Psalms 1:4

Psalms 1:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
• New International Version (NIV)Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

Context of Psalms 1:4

2But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night. 3And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season; Its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity]. The wicked [those who live in disobedience to God’s law] are not so, But they are like the chaff [worthless and without substance] which the wind blows away. 5Therefore the wicked will not stand [unpunished] in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6For the Lord knows and fully approves the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked shall perish.

Psalms 1:4 word by word

לֹא־כֵ֥ן הָרְשָׁעִ֑ים כִּ֥י אִם־כַּ֝מֹּ֗ץ אֲֽשֶׁר־תִּדְּפֶ֥נּוּ רֽוּחַ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The ungodlyרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
• like the chaffמוֹץmôts môts · chaffH4671
• which the windרוּחַrûach · spirit: breathH7307
• driveth awayנָדַףnâdaph · to driveH5086

Cross-references for Psalms 1:4

• Psalms 35:5Let them be [blown away] like chaff before the wind [worthless, without substance], With the angel of the Lord driving them on.
• Job 21:18Are they like straw before the wind, And like chaff that the storm steals and carries away?
• Isaiah 17:13The nations roar on like the roaring of many waters, But God will rebuke them and they will flee far away, And be chased like chaff on the mountains before the wind, Or like whirling dust before the storm.
• Isaiah 29:5But the multitude of your enemies [that assault you] will become like fine dust, And the multitude of the tyrants like the chaff which blows away; And it will happen in an instant, suddenly [that your enemy is destroyed].
• Hosea 13:3Therefore they will be [swiftly dissipated] like the morning cloud Or like dew which soon disappears, Like chaff which swirls with the whirlwind from the threshing floor, And like smoke from the chimney or through the window [worthless and without substance —they will vanish].
• Matthew 3:12His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear out His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat (believers) into His barn (kingdom), but He will burn up the chaff (the unrepentant) with unquenchable fire.”

Commentaries on Psalms 1:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4The ungodly are not so - The Vulgate and Septuagint, and the versions made from them, such as the Ethiopic and Arabic, double the last negation, and add a clause to the end of the verse, "Not so the ungodly, not so; they shall be like the dust which the wind scatters away from the face of the earth." There is nothing solid in the men; there is nothing good in their ways. They are not of God's planting; they are not good grain; they are only chaff, and a…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4The ungodly are not so - literally, “Not thus the wicked.” For the word ungodly, see the notes at Psalm 1:1. The statement that the “wicked are not so,” is a general statement applicable alike to their character and destiny, though the mind of the author of the psalm is fixed immediately and particularly on the difference in their destiny, without specifying anything particularly respecting their character. It is as true, however, that the ungodly do walk…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-6Verses 4-6 The ungodly are the reverse of the righteous, both in character and condition. The ungodly are not so, ver. 4; they are led by the counsel of the wicked, in the way of sinners, to the seat of the scornful; they have no delight in the law of God; they bring forth no fruit but what is evil. The righteous are like useful, fruitful trees: the ungodly are like the chaff which the wind drives away: the dust which the owner of the floor desires to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4The future judgment (Psalm 1:5) will remove the wicked and everything they have done (Psalms 35:5; 83:13; Isaiah 17:13; see study note on Jeremiah 13:24).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. not so--either as to conduct or happiness. like the chaff--which, by Eastern modes of winnowing against the wind, was utterly blown away.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 1:4

• Chaff
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Chaff
• Consent
• Delight
• Meditate
• Offer
• Partaker
• Testify
• Bible, the
• Death
• Good, Chief

Commentaries on Psalms 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings