Psalms 139:21 — Word Study
WLCהֲלֽוֹא־ מְשַׂנְאֶ֖יךָ יְהוָ֥ה׀ אֶשְׂנָ֑א וּ֝בִתְקוֹמְמֶ֗יךָ אֶתְקוֹטָֽט׃
BSADo I notlôʼ [certainly, absolutely] hatesânêʼ [feel intense dislike, despise] those who hate Yousânêʼ▸ [are hostile towards] O LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, the Lord of all] and detestqûwṭ▸ [am grieved with, loathe] those who rise against Youtᵉqôwmêm△ [confront, oppose]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הֲלֽוֹא־ | ¿ not | Particle, particle |
| מְשַׂנְאֶ֖יךָ | [those who] hate you | Verb piel participle (active) masculine plural common, suffix |
| יְהוָ֥ה׀ | O Yahweh | Noun proper |
| אֶשְׂנָ֑א | do I hate | Verb, Qal, imperfect first person common singular |
| וּ֝בִתְקוֹמְמֶ֗יךָ | and rebels your | Conjunction, preposition, verb hithpael participle (active) masculine plural common |
| אֶתְקוֹטָֽט׃ | do I loathe? | Verb, Hithpael, imperfect first person common singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD, and detest those who rise against You? |
| KJV | Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? |
| ASV | Do not I hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee? And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? |
| YLT | Do not I hate, Jehovah, those hating Thee? And with Thy withstanders grieve myself? |
| WEB | Yahweh, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you? |
| BBE | Are not your haters hated by me, O Lord? are not those who are lifted up against you a cause of grief to me? |
Where they part company is שָׂנֵא — see How Translations Differ.
One main verb with a subordinate phrase describing the object of hatred. This structure emphasizes the psalmist's strong emotional response.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbשָׂנֵא
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 6 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 139:21
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Meditation on God's Enemiesgenerated
Psalm 139:21 reflects the psalmist's intense emotions regarding those who oppose God. He contrasts his feelings of hatred towards God's enemies with a desire for divine justice. This passage is part of a larger meditation that includes a plea for God to search his heart and reveal any wicked ways, emphasizing the psalmist's commitment to righteousness and truth, as seen in Psalm 139:23.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 15:4 | who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath, |
| 2 | Psalm 31:6 | I hate those who cling to worthless idols, but in the LORD I trust. |
| 3 | 2 Chronicles 19:2 | Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to confront him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you. |
| 4 | Revelation 2:2–6 | I know your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and you have tested and exposed as liars those who falsely claim to be apostles. |
| 5 | Psalm 119:136–158 | My eyes shed streams of tears because Your law is not obeyed. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שָׂנֵא, sane'generated
The verb שָׂנֵא (sane') is a primitive root meaning 'to hate.' It covers various forms of hatred, including personal animosity and enmity. The parsing as a Qal imperfect first person common singular indicates that the psalmist is expressing his own action of hating, directed towards those who oppose God.
This word encompasses a strong emotional response, reflecting the psalmist's intense dislike for those who are hostile towards God. The use of this verb here emphasizes the seriousness of the opposition faced by God and His followers.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb אֶשְׂנָא (esna'), I hate, governs the sentence, with two phrases following: the first describes those who hate God, and the second describes those who rise against Him. This structure highlights the psalmist's focus on his emotional response to God's enemies.
The order of the Hebrew words places emphasis on the psalmist's hatred first, followed by the identification of the enemies, which underscores the intensity of his feelings.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
שָׂנֵא is rendered as ἐμίσησα in the Septuagint, which means 'I hated.' This choice conveys a direct and personal expression of hatred, aligning closely with the original Hebrew meaning.
The Septuagint's translation maintains the emotional intensity of the Hebrew text, emphasizing the psalmist's strong feelings against those who oppose God.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 139:21 expresses the psalmist's strong feelings against those who oppose God. He states that he hates those who hate God and detests those who rise against Him. This verse shows the psalmist's commitment to God's justice and righteousness.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means to feel a strong dislike or animosity towards those who oppose God's ways and values, reflecting a commitment to God's justice.
The verse highlights the psalmist's desire for justice against those who rise up against God, showing that hatred for evil is part of a righteous response.
The psalmist's hatred is directed towards those who oppose God, which is seen as a righteous stance in the context of divine justice.
We can reflect on our own feelings towards injustice and opposition to God, seeking to align our hearts with God's values and justice.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see opposition to God in the world around me?
- How can I cultivate a heart that aligns with God's justice?
- What does it mean for me to hate what God hates?
- How can I express my feelings about injustice in a way that honors God?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early Church Fathers reflect on this verse to discuss themes of justice and the nature of God's enemies, illustrating how the psalmist's emotions can guide our understanding of righteousness.
Yet, it is not hard for us, if we wish it, to take up a love for justice and a hatred for iniquity. God has advantageously given all power to the rational soul, as that of loving, so also that of hating, in order that, guided by reason,Early Church Fathers on Psalms 139 →
And then He tells what meanwhile, during this whole time when He already has risen, and remains still with the Father, He suffers by the intermixture of sinners in His Body, the Church, and by the separation of heretics.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 139 →
I also ask and beg of you to expound for me what [Paul] says to the Romans, for I admit I have very poor sight for this opinion of the apostle about the Jews, where he says, “As concerning the gospel, indeed they are enemies for your sake,Early Church Fathers on Psalms 139 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 139:21 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleDo not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee?.... Wicked men are haters of God; of his word, both law and Gospel; of his ordinances, ways, and worship; of his people, cause, and interest; and therefore
Read John Gill on Psalms 139 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryDo not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? One cannot at once love the Lord and love His enemies (Psalms 119:158).
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 139 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleI appeal to thee, the omnipresent and omniscient God, whether I do not perfectly hate them so far as they are enemies to God and goodness. That rise up against thee, in open hostility and rebellion against thine authority.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 139 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 139:21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?Ver. 21. Do not I hate them, O Lord] And therefore hate them because they hate thee? This the Hebrews understand of heretics and apostates. See a like zeal in that angel of Ephesus, Revelation 2:2. And am not I grieved] Or, irked, made ready to vomit at (as at some loathsome spectacle), fretted, vexed.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 139 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(21) Do not I . . .—Better— “Must I not hate thy haters, Jehovah, And feel loathing for thy assailants?”
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 139 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 21. Do not I hate them] I hold their conduct in abomination.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 139 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges21. am not I grieved with] Do not I loathe, as in Psalms 119:158.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 139 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleDo not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? - This is in the consciousness of the psalmist a proof of his own real piety, as derived from his feelings toward those who were the enemies of God.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 139 →The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD, and detest those who rise against You?
Yahweh, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?
Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD, and detest those who rise against You?
O Lord, do I not hate those who hate you, and despise those who oppose you?
Tyndale line
Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
Do not I hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee? And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
Doe not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and doe not I earnestly contend with those that rise vp against thee?
Strictly literal
Do not I hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee? and do not I loathe them that rise up against thee?
Do not I hate, Jehovah, those hating Thee? And with Thy withstanders grieve myself?
Do I not hate, YHWH, those hating You? And grieve myself with Your withstanders?
Behold, those that hate thee I ever hate, O Lord; and for those that rise up against thee do I feel loathing.
Do I not hate those, Yahweh, who hate you? Do I not despise those who rise up against you?
Simplified
Lord, don't I hate those who hate you? I despise those who rebel against you!
Are not your haters hated by me, O Lord? are not those who are lifted up against you a cause of grief to me?
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text presents the verse as: הֲלֽוֹא־ מְשַׂנְאֶ֖יךָ יְהוָ֥ה׀ אֶשְׂנָ֑א וּ֝בִתְקוֹמְמֶ֗יךָ אֶתְקוֹטָֽט׃. The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in all six words, although it presents them in a different order and structure. The Dead Sea Scrolls (11Q5) also align closely with the Masoretic Text, showing the same six words: הלוא משנאי׳כה יהוה אשנא וממתקוממי׳כה אתקוטט. This agreement across the Masoretic Text, Septuagint, and the Dead Sea Scrolls indicates a strong consistency in the transmission of this verse.
הֲלֽוֹא־ מְשַׂנְאֶ֖יךָ יְהוָ֥ה׀ אֶשְׂנָ֑א וּ֝בִתְקוֹמְמֶ֗יךָ אֶתְקוֹטָֽט׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
הלוא משנאי׳כה יהוה אשנא וממתקוממי׳כה אתקוטט
6 words on the leather.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 139:21
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Part | Part — Particle · particleHTi/Tn
שָׂנֵא (sane') is a primitive root meaning 'to hate.' It covers various forms of hatred, including personal animosity and enmity, and can refer to both humans and God. The word appears in different grammatical forms, with uses in Qal, Niphal, and Piel, indicating actions of hating or being hated. Its Aramaic equivalent is שְׂנָא.
שָׂנֵא 145 vb. hate
Qal 128 hate
Niph. is hated
Pi. enemy
base
H8130 שָׂנֵא hate
8130 sane' saw-nay'
a primitive root; to hate (personally):--enemy, foe, (be)
hate(-ful, -r), odious, X utterly.
שָׂנֵא (sa.ne) — to hate.
1) to hate, be hateful
1a) (Qal) to hate
1a1) of man
1a2) of God
1a3) hater, one hating, enemy (participle) (subst)
1b) (Niphal) to be hated
1c) (Piel) hater (participle)
1c1) of persons, nations, God, wisdom
Aramaic equivalent: se.ne (שְׂנָא "to hate" H8131)
V-Piel | Suff — Verb piel participle (active) masculine plural common · suffixHVprmpc/Sp2ms
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
N-proper — Noun properHNpt
שָׂנֵא (sane') is a primitive root meaning 'to hate.' It covers various forms of hatred, including personal animosity and enmity, and can refer to both humans and God. The word appears in different grammatical forms, with uses in Qal, Niphal, and Piel, indicating actions of hating or being hated. Its Aramaic equivalent is שְׂנָא.
שָׂנֵא 145 vb. hate
Qal 128 hate
Niph. is hated
Pi. enemy
base
H8130 שָׂנֵא hate
8130 sane' saw-nay'
a primitive root; to hate (personally):--enemy, foe, (be)
hate(-ful, -r), odious, X utterly.
שָׂנֵא (sa.ne) — to hate.
1) to hate, be hateful
1a) (Qal) to hate
1a1) of man
1a2) of God
1a3) hater, one hating, enemy (participle) (subst)
1b) (Niphal) to be hated
1c) (Piel) hater (participle)
1c1) of persons, nations, God, wisdom
Aramaic equivalent: se.ne (שְׂנָא "to hate" H8131)
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singularHVqi1cs
תְּקוֹמֵם (tqowmem) is derived from the root meaning 'to rise up' and refers to an opponent or confrontation. It appears in contexts related to rising against or confronting, specifically noted in Psalm 139:21. The entries suggest a focus on opposition and the act of rising up.
[תְּקוֹמֵם], וּבִתְקוֹמְמֶיךָ ψ 139:21, v. √, Hithpō‛l.
done
H8618 תְּקוֹמֵם, וּבִתְקוֹמְמֶיךָ
8618 tqowmem tek-o-mame'
from 6965; an opponent:--rise up against.
see HEBREW for 06965
תְּקוֹמֵם (te.qo.mem) — to confront.
(Hithpol) a rising against (participle)
Conj | Prep | N-mp | Suff — Conjunction · preposition · verb hithpael participle (active) masculine plural common · suffixHC/R/Vtrmpc/Sp2ms
קוּט (quwt) is a Hebrew verb meaning to feel loathing or detest. It has forms that express feeling loathing towards oneself or others. The entries indicate its use in various contexts, including feeling grief or self-loathing. The Brown-Driver-Briggs entry provides an example of its application in a sentence, illustrating its emotional weight.
[קוּט] vb. feel a loathing
Qal I felt a loathing at the generation.
Niph. ye shall feel loathing against your faces (at yourselves)
Hithpō‛l. id.
base
H6962 קוּט, נָקַט
6962 quwt koot
a primitive root; properly, to cut off, i.e. (figuratively)
detest:--begrieved, loathe self.
קוּט (qut) — to loath.
1) to loathe, be grieved, feel a loathing
1a) (Qal) to feel a loathing
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to feel loathing against self
1b2) to detest
1c) (Hithpolel) to loathe oneself
Also means: na.qat (נָקַט "to tire" H5354)
V-r-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Hithpael · imperfect first person common singularHVti1cs