Psalms 101:5 Meaning: David's Vow Against Slander and Pride
I will silence whoever secretly slanders his neighbor. I won’t tolerate one who is arrogant and conceited.
Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
Whoso privily slandereth his neighbor, him will I destroy: Him that hath a high look and a proud heart will I not suffer.
Whoso slandereth in secret his neighbour, Him I cut off, The high of eyes and proud of heart, him I endure not.
Whoso secretly slandereth his neighbour, him will I destroy; him that hath a high look and a proud heart will I not suffer.
Meaning in one sentence
Why the psalmist vows to destroy slanderers and the proud: a king's resolve to keep evil from his court and heart.
Context
This psalm is titled as David's, and it reads like a king's pledge before God. David is not yet fully settled on the throne, or perhaps he is renewing his commitment to rule with integrity. The whole chapter is a series of personal resolves: to sing of mercy and justice, to walk blamelessly in his house, to keep vile things from his eyes. By verse 5 he turns outward, how he will handle the people around him. The slanderer and the arrogant have no place in his court or his company. This is not idle talk; it is a covenant written down, a standard David means to live by as one who answers to God.
Key Words
The Hebrew word for slanders here, m'lasheni, comes from a root that means to use the tongue with an edge. It is the same root that gives us the word for a triple tongue in Jewish tradition, because, as the sages said, one slander kills three: the speaker, the hearer, and the one spoken about. The psalmist's response is atzmit, I will destroy, a word used elsewhere for cutting off without remainder. David is not threatening assassination; he is drawing a boundary. The second half of the verse describes two markers of the person he will not endure: geva 'einayim (high of eyes) and rechav levav (wide of heart). The eyes give away the inner condition, looking down on others, and the heart is swollen, broad with self-importance. Together, secret talk and visible pride form a picture of someone unfit for the company of the faithful.
How Christians Read This Verse
Commentators from several traditions agree this is a king's vow, but they differ on how literally to take the cutting off. Matthew Henry, the Puritan, applied it both to a magistrate and to a head of a household, anyone responsible for others must guard against slander. Calvin saw it as David's solemn preparation to govern, a pledge to keep evil out of his administration. The Jewish Targum added the triple-tongue image, and the early Church Father Jerome used stronger language: the slanderer drowns himself and the one who hears him. Most are careful to note that David is not ordering executions; he is purging his own presence and patronage. The Cambridge Bible notes that a slanderer makes a bad counsellor for a king. Across traditions, the verse is read as a resolve to refuse slander's power.
A common misunderstanding
Living This Out
You do not rule a kingdom, but you do have influence. This week, you can apply David's rule in two small ways. First, watch what you listen to. When someone starts to tell you something bad about another person in private, you can stop them gently. You can say, 'I would rather hear that from them directly, or let it go.' Second, check your own eyes and heart. A proud look costs nothing and says everything. You can practice humility today by asking someone for their opinion before offering yours, or by letting another person have the credit. Small acts, but they keep the court of your own life clean.
Main takeaway: A heart set on God must actively refuse both the secret slander and the open pride that poison community.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Talking bad about someone when they are not there hurts three people: the one you talk about, the one who hears it, and you. David said he would not let that happen in his house. You can be like David: when someone starts to say something unkind, you can say, 'Let's talk about something good.'
For ages 9, 12
In this verse, David promises not to tolerate slander or arrogance. Slander is saying something untrue or harmful about someone behind their back. Arrogance is acting like you are better than others. David knew that both destroy trust in a family or a community. You are not a king, but you still decide what kind of person you will be. Ask yourself: do I join in when people gossip? Do I act like I am above others? David's rule is a good rule for your own life too.
Questions People Ask
Does Psalm 101:5 mean David killed people who gossiped?
No, most interpreters see 'cut off' as excluding slanderers from the king's presence and service, not executing them. The language is strong to show how seriously David took the sin, but the context is about governing his household and court.
What does 'high look and a proud heart' mean?
It describes a person who literally looks down on others (the eyes raised) and has a heart that is wide or swollen with self-importance. It is the visible attitude of arrogance, which David refuses to tolerate in his presence.
Is this verse only for kings or leaders?
The original setting is a king's vow, but Christians throughout history have applied it to anyone responsible for others, parents, employers, teachers, or anyone in community. The principle of refusing slander and pride applies to all believers.
What does the 'triple tongue' mean in Jewish tradition?
The Targum (an ancient Aramaic paraphrase) says a slanderer speaks with a triple tongue, killing three people: the one slandered, the one who hears the slander, and the slanderer himself. It emphasizes how destructive gossip is.
How does this verse apply to Christians today?
Christians are called to guard their speech and their attitudes. This verse challenges us to stop gossip when we hear it, refuse to spread it, and examine our own hearts for pride. It calls us to create spaces where people's reputations are safe.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study