Click
here to show/hide instructions.
Instructions on how to use the page:
The commentary for the selected verse is is displayed below.
All commentary was produced against the King James, so the same verse from that translation may appear as well. Hovering your mouse over a commentary's scripture reference attempts to show those verses.
Use the browser's back button to return to the previous page.
Or you can also select a feature from the Just Verses menu appearing at the top of the page.
Selected Verse: Psalms 1:4 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Ps 1:4 |
Strong Concordance |
The ungodly [07563] are not so: but are like the chaff [04671] which the wind [07307] driveth away [05086]. |
|
King James |
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
not so--either as to conduct or happiness.
like the chaff--which, by Eastern modes of winnowing against the wind, was utterly blown away. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
The ungodly are not so - literally, "Not thus the wicked." For the word ungodly, see the notes at Psa 1:1. The statement that the "wicked are not so," is a general statement applicable alike to their character and destiny, though the mind of the author of the psalm is fixed immediately and particularly on the difference in their destiny, without specifying anything particularly respecting their character. It is as true, however, that the ungodly do walk in the counsel of the wicked, and stand in the way of sinners, and sit in the seat of the scornful, as it is that the righteous do not; as true that they do not delight in the law of the Lord, as it is that the righteous do; as true that the wicked are not like a tree planted by the channels of water, as it is that the righteous are. This passage, therefore, may be employed to show what is the character of the ungodly, and in so applying it, what was before negative in regard to the righteous, becomes positive in regard to the wicked; what was positive, becomes negative. Thus it is true:
(a) that the wicked do walk in the counsel of the ungodly; do stand in the way of sinners; do sit in the seat of the scornful;
(b) that they do not delight in the law of the Lord, or meditate on his word; and
(c) that they are not like a tree planted by the waters, that is green and beautiful and fruitful.
Both in character and in destiny the ungodly differ from the righteous. The subsequent part of the verse shows that, while the general truth was in the mind of the writer, the particular thing on which his attention was fixed was, his condition in life - his destiny - as that which could not be compared with a green and fruitful tree, but which suggested quite another image.
But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away - When the wheat was winnowed. This, in Oriental countries, was commonly performed in the open field, and usually on an eminence, and where there was a strong wind. The operation was performed, as it is now in our country, when a fan or fanning-mill cannot he procured, by throwing up the grain as it is threshed with a shovel, and the wind scatters the chaff, while the grain falls to the ground. See the notes at Mat 3:12.
This very naturally and appropriately furnished an illustration of the destiny of the wicked. Compared with the righteous, they were like the worthless chaff driven away by the wind. The image is often found in the Scriptures. See Job 21:18, note; Isa 17:13, note. Compare also Psa 35:5; Isa 29:5; Isa 41:15; Dan 2:35; Hos 13:3. The idea here is, that the wicked are in no respect like the green and fruitful tree referred to in Psa 1:3. They are not like a tree in any respect. They are not even like a decaying tree, a barren tree, a dead tree, for either of these would suggest some idea of stability or permanency. They are like dry and worthless chaff driven off by the wind, as of no value to the farmer - a substance which he is anxious only to separate wholly from his grain, and to get out of his way. The idea thus suggested, therefore, is that of intrinsic worthlessness. It will be among other things, on this account that the wicked will be driven away - that they are worthless in the universe of God - worthless to all the purposes for which man was made. At the same time, however, there may be an implied contrast between that chaff and the useful grain which it is the object of the farmer to secure. |
Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
The ungodly (הרשׁעים, with the demonstrative art.) are the opposite of a tree planted by the water-courses: they are כּמּץ, like chaff (from מוּץ to press out), which the wind drives away, viz., from the loftily situated threshing-floor (Isa 17:13), i.e., without root below, without fruit above, devoid of all the vigour and freshness of life, lying loose upon the threshing-floor and a prey of the slightest breeze-thus utterly worthless and unstable. With על־כּן an inference is drawn from this moral characteristic of the ungodly: just on account of their inner worthlessness and instability they do not stand בּמּשׁפּט. This is the word for the judgment of just recompense to which God brings each individual man and all without exception with all their words (Ecc 12:14), - His righteous government, which takes cognisance of the whole life of each individual and the history of nations and recompenses according to desert. In this judgment the ungodly cannot stand (קוּם to continue to stand, like עמד Psa 130:3 to keep one's self erect), nor sinners בּעדת צדיקים. The congregation (עדה( noi = ‛idah, from ועד, יעד) of the righteous is the congregation of Jahve (עדת ה), which, according to its nature which is ordained and inwrought by God, is a congregation of the righteous, to which consequently the unrighteous belong only outwardly and visibly: ου ̓ γὰρ πάντες οἱ ἐξ Ἰσραήλ οὗτοι Ἰσραήλ, Rom 9:6. God's judgment, when and wheresoever he may hold it, shall trace back this appearance to its nothingness. When the time of the divine decision shall come, which also separates outwardly that which is now inwardly separate, viz., righteous and unrighteous, wheat and chaff, then shall the unrighteous be driven away like chaff before the storm, and their temporary prosperity, which had no divine roots, come to a fearful end. For Jahve knoweth the way of the righteous, יודע as in Psa 37:18; Mat 7:23; Ti2 2:19, and frequently. What is intended is, as the schoolmen say, a nosse con affectu et effectu, a knowledge which is in living, intimate relationship to its subject and at the same time is inclined to it and bound to it by love. The way, i.e., the life's course, of the righteous has God as its goal; God knows this way, which on this very account also unfailingly reaches its goal. On the contrary, the way of the ungodly תּאבד, perishes, because left to itself, - goes down to אבדּון, loses itself, without reaching the goal set before it, in darkest night. The way of the righteous only is דּרך עולם, Psa 139:24, a way that ends in eternal life. Psa 112:1-10 which begins with אשׁרי ends with the same fearful תאבד. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
Ungodly - Their condition is far different. Chaff - They are restless and unquiet: their seeming felicity, hath no firm foundation, but quickly vanishes and flees away as chaff before the wind. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
The ungodly are not so - The Vulgate and Septuagint, and the versions made from them, such as the Ethiopic and Arabic, double the last negation, and add a clause to the end of the verse, "Not so the ungodly, not so; they shall be like the dust which the wind scatters away from the face of the earth." There is nothing solid in the men; there is nothing good in their ways. They are not of God's planting; they are not good grain; they are only chaff, and a chaff that shall be separated from the good grain when the fan or shovel of God's power throws them up to the wind of his judgments. The manner of winnowing in the eastern countries is nearly the same with that practiced in various parts of these kingdoms before the invention of winnowing machines. They either throw it up in a place out of doors by a large wooden shovel against the wind; or with their weights or winnowing fans shake it down leisurely in the wind. The grain falls down nearly perpendicularly; and the chaff, through its lightness, is blown away to a distance from the grain.
An ungodly man is never steady; his purposes are abortive; his conversation light, trifling, and foolish; his professions, friendships, etc., frothy, hollow, and insincere; and both he and his works are carried away to destruction by the wind of God's judgments. |
3 And he shall be like a tree [06086] planted [08362] by the rivers [06388] of water [04325], that bringeth forth [05414] his fruit [06529] in his season [06256]; his leaf [05929] also shall not wither [05034]; and whatsoever he doeth [06213] shall prosper [06743].
3 Therefore they shall be as the morning [01242] cloud [06051], and as the early [07925] dew [02919] that passeth away [01980], as the chaff [04671] that is driven with the whirlwind [05590] out of the floor [01637], and as the smoke [06227] out of the chimney [0699].
35 Then [0116] was the iron [06523], the clay [02635], the brass [05174], the silver [03702], and the gold [01722], broken to pieces [01855] [01751] together [02298], and became [01934] like the chaff [05784] of [04481] the summer [07007] threshingfloors [0147]; and the wind [07308] carried [05376] them [01994] away [05376], that [03606] no [03809] place [0870] was found [07912] for them: and the stone [069] that smote [04223] the image [06755] became [01934] a great [07229] mountain [02906], and filled [04391] the whole [03606] earth [0772].
15 Behold, I will make [07760] thee a new [02319] sharp [02742] threshing [04173] instrument having [01167] teeth [06374]: thou shalt thresh [01758] the mountains [02022], and beat them small [01854], and shalt make [07760] the hills [01389] as chaff [04671].
5 Moreover the multitude [01995] of thy strangers [02114] shall be like small [01851] dust [080], and the multitude [01995] of the terrible ones [06184] shall be as chaff [04671] that passeth away [05674]: yea, it shall be at an instant [06621] suddenly [06597].
5 Let them be as chaff [04671] before [06440] the wind [07307]: and let the angel [04397] of the LORD [03068] chase [01760] them.
13 The nations [03816] shall rush [07582] like the rushing [07588] of many [07227] waters [04325]: but God shall rebuke [01605] them, and they shall flee [05127] far off [04801], and shall be chased [07291] as the chaff [04671] of the mountains [02022] before [06440] the wind [07307], and like a rolling thing [01534] before [06440] the whirlwind [05492].
18 They are as stubble [08401] before [06440] the wind [07307], and as chaff [04671] that the storm [05492] carrieth away [01589].
12 Whose [3739] fan [4425] is in [1722] his [846] hand [5495], and [2532] he will throughly purge [1245] his [846] floor [257], and [2532] gather [4863] his [846] wheat [4621] into [1519] the garner [596]; but [1161] he will burn up [2618] the chaff [892] with unquenchable [762] fire [4442].
1 Blessed [0835] is the man [0376] that walketh [01980] not in the counsel [06098] of the ungodly [07563], nor standeth [05975] in the way [01870] of sinners [02400], nor sitteth [03427] in the seat [04186] of the scornful [03887].
1 Praise [01984] ye the LORD [03050]. Blessed [0835] is the man [0376] that feareth [03372] the LORD [03068], that delighteth [02654] greatly [03966] in his commandments [04687].
2 His seed [02233] shall be mighty [01368] upon earth [0776]: the generation [01755] of the upright [03477] shall be blessed [01288].
3 Wealth [01952] and riches [06239] shall be in his house [01004]: and his righteousness [06666] endureth [05975] for ever [05703].
4 Unto the upright [03477] there ariseth [02224] light [0216] in the darkness [02822]: he is gracious [02587], and full of compassion [07349], and righteous [06662].
5 A good [02896] man [0376] sheweth favour [02603], and lendeth [03867]: he will guide [03557] his affairs [01697] with discretion [04941].
6 Surely he shall not be moved [04131] for ever [05769]: the righteous [06662] shall be in everlasting [05769] remembrance [02143].
7 He shall not be afraid [03372] of evil [07451] tidings [08052]: his heart [03820] is fixed [03559], trusting [0982] in the LORD [03068].
8 His heart [03820] is established [05564], he shall not be afraid [03372], until he see [07200] his desire upon his enemies [06862].
9 He hath dispersed [06340], he hath given [05414] to the poor [034]; his righteousness [06666] endureth [05975] for ever [05703]; his horn [07161] shall be exalted [07311] with honour [03519].
10 The wicked [07563] shall see [07200] it, and be grieved [03707]; he shall gnash [02786] with his teeth [08127], and melt away [04549]: the desire [08378] of the wicked [07563] shall perish [06].
24 And see [07200] if there be any wicked [06090] way [01870] in me, and lead [05148] me in the way [01870] everlasting [05769].
19 Nevertheless [3305] the foundation [2310] of God [2316] standeth [2476] sure [4731], having [2192] this [5026] seal [4973], The Lord [2962] knoweth [1097] them that are [5607] his [846]. And [2532], Let [868] every one [3956] that nameth [3687] the name [3686] of Christ [5547] depart [868] from [575] iniquity [93].
23 And [2532] then [5119] will I profess [3670] unto them [846], [3754] I never [3763] knew [1097] you [5209]: depart [672] from [575] me [1700], ye that work [2038] iniquity [458].
18 The LORD [03068] knoweth [03045] the days [03117] of the upright [08549]: and their inheritance [05159] shall be for ever [05769].
6 Not [3756] as [3634] though [1161] [3754] the word [3056] of God [2316] hath taken none effect [1601]. For [1063] they are not [3756] all [3956] [1537] Israel [2474], which [3588] [3778] are of Israel [2474]:
3 If thou, LORD [03050], shouldest mark [08104] iniquities [05771], O Lord [0136], who shall stand [05975]?
14 For God [0430] shall bring [0935] every work [04639] into judgment [04941], with every secret thing [05956], whether it be good [02896], or whether it be evil [07451].
13 The nations [03816] shall rush [07582] like the rushing [07588] of many [07227] waters [04325]: but God shall rebuke [01605] them, and they shall flee [05127] far off [04801], and shall be chased [07291] as the chaff [04671] of the mountains [02022] before [06440] the wind [07307], and like a rolling thing [01534] before [06440] the whirlwind [05492].