Psalms 97:10

Authorized King James Version

Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

Word-by-Word Analysis

אֹהֲבֵ֥י

H157

Ye that love

to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)

יְהוָ֗ה

H3068

the LORD

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

שִׂנְא֫וּ

H8130

hate

to hate (personally)

רָ֥ע

H7451

evil

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

שֹׁ֭מֵר

H8104

he preserveth

properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc

נַפְשׁ֣וֹת

H5315

the souls

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

חֲסִידָ֑יו

H2623

of his saints

properly, kind, i.e., (religiously) pious (a saint)

מִיַּ֥ד

H3027

them out of the hand

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

רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים

H7563

of the wicked

morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person

#10

יַצִּילֵֽם׃

H5337

he delivereth

to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense

Analysis

This verse develops the divine love theme central to Psalms. The concept of love reflects the development of divine love within biblical theology. The divine name or title here functions within worship literature expressing the full range of human experience before God to establish theological authority and covenantal relationship. The original language emphasizes the covenant name Yahweh, emphasizing God's faithfulness to His promises, providing deeper understanding of the author's theological intention.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the Israelite monarchy with its court politics and military conflicts. The author writes to address worshipers in the temple and those seeking God in times of distress, making the emphasis on divine love particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show patron-client relationships and family loyalty concepts, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

What practical applications emerge from understanding divine love as presented in this verse, particularly in light of responding to cultural confusion about the nature of love and relationships?
How does this passage contribute to our understanding of from covenant faithfulness to sacrificial love demonstrated in Christ, and what implications does this have for Christian discipleship?
How does the divine love theme in this verse connect to the overarching narrative of Scripture, and what does this reveal about God's character and purposes?