You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse uses "bloods" in the plural to describe a "bloody and deceitful man," a powerful hint that one act of bloodshed isn't the whole story; it implies a deeper, perhaps habitual thirst for violence that rarely stops with just one victim. This isn't just about a single bad deed, but a settled character of cruelty.
You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
English Standard Version (ESV)
David is presenting his case to God, contrasting his own uprightness with the wicked character of his enemies. He's praying for protection and deliverance, emphasizing that God, who is holy and cannot tolerate evil, will surely act against those who oppose him. This verse highlights the fundamental opposition between God's nature and the actions of liars, murderers, and deceivers, assuring David that such individuals cannot ultimately prosper under God's gaze.
Ever wonder if God really cares about injustice and lies? This verse declares He does, with intense emotion.
This psalm isn't just about David asking for protection; it's a profound statement about God's character. He doesn't just tolerate evil – He actively opposes it.
Divine Opposition
This isn't just about punishment; it's about the inherent opposition between God's holy nature and the destructive, deceptive ways of humanity.
What does it mean to be a 'man of blood'? It's more than just a single violent act; it points to a deep-seated character.
The phrase "bloody and deceitful man" is particularly striking. In the original language, it's often rendered as "man of bloods" (plural).
Character Revealed Through Action
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In a world filled with liars and violent people, where do we find hope? This psalm points us directly to God's justice.
While this verse powerfully describes God's judgment on the wicked, it's also a source of immense encouragement for those who follow Him.
Finding Confidence in God's Nature
Understand the original words
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.
The deep-seated treachery, bloodshed, and deceit described in this psalm resonate powerfully when understood against the backdrop of King David's own struggles with rebellious sons and treacherous advisors like Ahithophel, highlighting God's abhorrence for such wickedness.
c. 1010 BC— this verse
David's Reign and Court Intrigues
King David ruled Israel, a time marked by both great faith and significant internal conflict, including betrayal and plots by those close to him.
c. 1001 BC
Absalom's Rebellion Begins
David's son Absalom launched a rebellion, seeking to usurp the throne. This event plunged the kingdom into civil war and involved widespread deception and violence.
c. 1001 BC
Ahithophel's Betrayal
Ahithophel, a trusted counselor to David, defected to Absalom's side and offered strategic advice, including a plan to pursue David immediately.
c. 1001 BC
Ahithophel's Counsel Rejected
Absalom and his advisors, against Ahithophel's counsel, chose a different, less effective strategy, which ultimately contributed to the rebellion's failure.
c. 1001 BC
Ahithophel's Suicide
Upon realizing his counsel was ignored and likely sensing the rebellion's impending doom, Ahithophel went home and hanged himself.
This proverb echoes the psalm's concern with truthfulness, stating that lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, just as this psalm declares God abhors the deceitful. It highlights the consistent divine displeasure with falsehood.
1 John 3:15This passage directly links hatred for one's brother with being a murderer, mirroring the 'bloodthirsty' aspect of the man God abhors in the psalm. It broadens the understanding of 'bloody' beyond mere physical violence to include deep-seated malice.
Revelation 21:8This verse lists 'liars' alongside the cowardly, the faithless, and murderers as those destined for the lake of fire. It shows the ultimate, eternal consequence for those who speak lies and are deceitful, aligning with the 'destroy' mentioned in the psalm.
Psalm 55:23The psalmist himself speaks in Psalm 55 about God dealing with 'men of bloodshed and deceit,' reinforcing the idea that such individuals are a recurring problem and a consistent object of God's judgment, as seen in Psalm 5.
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…
clarkePsalms 5:6: "Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man."
That speak leasing - Falsity, from the Anglo-Saxon leasunge, a lie, falsity, deceit; from leas, lie, which is from the verb leasian to lie. See on Psalm 4:2 (note). The Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man - איש דמים ish damim, the man of bloods; for he who has the spirit of a murderer, will rarely end with one bloodshedding. So the Jews, who clamored for the blood of our Lord, a…
The verse uses "bloods" in the plural to describe a "bloody and deceitful man," a powerful hint that one act of bloodshed isn't the whole story; it implies a deeper, perhaps habitual thirst for violence that rarely stops with just one victim. This isn't just about a single bad deed, but a settled character of cruelty.
David is presenting his case to God, contrasting his own uprightness with the wicked character of his enemies. He's praying for protection and deliverance, emphasizing that God, who is holy and cannot tolerate evil, will surely act against those who oppose him. This verse highlights the fundamental opposition between God's nature and the actions of liars, murderers, and deceivers, assuring David that such individuals cannot ultimately prosper under God's gaze.
David is presenting his case to God, contrasting his own uprightness with the wicked character of his enemies. He's praying for protection and deliverance, emphasizing that God, who is holy and cannot tolerate evil, will surely act against those who oppose him. This verse highlights the fundamental opposition between God's nature and the actions of liars, murderers, and deceivers, assuring David that such individuals cannot ultimately prosper under God's gaze.
"You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man." — The verse uses "bloods" in the plural to describe a "bloody and deceitful man," a powerful hint that one act of bloodshed isn't the whole story; it implies a deeper, perhaps habitual thirst for viole…
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Last reviewed October 2026