The Meaning of Psalms 101:5 Explained

Psalms 101:5

KJV: Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.

YLT: Whoso slandereth in secret his neighbour, Him I cut off, The high of eyes and proud of heart, him I endure not.

Darby: Whoso secretly slandereth his neighbour, him will I destroy; him that hath a high look and a proud heart will I not suffer.

ASV: Whoso privily slandereth his neighbor, him will I destroy: Him that hath a high look and a proud heart will I not suffer.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Whoso privily  slandereth  {08675;03960:08781} his neighbour,  him will I cut off:  him that hath an high  look  and a proud  heart  will not I suffer. 

What does Psalms 101:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 101:1-8 - My Righteous Purpose
This psalm, as the title indicates, was composed by David, probably at the commencement of his reign. It contains a number of resolutions upon which he was prepared to act. First, he made up his mind that he would give heed to the perfect way, and would walk in his house in the integrity of his heart, Psalms 101:2, r.v., margin. Next, he made up his mind to choose his friends with rigorous care, that froward hearts and evil persons should depart from him; that he would not enter into close relations with those that slandered their neighbors, or that gave evidence by their high looks of proud hearts. Deceit and falsehood were alike to be banished from his palace; while faithful souls, who also walked in "the perfect way," should minister to him. Finally, he made up his mind to carry out his rule in the public state, that the wicked might be put out of the way and the righteous exalted.
It was an excellent program, and happy would he have been if, throughout his life, he had rigorously adhered to it. It is not possible for us to exercise David's absolute power in the selection of our environment. It is often necessary for us to work in places of business among those whom we would not choose as associates. But we can, at least, forbear making any of these our intimates, or the friends with whom we spend our leisure and recreational hours, 1 Corinthians 5:9-11. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 101

1  David makes a vow and profession of godliness

What do the individual words in Psalms 101:5 mean?

- Whoever slanders secretly his neighbor Him I will destroy the one high of a look and proud a heart Him not I will endure
מלושני [מְלָשְׁנִ֬י] (בַסֵּ֨תֶר ׀) רֵעֵהוּ֮ אוֹת֪וֹ אַ֫צְמִ֥ית גְּֽבַהּ־ עֵ֭ינַיִם וּרְחַ֣ב לֵבָ֑ב אֹ֝ת֗וֹ לֹ֣א אוּכָֽל

מלושני  - 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: אֲבַגְתָא  
Sense: one of the seven eunuchs in the Persian court of Ahasuerus.
[מְלָשְׁנִ֬י]  Whoever  slanders 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: לָשַׁן  
Sense: to use the tongue, slander.
(בַסֵּ֨תֶר ׀)  secretly 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: סֵתֶר 
Sense: covering, shelter, hiding place, secrecy.
רֵעֵהוּ֮  his  neighbor 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רֵעַ  
Sense: friend, companion, fellow, another person.
אַ֫צְמִ֥ית  I  will  destroy 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: צָמַת  
Sense: to put an end to, cut off, destroy, exterminate, extirpate.
גְּֽבַהּ־  the  one  high 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: גָּבֵהַּ  
Sense: high, proud.
עֵ֭ינַיִם  of  a  look 
Parse: Noun, cd
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
וּרְחַ֣ב  and  proud 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: רָחָב  
Sense: broad, wide.
לֵבָ֑ב  a  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֵבָב  
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.
אוּכָֽל  I  will  endure 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָכֹל  
Sense: to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able.