Psalms 139:21 (WEB)

Passage

Yahweh, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?

Nearby Context

Psalms 139:19 If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

Psalms 139:20 For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain.

Psalms 139:21 Yahweh, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?

Psalms 139:22 I hate them with perfect hatred. They have become my enemies.

Psalms 139:23 Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "yahweh", "hate", "grieved", "rise", and "against". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "yahweh" and "hate", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 20's "For they speak against you wickedly Your..." into verse 22's "I hate them with perfect hatred They...", so "yahweh" and "hate" belong inside that flow. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "yahweh" and "hate" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.