The Meaning of Psalms 1:1 Explained

Psalms 1:1

KJV: 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.

YLT: O the happiness of that one, who Hath not walked in the counsel of the wicked. And in the way of sinners hath not stood, And in the seat of scorners hath not sat;

Darby: Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked, and standeth not in the way of sinners, and sitteth not in the seat of scorners;

ASV: Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of scoffers:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Psalms 1:1 Mean?

Verse Meaning

A trilogy of expressions describes the person who is blessed or right with God. Each of these is more intense than the former one. These descriptions proceed from being casually influenced by the wicked to cooperating with them in their wickedness. However, this is probably a case of synonymous parallelism describing the totality of evil rather than three specific types of activities in a climactic development (cf. Deuteronomy 6:7). [1]
"Happy" is a better translation than "blessed" since the Hebrew language has a separate word for "blessed." "Happy" was the Queen of Sheba"s exclamation when she saw Solomon"s greatness ( 1 Kings 10:8). It appears26 times in the Psalter. This blessedness is not deserved but is a gift from God. Even when the righteous do not feel happy they are blessed from God"s perspective because He protects them from judgment resulting from the Fall (cf. Genesis 3:15-19). "Blessed" in this verse also occurs in Psalm 2:12 forming an inclusio binding these two psalms together. Likewise the reference to the "way" in this verse occurs again in Psalm 2:11-12.
"Wicked" people willfully persist in evil, "sinners" miss the mark of God"s standards and do not care, and "scoffers" make light of God"s laws and ridicule what is sacred.

Context Summary

Psalms 1:1-6 - The Two Ways And The Two Ends
Like a signpost, this psalm points the road to blessedness. The opening word may be read, "Oh, the blessedness!" The psalm begins with the same message as the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:1-48. Beneath the lintel of benediction we pass into the temple of praise.
Blessedness is obtainable in two ways: negatively, we may avoid the society of the irreligious; positively, we must enter the company of prophets and kings, of psalmists and historians, and especially of God Himself, speaking in Scripture. Do not simply read the Bible; meditate upon it. Better one verse really masticated than a whole chapter bolted.
The rewards are, to be planted by rivers, to bear fruit, and to prosper. See Genesis 39:3-4; Genesis 49:22. How blessed it is, also, to realize that God knows and loves! See Psalms 56:8. The sinner begins with ungodliness, goes on to scorning, and ends as chaff, Matthew 13:30. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 1

1  The happiness of the godly
4  The unhappiness of the ungodly

What do the individual words in Psalms 1:1 mean?

Blessed [is] the man who not does walk in the counsel of the ungodly and in the path of the sinful nor stands and in the seat of the scornful sits
אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי־ הָאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר ׀ לֹ֥א הָלַךְ֮ בַּעֲצַ֪ת רְשָׁ֫עִ֥ים וּבְדֶ֣רֶךְ חַ֭טָּאִים לֹ֥א עָמָ֑ד וּבְמוֹשַׁ֥ב לֵ֝צִ֗ים יָשָֽׁב

אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי־  Blessed  [is] 
Parse: Interjection
Root: אֶשֶׁר 
Sense: happiness, blessedness.
הָאִ֗ישׁ  the  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
הָלַךְ֮  does  walk 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
בַּעֲצַ֪ת  in  the  counsel 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עֵצָה 
Sense: counsel, advice, purpose.
רְשָׁ֫עִ֥ים  of  the  ungodly 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
וּבְדֶ֣רֶךְ  and  in  the  path 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, common singular construct
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
חַ֭טָּאִים  of  the  sinful 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: חַטָּא  
Sense: sinners adj.
לֹ֥א  nor 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
עָמָ֑ד  stands 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
וּבְמוֹשַׁ֥ב  and  in  the  seat 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֹושָׁב  
Sense: seat, assembly, dwelling-place, dwelling, dwellers.
לֵ֝צִ֗ים  of  the  scornful 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: לִיץ 
Sense: to scorn, make mouths at, talk arrogantly.
יָשָֽׁב  sits 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.