Psalms 18:26 — Word Study
WLCעִם־ נָבָ֥ר תִּתְבָּרָ֑ר וְעִם־ עִ֝קֵּ֗שׁ תִּתְפַּתָּֽל׃
BSAtoʻim but toʻim
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| עִם־ | with | Preposition |
| נָבָ֥ר | [one who] purifies himself | Verb, Niphal, participle (active) masculine singular |
| תִּתְבָּרָ֑ר | you show yourself pure | Verb, Hithpael, imperfect second person masculine singular |
| וְעִם־ | and with | Conjunction, preposition |
| עִ֝קֵּ֗שׁ | a perverse [person] | |
| תִּתְפַּתָּֽל׃ | you show yourself twisted | Verb, Hithpael, imperfect second person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | to the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd. |
| KJV | With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. |
| ASV | With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; And with the perverse thou wilt show thyself froward. |
| YLT | With the pure Thou showest Thyself pure, And with the perverse showest Thyself a wrestler, |
| WEB | With the pure, you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd. |
| BBE | He who is holy will see that you are holy; but to the man whose way is not straight you will be a hard judge. |
The translations agree on the essential meanings of the key terms in this verse.
The structure presents a clear contrast between the two main ideas, emphasizing the moral distinctions.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbחָסִיד
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
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 18:26
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 — A Reflection on God's Naturegenerated
Psalm 18:26 is part of a larger passage where the psalmist describes how God interacts with people based on their moral character. The psalm emphasizes God's faithfulness to the faithful and His purity to the pure, contrasting with His responses to the crooked. This theme of divine justice and moral order is echoed throughout the Psalms, illustrating the relationship between human behavior and divine response.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 109:17–19 | The cursing that he loved, may it fall on him; the blessing in which he refused to delight, may it be far from him. |
| 2 | Leviticus 26:23–24 | And if in spite of these things you do not accept My discipline, but continue to walk in hostility toward Me, |
| 3 | Proverbs 3:34 | He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble. |
| 4 | Romans 2:4–6 | Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance? |
| 5 | James 2:13 | For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — נָבָ֥ר, na.Vargenerated
The word נָבָר (na.Var) is a participle that describes one who purifies themselves, suggesting a state of moral cleanliness or uprightness. It is derived from the root word בָּרַר (barar), which means to cleanse or select, indicating an active process of becoming pure before God.
In this verse, the psalmist states that God shows Himself as pure to those who are pure, highlighting the reciprocal relationship between divine nature and human morality. The use of the participle form emphasizes the ongoing nature of this purification process.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is presented in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the term pure for נָבָ֥ר and shrewd for עִ֝קֵּ֗שׁ.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse contains two main clauses, each beginning with a verb: תִּתְבָּרָ֑ר and תִּתְפַּתָּֽל. The structure indicates a parallelism, contrasting the responses of God to the pure and the crooked. This poetic form is typical in Hebrew literature, enhancing the thematic contrast.
The use of the prepositional phrases עִם־ and וְעִם־ emphasizes the relational aspect of how God interacts with different types of people, reinforcing the moral framework of the psalm.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word נָבָ֥ר is rendered as ὁσίου, meaning 'holy' or 'pious.' This choice narrows the focus to the moral aspect of purity, suggesting a deeper interpretation of the character of those who are pure before God.
The Greek translation for עִ֝קֵּ֗שׁ is ἀθῴου, which conveys a sense of being free from guilt or blame, aligning with the Hebrew concept of moral distortion.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 18:26 tells us that God shows His true nature to people based on their moral character. To those who are pure, He reveals Himself as pure, while to those who are crooked, He shows Himself as shrewd. This verse emphasizes the relationship between how we live and how God interacts with us.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that God reveals His holiness and true nature to those who are morally upright.
God shows Himself shrewd to the crooked, indicating that He understands their deceptive nature and responds accordingly.
The word 'pure' signifies moral cleanliness and an active effort to live righteously before God.
This verse reflects the Psalms' consistent theme of divine justice, where God's actions align with the moral state of individuals.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I strive to be pure in my thoughts and actions?
- How do I perceive God's nature in relation to my own moral choices?
- What are some examples of how God has shown Himself to me based on my behavior?
- How can I apply the principles of this verse to my relationships with others?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early church fathers like Clement of Alexandria and Augustine of Hippo reference this verse to discuss God's nature and moral uprightness.
By perverse, he means he will chastise sinners. For his natural uprightness … and his goodness toward those who believe obediently are immovable and unshakable.… Therefore,Early Church Fathers on Psalms 18 →
"And with the chosen You shall be chosen." [Psalms 18:26]. And by him whom You choose, You are chosen.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 18 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 18:26 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleWith the pure thou wilt show thyself pure,.... None of Adam's posterity are pure by nature; they are all defiled with sin; and though some are pure in their own eyes, they are far from being cleansed
Read John Gill on Psalms 18 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryWith the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. And with the froward thou wilt show thyself froward - not that God is really so; but to the froward God seems so.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 18 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BiblePure; free from the least mixture or appearance of unrighteousness, or unfaithfulness, or unkindness; or simply and sincerely, such as thou usest and hast promised to be to them that are such; for purity is oft put for sincerity. Froward, or perverse, i.e. thou wilt cross him, and walk contrary to him, as thou hast threatened, ,24. See also . Man’ s perverseness here is moral and sinful, but God’ s perverseness is judicial and penal.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 18 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 18:26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.Ver. 26. With the pure, &c.] Cum candido candide agere soles. The pure shall have all that heart can wish. And with the froward thou wilt show thyself froward] Or, thou wilt wrestle, viz. with such cross pieces, as proudly and perversely err from thy precepts, as it were, on purpose to thwart thee, or to try masteries with thee. Against such stubborn persons God threateneth not eight degrees (which are the highest notes in music and degrees in qualities, as the philosopher distinguisheth them), but twenty and eight degrees of wrath, Leviticus 26:18; Leviticus 26:21; Leviticus 26:24…
Read John Trapp on Psalms 18 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(26) Froward . . . froward.—The use of this one word to render two different Hebrew terms is so far correct, as they both come from roots meaning primarily to twist. Both are combined in Proverbs 8:8, “froward (margin, twisted) or perverse,” and both are contrasted with “righteousness.” Plainly the metaphor might apply-either to the character itself, “twisted round,” “awry,” “perverse,” or to the line of conduct pursued, “bent,” “crooked,” or “wrong,” the opposite of “straight,” or “right.” “Froward” =from ward (opposite to “toward”), seems to have more of the latter idea, but may combine both—a disposition turned away from good. The poet therefore says, “God will turn away from those who…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 18 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 26. With the froward] עקש ikkesh, the perverse man; he that is crooked in his tempers and ways. Thou wilt show thyself froward.] תתפתל tithpattal, thou wilt set thyself to twist, twine, and wrestle. If he contend, thou wilt contend with him. Thou wilt follow him through all his windings; thou wilt trace him through all his crooked ways; untwist him in all his cunning wiles; and defeat all his schemes of stubbornness, fraud, overreaching, and deceit. My old Psalter has, With the wiked thow sal be wike. Here the term wicked is taken in its true original sense, crooked, or perverse. With the wiked, the perverse, thou wilt show thyself wike, i.e., perverse; from [Anglo-Saxon], to draw…
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 18 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges26. With the pure &c.] Lit. one who purifies himself, cp. 1 John 3:3. Cp. Psalms 24:4, Psalms 73:1. Matthew 5:8 is the N.T. commentary on the words. and with the froward &c.] Better, as R.V., and with the perverse thou wilt shew thyself froward. The ‘perverse’ man, whose character is morally distorted, is given over by God to follow his own crooked ways, till they bring him to destruction. God must needs be at cross purposes with the wicked, frustrating their plans, and punishing their wickedness. See Leviticus 26:23-24; Job 5:12-13; Isaiah 29:9 ff.; Proverbs 3:34; Romans 1:28; Revelation 22:11; and for an illustration camp. the history of Balaam (Numbers 22:20.).
Read Cambridge on Psalms 18 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleWith the pure - Those who are pure in their thoughts, their motives, their conduct.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 18 →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
to the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd.
With the pure, you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.
to the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd.
You prove to be reliable to one who is blameless, but you prove to be deceptive to one who is perverse.
Tyndale line
With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.
With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; And with the perverse thou wilt show thyself froward.
With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the perverse thou wilt shew thyself froward.
With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt contend.
With the pure thou wilt shewe thy selfe pure, and with the froward thou wilt shewe thy selfe froward.
Strictly literal
With the pure thou dost shew thyself pure; and with the perverse thou dost shew thyself contrary.
With the pure Thou showest Thyself pure, And with the perverse showest Thyself a wrestler,
With the pure You show Yourself pure, || And with the perverse You show Yourself a wrestler,
(18:27) With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; and with the perverse thou wilt wage a contest.
To anyone who is pure, you show yourself pure; but you are clever toward anyone who is twisted.
Simplified
You show yourself pure to those who are pure, but you show yourself smart to those who are crafty.
He who is holy will see that you are holy; but to the man whose way is not straight you will be a hard judge.
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 reads, "עִם־ נָבָ֥ר תִּתְבָּרָ֑ר וְעִם־ עִ֝קֵּ֗שׁ תִּתְפַּתָּֽל׃" which translates to "with the pure You show Yourself pure, but with the crooked You show Yourself shrewd." The Septuagint aligns closely with the Masoretic Text, matching five out of six words, although its word order differs. The Dead Sea Scrolls also reflect a similar sentiment, with the fragment from 5/6hev1b containing five words, one of which is partly restored and another supplied by an editor. The 11Q8 fragment similarly contains five words, with one partly restored and another supplied. Overall, while the wording varies slightly, the core message remains consistent across these ancient witnesses.
עִם־ נָבָ֥ר תִּתְבָּרָ֑ר וְעִם־ עִ֝קֵּ֗שׁ תִּתְפַּתָּֽל׃
5 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.
[עם] חסיד תתחסד עם גבר תמים תתמם
5 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 1 supplied entire by an editor.
תתחסד עם גבר תמים [תתמם]
5 words of the verse are on this fragment — 1 partly restored, 1 supplied entire by an editor.
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 18:26
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.
עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.
עִם prep. with
of fellowship and companionship
of aid
Of actions done jointly with another
If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against
Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another
Of a common lot together with the wicked
Of equality or resemblance generally aid
Of time, as long as
Of a locality, close to, beside
Of persons, עִם is spec.
in the house or family or service of
In possession of
In the custody or care of
Beside = except
With = friendly with
Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
base
מֵעִם 72 from with or beside
base
H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship
. Of a locality, close to, beside
. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of
. In possession of
. In the custody or care of
. Beside = except
. With = friendly with
. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside
5973 `im eem
from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction
with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;
often with prepositional prefix (and then usually
unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X
long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from
(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,
with(-al).
see HEBREW for 06004
עִם (im) — with.
1) with
1a) with
1b) against
1c) toward
1d) as long as
מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.
1a) beside, except
1b) in spite of
Prep — PrepositionHR
בָּרַר (barar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to purify, select, or choose. It encompasses a range of actions including cleansing, polishing, and testing. The word appears in various forms, such as purging or proving oneself, and is notably used in the context of making something bright or clean. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
[בָּרַר] vb. purify, select
Qal
purge out, purify
choose, select, only Pt. and in Chronicler
cleanse, make shining, polish
test, prove
Niph. purify oneself
Pi. purify
Hiph.
purify, cleanse
polish arrows
Hithp.
purify oneself
shew oneself pure, just, kind
base
H1305 [בָּרַר] purify, select .. purge out, purify
. choose, select, only Pt. and in Chronicler
. cleanse, make shining, polish
. test, prove
. purify oneself
. purify
. . purify, cleanse
. polish arrows
. . purify oneself
. shew oneself pure, just, kind
1305 barar baw-rar'
a primitive root; to clarify (i.e. brighten), examine,
select:--make bright, choice, chosen, cleanse (be clean),
clearly, polished, (shew self) pure(-ify), purge (out).
בָּרַר (ba.rar) — to purify.
1) to purify, select, polish, choose, purge, cleanse or make bright, test or prove
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to purge, purge out, purify
1a2) to choose, select
1a3) to cleanse, make shining, polish
1a4) to test, prove
1b) (Niphal) to purify oneself
1c) (Piel) to purify
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to purify
1d2) to polish arrows
1e) (Hithpael)
1e1) to purify oneself
1e2) to show oneself pure, just, kind
HVNrmsa — Verb · Niphal · participle (active) masculine singularHVNrmsa
בָּרַר (barar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to purify, select, or choose. It encompasses a range of actions including cleansing, polishing, and testing. The word appears in various forms, such as purging or proving oneself, and is notably used in the context of making something bright or clean. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
[בָּרַר] vb. purify, select
Qal
purge out, purify
choose, select, only Pt. and in Chronicler
cleanse, make shining, polish
test, prove
Niph. purify oneself
Pi. purify
Hiph.
purify, cleanse
polish arrows
Hithp.
purify oneself
shew oneself pure, just, kind
base
H1305 [בָּרַר] purify, select .. purge out, purify
. choose, select, only Pt. and in Chronicler
. cleanse, make shining, polish
. test, prove
. purify oneself
. purify
. . purify, cleanse
. polish arrows
. . purify oneself
. shew oneself pure, just, kind
1305 barar baw-rar'
a primitive root; to clarify (i.e. brighten), examine,
select:--make bright, choice, chosen, cleanse (be clean),
clearly, polished, (shew self) pure(-ify), purge (out).
בָּרַר (ba.rar) — to purify.
1) to purify, select, polish, choose, purge, cleanse or make bright, test or prove
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to purge, purge out, purify
1a2) to choose, select
1a3) to cleanse, make shining, polish
1a4) to test, prove
1b) (Niphal) to purify oneself
1c) (Piel) to purify
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to purify
1d2) to polish arrows
1e) (Hithpael)
1e1) to purify oneself
1e2) to show oneself pure, just, kind
HVti2ms — Verb · Hithpael · imperfect second person masculine singularHVti2ms
עִם (im) is a preposition meaning 'with' and covers a range of relationships, including companionship, locality, and possession. It can imply actions done jointly, equality, or even opposition in contexts like combat. The related form מֵעִם (me.im) means 'from with' or 'beside.' The entries reflect various nuances but do not present significant disagreement.
עִם prep. with
of fellowship and companionship
of aid
Of actions done jointly with another
If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against
Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another
Of a common lot together with the wicked
Of equality or resemblance generally aid
Of time, as long as
Of a locality, close to, beside
Of persons, עִם is spec.
in the house or family or service of
In possession of
In the custody or care of
Beside = except
With = friendly with
Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
base
מֵעִם 72 from with or beside
base
H5973a עִם with . of fellowship and companionship
. Of a locality, close to, beside
. Of persons, עִם is spec. . in the house or family or service of
. In possession of
. In the custody or care of
. Beside = except
. With = friendly with
. Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
. Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
H5973b מֵעִם from with, beside
5973 `im eem
from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction
with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with;
often with prepositional prefix (and then usually
unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X
long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from
(among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to,
with(-al).
see HEBREW for 06004
עִם (im) — with.
1) with
1a) with
1b) against
1c) toward
1d) as long as
מֵעִם (me.im) — from with.
1a) beside, except
1b) in spite of
Prep — Conjunction · prepositionHC/R
עִקֵּשׁ (iqqesh) means twisted or perverted, conveying a sense of distortion or crookedness. It is derived from the root word עָקַשׁ (‘aqash), which also relates to these themes. The entries consistently emphasize its negative connotations, describing something that is false or morally corrupt.
עִקֵּשׁ adj. twisted, perverted
base
H6141 עִקֵּשׁ twisted, perverted
6141 `iqqesh ik-kashe'
from 6140; distorted; hence, false:--crooked, froward,
perverse.
see HEBREW for 06140
עִקֵּשׁ (iq.qesh) — twisted.
twisted, distorted, crooked, perverse, perverted
HAamsa — HAamsa
פָּתַל (pathal) means to twist or struggle, with a focus on being tortuous or morally froward. It can describe both literal twisting and figurative wrestling, as noted in various contexts. The entries highlight its usage in different forms, such as the Niphal and Hithpael, but do not present any significant disagreements among the lexicons.
[פָּתַל] vb. twist
Niph. I have wrestled (lit. twisted myself) with; the plan of the tortuous; anything tortuous and twisted
Hithp. with the twisted thou dost deal tortuously
base
H6617 פָּתַל twist . I have wrestled (lit. twisted myself) with; the plan of the tortuous; anything tortuous and twisted
. with the twisted thou dost deal tortuously
6617 pathal paw-thal'
a primitive root; to twine, i.e. (literally) to struggle or
(figuratively) be (morally) tortuous:--(shew self) froward,
shew self unsavoury, wrestle.
פָּתַל (pa.tal) — to twist.
1) to twist
1a) (Niphal)
1a1) to be twisted
1a2) to wrestle
1b) (Hithpael) to be twisted
HVti2ms — Verb · Hithpael · imperfect second person masculine singularHVti2ms