Psalms 15:4

Psalms 15:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
• New International Version (NIV)who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind;
• English Standard Version (ESV)in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
• New King James Version (NKJV)In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

Context of Psalms 15:4

2He who walks with integrity and strength of character, and works righteousness, And speaks and holds truth in his heart. 3He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend; In his eyes an evil person is despised, But he honors those who fear the Lord [and obediently worship Him with awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder]. He keeps his word even to his own disadvantage and does not change it [for his own benefit]; 5He does not put out his money at interest [to a fellow Israelite], And does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

Psalms 15:4 word by word

נִבְזֶ֤ה׀ בְּֽעֵ֘ינָ֤יו נִמְאָ֗ס וְאֶת־יִרְאֵ֣י יְהוָ֣ה יְכַבֵּ֑ד נִשְׁבַּ֥ע לְ֝הָרַ֗ע וְלֹ֣א יָמִֽר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• In whose eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
• a vile personמָאַסmâ'as · to rejectH3988
• is contemnedבָּזָהbâzâh · to despiseH959
• but he honourethכָּבֵדkâbad kâbêd · to honor: honourH3513
• them that fearיָרֵאyârê' · afraidH3373
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• swearethשָׁבַעshâba‛ · to swearH7650
• hurtרָעַעrâ‛a‛ · be evilH7489
• and changethמוּרmûr · to changeH4171

Cross-references for Psalms 15:4

• Psalms 101:4A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not tolerate evil.
• 2 Kings 3:13Now Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What business do you have with me? Go to the prophets of your [wicked] father [Ahab] and to the prophets of your [pagan] mother [Jezebel].” But the king of Israel said to him, “No, for the Lord has called these three kings together to be handed over to Moab.”
• Esther 3:2All the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate [in royal service] bowed down and honored and paid homage to Haman; for this is what the king had commanded in regard to him. But Mordecai [a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin] neither bowed down nor paid homage [to him].
• Job 32:21I will not [I warn you] be partial to any man [that is, let my respect for you mitigate what I say]; Nor flatter any man.
• Isaiah 32:5The fool (the good-for-nothing) will no longer be called noble, Nor the rogue said to be generous.
• Daniel 5:17Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else; however, I will read the writing to the king and reveal the interpretation to him.
• Acts 24:2After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began the complaint [against him], saying to the governor: “Since through you we have attained great peace, and since by your foresight reforms are being carried out for this nation,
• James 2:1My fellow believers, do not practice your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of partiality [toward people—show no favoritism, no prejudice, no snobbery].
• Psalms 16:3As for the saints (godly people) who are in the land, They are the majestic and the noble and the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.
• Psalms 101:6My eyes will be on the faithful (honorable) of the land, that they may dwell with me; He who walks blamelessly is the one who will minister to and serve me.
• Psalms 119:63I am a companion of all who [reverently] fear You, And of those who keep and honor Your precepts.
• Matthew 12:49And stretching out His hand toward His disciples [and all His other followers], He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!
• 1 John 3:14We know that we have passed out of death into Life, because we love the brothers and sisters. He who does not love remains in [spiritual] death.
• Joshua 9:18But the sons of Israel did not strike them because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord the God of Israel [to spare them]. And all the congregation murmured [expressing great dissatisfaction] against the leaders.
• Judges 11:35And when he saw her, he tore his clothes [in grief] and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me great disaster, and you are the cause of ruin to me; for I have made a vow to the Lord, and I cannot take it back.”
• 2 Samuel 21:1There was famine in the days of David for three consecutive years; and David sought the presence (face) of the Lord [asking the reason]. The Lord replied, “It is because of Saul and his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.”

Commentaries on Psalms 15:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4In whose eves a vile person is contemned - 7. This man judges of others by their conduct; he tries no man's heart. He knows men only by the fruits they bear; and thus he gains knowledge of the principle from which they proceed. A vile person, נמאס nimas, the reprobate, one abandoned to sin; is despised, נבזה nibzeh, is loathsome, as if he were covered with the elephantiasis or leprosy, for so the word implies. He may be rich, he may be learned, he may be…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4In whose eyes a vile person is contemned - That is, who does not show respect to a man of base or bad character on account of his wealth, his position, or his rank in life. He estimates character as it is in itself, and not as derived from rank, relationship, or station. While, as stated in the previous verse, he is not disposed to take up a false or evil report against another, he is at the same time disposed to do justice to all, and does not honor…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-5This wisdom poem contrasts the lifestyle of the righteous with the actions of fools (Psalm 14). The questions in this psalm invite people to examine themselves and not pay attention to problems with the wicked. The question of who dwells in God’s presence leads into a description of godly character qualities (compare Psalm 24:3–6; Isaiah 33:14–16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Love and hate are regulated by a regard to God. sweareth ... hurt--or what so results (compare Le 5:4).Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 15:4

• Company
• Fear of God
• Holiness
• Integrity
• Oath
• Righteous
• Righteousness
• Witness

In the dictionaries

• Contemn
• Tabernacle
• God
• Papyrus
• Person, Personality
• Poetry, Hebrew
• Psalms, Book of

Commentaries on Psalms 15

• 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