He aims to secure that which is true and real. He has sought after substantial truth, alike in the object of worship, in that which he professes to believe, and in the statements and promises which he makes to others. The probable meaning is, that he has not set his heart on vain things, or that which is false. Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity - Unto that which is 'vain,' or which is 'false.' This expression might refer to one who had not devoted himself to the worship of an idol - regarded as vain, or as nothing 1 Corinthians 8:6 Isaiah 41:24 Psalm 115:4-8 or to one who had not embraced that which is false and vain in opinion or to one who had not sworn falsely, or taken the name of God in vain, Exodus 20:7. The great principle is here stated which enters always into true religion, that it does not consist in outward conformity to law, or to the mere performance of rites and ceremonies, or to external morality, but that it controls the heart, and produces purity of motive and of thought. The margin here, as the Hebrew, is 'the clean of hands.'Īnd a pure heart - Not merely the one whose external conduct is upright, but whose heart is pure. The 'hands' are the instruments by which we accomplish anything and hence, to have clean hands is equivalent to being upright. The meaning is, that he who would be recognized as a friend and worshipper of Yahweh must be an upright man a person not living in the practice of iniquity, but striving always to do that which is right. Under this negative the contrary affirmative is included, namely, that he is one who, when he is called to swear, doth swear in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness, Jeremiah 4:2.īarnes' Notes on the BibleHe that hath clean hands - In the parallel passage in Psalm 15:2, the answer to the question is, 'He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness.' The sentiment is substantially the same there as in the passage before us. Nor sworn deceitfully - Hebrew, למרמה, lemirmah, unto, or with deceit, that is, falsely, or with a purpose of deceiving others thereby. Whereas good men are everywhere described to be such as seek their happiness in God, and prize and desire his favour and service infinitely more than all the enjoyments or this life yea, even than life itself. And this, also, is very fitly mentioned as essential to the character of a truly good man, because, hereby he is distinguished from all carnal and ungodly men whatsoever, whose inseparable property it is, according to both the Old and New Testament, to love vanity, and to set their hearts chiefly upon the things of this world. Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity - Who doth not worship idols, often called vanities in Scripture, and who doth not value or desire the vain things of this life, such as honour, riches, pleasures but who makes God his portion. This is fitly added, because a man may keep his hands clean, in a good measure, from mere worldly motives, and without any respect to God, and even with an evil design. And a pure heart - Purged from hypocrisy, and corrupt desires and designs, and careful to approve itself to God, as well as men, ordering a man’s very thoughts, intentions, and affections, according to God’s word. It is here very observable that the character of a right and acceptable worshipper of God is not taken from his nation and relation to Abraham nor from any or all of those costly and laborious rites and ceremonies of the law in which the generality of the Israelites placed their confidence, but from moral and spiritual duties, which most of them grossly neglected. He that hath clean hands - Whose actions and conversation are holy and unblameable.

Clean hands and pure hearts