Psalm 1:5

 

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
Psalm 1:5 Berean Standard Bible (BSB)
 
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
Psalm 1:5 King James Bible (KJV)
 
For this reason the wicked cannot withstand judgment, nor can sinners join the assembly of the godly.
Psalm 1:5 New English Translation (NET)
 
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous
 
Therefore
This word serves as a conclusion or result of the preceding verses. In the context of Psalm 1, it connects the fate of the wicked to their actions and choices. The Hebrew word used here is "עַל־כֵּן" (al-ken), which implies a logical consequence. The psalmist is emphasizing that the moral and spiritual laws established by God are unchanging and that the outcomes for the wicked are inevitable due to their rejection of God's ways.
 
the wicked
The term "wicked" is translated from the Hebrew word "רְשָׁעִים" (reshayim), which refers to those who are morally wrong, guilty, or hostile toward God. In the biblical context, the wicked are those who live in opposition to God's commandments and are characterized by their sinful behavior. This term is often used throughout the Psalms to contrast with the righteous, highlighting the moral dichotomy present in the world.
 
will not stand
The phrase "will not stand" comes from the Hebrew "לֹא־יָקֻמוּ" (lo yaqumu), indicating an inability to endure or remain firm. In the context of judgment, it suggests that the wicked will not be able to withstand the scrutiny and justice of God. This imagery evokes a courtroom setting where the wicked are unable to justify themselves before the divine Judge, leading to their ultimate downfall.
 
in the judgment
"Judgment" here is translated from the Hebrew word "בַּמִּשְׁפָּט" (bamishpat), which refers to a legal decision or verdict. In the biblical sense, it encompasses both temporal and eternal judgment. The psalmist is pointing to a future time when God will execute justice, separating the righteous from the wicked. This concept is deeply rooted in the Jewish understanding of divine justice and accountability.
 
nor sinners
"Sinners" is derived from the Hebrew "וְחַטָּאִים" (vechata'im), referring to those who miss the mark or fall short of God's standards. While similar to "wicked," this term emphasizes the habitual nature of sinning. The psalmist is underscoring that those who persist in sin without repentance will not find a place among the righteous.
 
in the assembly
The word "assembly" comes from the Hebrew "בַּעֲדַת" (ba'adat), meaning a gathering or congregation. This term often refers to the community of God's people, those who are in covenant relationship with Him. The psalmist is highlighting the exclusion of sinners from this sacred community, emphasizing the purity and holiness required to be part of God's people.
 
of the righteous
"Righteous" is translated from the Hebrew "צַדִּיקִים" (tzaddikim), referring to those who are just, virtuous, and in right standing with God. The righteous are those who live according to God's laws and seek to honor Him in their lives. This term is central to the biblical narrative, representing the ideal of a life lived in harmony with God's will. The psalmist concludes by affirming the ultimate separation between those who follow God and those who reject Him, underscoring the eternal consequences of one's choices.
 
Berean Study Bible
 
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Contextual Setting:
The Psalm begins by describing the blessings of the one who delights in the law of the Lord (Psalm 1:1-3), contrasting this with the fate of the wicked (Psalm 1:4).
 
The "wicked" are those who do not follow God's laws or live according to His commandments.
 
Meaning of "Will Not Stand in the Judgment":
 
This phrase suggests that the wicked will not be able to endure or survive the divine judgment. In biblical language, "standing" often implies being able to withstand or be vindicated in legal or divine court. Here, it implies that the wicked will not be acquitted or justified when God judges humanity.
 
Nor Sinners in the Assembly of the Righteous:
 
The "assembly of the righteous" can be interpreted as the community or congregation of those who are in right standing with God. This could refer to both a present-day community of believers and to an eschatological (end-times) gathering where only the righteous are present.
 
Sinners, in this context, are those who live in opposition to God's will, and they will not have a place among the righteous. This might imply exclusion from divine communion or from any future blessed state where God's people are gathered.
 
Theological Implications:
 
This verse underscores the separation between the righteous and the wicked, a common theme in many parts of the Bible, emphasizing divine justice and the final judgment where moral accountability is realized.
 
It also serves as an admonition for moral and spiritual behavior, encouraging adherence to God's laws as a path to blessing and inclusion in the community of the faithful.
 
Interpretation in Christian Tradition:
 
In Christian theology, this verse can be seen through the lens of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. The wicked are those who reject this grace, while the assembly of the righteous includes those who have accepted it, thus being justified and able to stand in judgment.
 
This verse, therefore, not only contrasts the outcomes for the righteous versus the wicked but also serves as a call to live in accordance with divine wisdom and law.
 
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Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,.... Neither in temporal judgment, when God comes forth in a way of wrath and sore displeasure; for who can stand before him when he is angry? what are chaff and stubble, thorns and briers, to consuming fire? nor in the last and great day of judgment, so the Targum and Kimchi interpret the words; for that day will burn like an oven the wicked, who will be as stubble, and leave neither root nor branch, Mal_4:1, when the great day of the Lamb's wrath is come, who will be able to stand? Rom_6:16; there will be no standing for the wicked when he appears; they will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, to take their trial and hear their sentence, 2Co_5:10; but they shall not stand in the same place with the righteous, not at Christ's right hand, but at his left; they shall not stand with an holy confidence, with intrepidity, and without shame, as the blessed man will; they will not stand, but fall in judgment; they will not be acquitted and discharged, but be condemned to everlasting punishment, Mat_25:30; and this sense the Targum on the place expresses, "the ungodly shall not be justified in the great day"; the Vulgate Latin and Septuagint versions render the words, "the ungodly shall not rise again in judgment"; from whence some have concluded there will be no resurrection of the wicked: which seems, to be the sense of Kimchi and other Jewish writers; who assert that the souls of the wicked perish with their bodies at death, and that the latter rise not, contrary to Ecc_12:7; but that the wicked will, rise may be concluded from the justice of God, which requires that the bodies which have sinned should be punished; and from the general judgment of good and bad, and from the account of the punishment of hell, which will be inflicted on the body as well as on the soul: besides, the contrary doctrine is a licentious one, and is calculated to harden wicked men in their sins, and is directly repugnant to the assertions of Christ, and the Apostle Paul, Jhn_5:28; nor has it any foundation in this text, even admitting such a version; which does not absolutely affirm that the wicked shall not rise again, but that they shall not rise again in, judgment, in the first resurrection, the resurrection of the just, and so as to be acquitted and discharged, but they shall rise to the resurrection of damnation;
 
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; who are made righteous by the righteousness of Christ imputed to them, and have a work of grace and holiness wrought in them; and who, under the influence of grace, live soberly, righteously, and godly; these are the same with the blessed man, Psa_1:1; and who at the day of judgment will be perfectly holy, and free from all sin; and they will be all gathered together by the holy angels; the dead saints will be raised, the living ones will be changed, and both will be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air, and will make up one general assembly and church of the firstborn; and among these, and in this assembly, there will not be a single sinner; there are now sinners in Zion, foolish virgins with the wise, chaff and tares among Christ's wheat, and wolves and goats among his sheep; but then there will be an eternal separation, and no mixing together any more.
 
John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible
 
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Cross References:
 
Matthew 25:31-33
When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.
 
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
 
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.