousness as the reason why the wicked cannot stand with Him, nor can God ever approve of their wicked ways.
"For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirst…" — It's easy to read "evil may not dwell with you" as a simple statement of God's dislike for bad things. But the original phrasing suggests something more profound: the wicked person isn't even welcome…
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Last reviewed October 2026
