King James Version
Psalms 1
6 verses with commentary
The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. ungodly: or, wicked
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KJV Study Commentary
This opening beatitude establishes the negative definition of righteousness through three progressive verbs: 'walketh,' 'standeth,' and 'sitteth,' depicting increasing entrenchment in sin. The Hebrew 'ashrei' (blessed) conveys deep inner contentment and divine favor, not mere happiness. The psalm introduces the central theme of two ways—the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked—that perva...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(1) **Blessed.**—The Hebrew word is a plural noun, from the root meaning to be “straight,” or “right.” Literally, *Blessings to the man who, *&c.
**Walketh . . . standeth . . . sitteth.**—Better, *went, stood, sat. *The good man is first described on the negative side. In the short summary of evil from which he has been saved, it is the custom of commentators to see an epitome of the whole history...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
2-24. Instances of the wicked doing the worst deeds with seeming impunity (Job 24:2-24).
**Some--**the wicked.
**landmarks--**boundaries between different pastures (De 19:14; Pr 22:28).
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
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KJV Study Commentary
The positive counterpart to verse 1, this verse reveals that true blessedness flows from delighting in God's torah (law/instruction). The Hebrew 'hagah' (meditate) originally meant to murmur or mutter, suggesting audible repetition and deep internalization of Scripture. Day and night meditation indicates constant engagement with God's Word, not legalistic obligation but genuine pleasure, echoing J...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(2) **But.**—The Hebrew is an elliptical expression implying a strong contrast, “nay but,” “on the contrary.”
The positive side of a good man’s character is now described according to the standard which prevailed when the written law first came truly into force.
**In the law of Jehovah is his delight.**—Or, *to the law of Jehovah is his inclination. *The Hebrew word means primarily “to bend.”
**Me...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
2-24. Instances of the wicked doing the worst deeds with seeming impunity (Job 24:2-24).
**Some--**the wicked.
**landmarks--**boundaries between different pastures (De 19:14; Pr 22:28).
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. wither: Heb. fade
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KJV Study Commentary
This extended simile of the flourishing tree presents the fruit of meditation: spiritual prosperity and stability. The tree 'planted' (not wild) by rivers suggests intentional cultivation through God's grace. The promise of perpetual vitality ('leaf shall not wither') and success ('whatsoever he doeth shall prosper') describes covenant blessing, not materialistic prosperity, fulfilled ultimately i...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(3) **And he.**—Better, *So is he. *For the image so forcible in an Eastern clime, where vegetation depends on proximity to a stream, comp. Psalm 52:8; Psalm 92:12; Isaiah 44:4; and its development in Jeremiah 17:7-8. The full moral bearing of the image appears in our Lord’s parabolic saying, “a good tree cannot bring forth corrupt fruit, nor an evil tree good fruit.” The physical growth of a tree...
Read full commentary →The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.</strong> This verse abruptly shifts from the blessed person's vitality to the ungodly person's emptiness. The emphatic "not so" starkly contrasts the two ways of living. While the righteous are like deeply rooted trees, the ungodly are like worthless chaff—the thin husks separated from grain during winnowing.<br><b...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(4) **The ungodly.**—Better, *Not so the ungodly.*
**But are like.**—They shall be winnowed out of the society of the true Israel by the fan of God’s judgment. The image is a striking one, although so frequent as almost to have become a poetical commonplace (Habakkuk 3:12; Joel 3:14; Jeremiah 51:33; Isaiah 21:10). (See *Bible Educator, *iv. 4.)
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.</strong> This verse draws the logical conclusion ("therefore") from the chaff imagery, addressing the eschatological destiny of the ungodly. "Shall not stand" (<em>lo yaqumu</em>, לֹא־יָקֻמוּ) means unable to rise or maintain position, suggesting both inability to withstand divine judgm...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(5) **Therefore.**—Notice contrast with Psalm 1:1. Those who had deliberately chosen the assembly of the scornful will have no place in that of the good.
**Shall not stand.**—Properly, *shall not rise. *Probably like our phrase, “shall not hold up his head.” Will be self-convicted, and shrink away before God’s unerring scrutiny, like the man without a wedding garment in our Lord’s parable (Matthew...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
CHAPTER 25
THIRD SERIES.
Job 25:1-6. Bildad's Reply.
He tries to show Job's rashness (Job 23:3), by arguments borrowed from Eliphaz (Job 15:15, with which compare Job 11:17.
2. Power and terror, that is, terror-inspiring power.
**peace in his high places--**implying that His power is such on high as to quell all opposition, not merely there, but on earth also. The Holy Ghost here shadowed...
Read full commentary →For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.</strong> This concluding verse provides the theological foundation for everything preceding it. "The Lord knoweth" (<em>yodea Yahweh</em>, יוֹדֵעַ יְהוָה) uses the Hebrew <em>yada</em> (יָדַע), indicating intimate, experiential knowledge rather than mere awareness. God knows the righteous with personal,...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(6) **Knoweth**—*i.e., recogniseth with discriminative discernment and appreciation. *(Comp. Psalm 31:7; Psalm 144:3; Exodus 2:25; also John 10:14. So Shakespeare, *As You Like It: *“I know you are my eldest brother, and in the gentle condition of blood you should so *know *me.”)
**The way of the ungodly shall perish.**—This is explained by Psalm 112:10, “the *desire *of the wicked shall perish;” ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**3. armies--**angels and stars (Is 40:26; Jr 33:22; Ge 15:5; "countless," Da 7:10).
**his light--**(Jas 1:17).