The Meaning of Psalms 15:3 Explained

Psalms 15:3

KJV: He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

YLT: He hath not slandered by his tongue, He hath not done to his friend evil; And reproach he hath not lifted up Against his neighbour.

Darby: He that slandereth not with his tongue, doeth not evil to his companion, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour;

ASV: He that slandereth not with his tongue, Nor doeth evil to his friend, Nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[He that] backbiteth  not with his tongue,  nor doeth  evil  to his neighbour,  nor taketh up  a reproach  against his neighbour. 

What does Psalms 15:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 15:1-5 - The Citizen Of Zion And His Inheritance
The first of these psalms was probably composed to celebrate the bringing of the Ark to Mount Zion, 1 Samuel 6:20. It describes the character of those who have fellowship with God and dwell in His house all the days of their earthly lot. To the challenge of the soloist, Psalms 15:1, the choir makes response, Psalms 15:2-5, first positively, then negatively. We must act as non-conductors to evil; must mind what company we keep; and must cultivate a spirit of love and self-sacrifice which will never take advantage of others, Psalms 15:5. Here is the secret of permanence and peace.
Michtam means "golden," and may be truly applied to the next psalm, as also to Psalms 56:1-13; Psalms 57:1-11; Psalms 58:1-11; Psalms 59:1-17; Psalms 60:1-12. Others explain the word as a "secret." It is the song of the golden secret. The key is furnished in Acts 2:25. The Apostle Paul expressly emphasizes the divine authorship in Acts 13:35-38. Our Lord may have repeated Psalms 16:8-11 when He was descending the dark valley, and so may we. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 15

1  David describes a citizen of Zion

What do the individual words in Psalms 15:3 mean?

Not He [who] does backbite with his tongue nor does to his neighbor evil and a reproach does he take up against his friend
לֹֽא־ רָגַ֨ל ׀ עַל־ לְשֹׁנ֗וֹ לֹא־ עָשָׂ֣ה לְרֵעֵ֣הוּ רָעָ֑ה וְ֝חֶרְפָּ֗ה נָשָׂ֥א עַל־ קְרֹֽבוֹ

רָגַ֨ל ׀  He  [who]  does  backbite 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָגַל  
Sense: to go on foot, spy out, foot it, go about, walk along, move the feet.
לְשֹׁנ֗וֹ  his  tongue 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לָשֹׁון  
Sense: tongue.
לֹא־  nor 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
עָשָׂ֣ה  does 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
לְרֵעֵ֣הוּ  to  his  neighbor 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רֵעַ  
Sense: friend, companion, fellow, another person.
רָעָ֑ה  evil 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
וְ֝חֶרְפָּ֗ה  and  a  reproach 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֶרְפָּה  
Sense: reproach, scorn.
נָשָׂ֥א  does  he  take  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
עַל־  against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
קְרֹֽבוֹ  his  friend 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרֹוב  
Sense: near.