Psalms 11:5

Analysis & Commentary

The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. This verse presents God's discriminating judgment, revealing that His observation (v.4) leads to evaluation and verdict. The verse employs striking parallelism: God tests the righteous, but hates the wicked—particularly those who love violence.

"The LORD trieth" (Yahweh yivhan, יְהוָה יִבְחַן) uses bachan, meaning to test, examine, prove, refine—the same word from verse 4. The testing imagery recalls metallurgy: precious metals refined in fire to remove impurities. God's testing of the righteous isn't vindictive but purifying, producing genuine faith. First Peter 1:6-7 develops this: trials test faith "being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire."

The verb "trieth" stands alone with "the righteous" (tzaddik, צַדִּיק) as object, creating interpretive challenge. Does God test the righteous alone, or also test the wicked? Context suggests God examines all (v.4: "try the children of men"), but responds differently. The righteous undergo refining testing; the wicked face damning judgment. Testing reveals what's present—genuine faith in believers, corrupt rebellion in unbelievers.

"But the wicked and him that loveth violence" (verasha ve'ohev chamas, וְרָשָׁע וְאֹהֵב חָמָס) employs emphatic Hebrew construction. Rasha (wicked) describes those fundamentally opposed to God's ways. Chamas (violence, cruelty, injustice) appears throughout Old Testament describing human wickedness from Cain's murder through corrupt societies God judged. Those who "love" (ahev) violence aren't merely violent occasionally but embrace it fundamentally.

"His soul hateth" (sanah nafsho, שָׂנְאָה נַפְשׁוֹ) presents startling divine emotion. Sane means hate, utterly reject, be hostile toward. God's "soul" (nefesh) indicates His entire being, His deepest essence. This isn't casual dislike but settled, righteous opposition. God's hatred of the wicked doesn't contradict His love—He can hate sin and wickedness while loving sinners enough to provide redemption. But those who finally reject Him and love violence face His permanent opposition. Psalm 5:5 reinforces this: "thou hatest all workers of iniquity."

Historical Context

The concept of divine testing appears throughout redemptive history. God tested Abraham (Genesis 22:1), commanding him to sacrifice Isaac—not to discover what Abraham would do but to reveal and strengthen Abraham's faith. Israel's wilderness wanderings included testing: "the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart" (Deuteronomy 8:2).

Ancient metallurgy provided the testing metaphor. Refiners heated ore to extreme temperatures, causing impurities to separate from precious metal. The process was painful but purifying. Job understood his suffering through this lens: "when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (Job 23:10). Malachi described the coming Messiah as refiner: "he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver" (Malachi 3:3).

Divine hatred of wickedness and violence runs throughout Scripture. Before the flood, "the earth was filled with violence" (Genesis 6:11-13), leading to judgment. Sodom's violence brought destruction (Genesis 19). Israel's prophets condemned violence and oppression (Isaiah 1:15, Amos 5:24, Micah 6:8). When Israel itself embraced violence and injustice, exile resulted.

The phrase "him that loveth violence" had particular relevance during David's life. Saul's violent jealousy drove him to pursue David murderously. Absalom's violent rebellion brought civil war. Throughout Israel's history, violence-loving leaders brought destruction—from Jezebel murdering prophets to Manasseh filling Jerusalem with innocent blood. The psalm affirms that God's eyes see such violence and His soul hates it.

For Christians, this psalm clarifies that current suffering doesn't mean divine abandonment. God tests believers to refine faith, while simultaneously observing and hating wickedness that will ultimately face judgment. The righteous can endure testing confident that it produces proven faith, while the wicked should recognize that love of violence stores up divine wrath.

Questions for Reflection

• How does understanding that God tests the righteous for refinement rather than condemnation change your perspective on trials?
• What impurities in your life might God be refining through current testing and difficulties?
• How can you distinguish between God's purifying testing of believers and His judgment of the wicked?
• What forms of violence (physical, verbal, systemic) exist in modern society that God's soul hates, and how should believers respond?
• How does God's hatred of wickedness and violence relate to His love for sinners, and how should this shape our attitude toward those who practice violence?