Psalms 97:10
Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
Original Language Analysis
יְהוָ֗ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֗ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 10
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
שֹׁ֭מֵר
he preserveth
H8104
שֹׁ֭מֵר
he preserveth
Strong's:
H8104
Word #:
5 of 10
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
נַפְשׁ֣וֹת
the souls
H5315
נַפְשׁ֣וֹת
the souls
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
6 of 10
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
חֲסִידָ֑יו
of his saints
H2623
חֲסִידָ֑יו
of his saints
Strong's:
H2623
Word #:
7 of 10
properly, kind, i.e., (religiously) pious (a saint)
מִיַּ֥ד
them out of the hand
H3027
מִיַּ֥ד
them out of the hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
8 of 10
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
Cross References
Proverbs 8:13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.Psalms 145:20The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.Romans 12:9Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.Psalms 34:14Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.Jeremiah 15:21And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.Daniel 3:28Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.Psalms 31:23O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.Proverbs 2:8He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.Amos 5:15Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.2 Thessalonians 3:2And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.
Historical Context
Israel's covenant included both blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, with God promising to preserve faithful remnants even during judgment.
Questions for Reflection
- What specific evils does God call you to actively hate and oppose, not just passively disapprove?
- How have you experienced God's preservation and deliverance from spiritual dangers?
Analysis & Commentary
The command to 'hate evil' (sane' ra) isn't mere disapproval but active opposition to wickedness. This hatred flows from loving God—you cannot love God while being indifferent to what He hates. 'Preserveth the souls of his saints' (shamar—guards, keeps) promises divine protection for the righteous. Deliverance from 'the wicked' demonstrates that God actively intervenes on behalf of His people. This verse refutes antinomianism (faith without ethics) by linking love for God with moral distinctiveness.