Psalms 26:5I hate the assembly of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~1000 BC. David possibly distancing himself from court intrigue or tribal politics, declaring moral separation in Jerusalem area, modern Israel.
The emotion here: righteous anger at collective evil threatening his community
The original word
sane (שָׂנֵאתִי) — intense hatred, not emotion but moral revulsion at evil
Why it matters
Ancient Middle Eastern assemblies were where legal and business decisions were made — avoiding them had real social cost
Read with care
What most readers miss in Psalms 26:5
David isn't talking about avoiding individual bad people, but corrupt group dynamics and mob mentality
Common misconceptionPeople think this means hating evil people. David is talking about hating evil systems and refusing to participate in group sin — he's protecting his own heart, not condemning others.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Psalms 26:5
Bible Genome reading
Psalms 26:5 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Psalms 26:5 comes from the book of Psalms, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to David. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the psalm genre of biblical literature. Key themes include righteous anger, separation, moral stands. Notable phrases: hate the assembly of evildoers; not sit with the wicked. This verse is a prayer.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
— Deuteronomy 19:21
Your reflection
What does Psalms 26:5 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "angry"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.