Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

The Hebrew word in question (Anglicized as Belial) is used multiple times in the Bible as a personification of worthlessness, corruption, or evil (although not an actual being (either human or spiritual)). To associate something with Belial, or to call a person a "son [or daughter] of Belial" (as in the case, for example, of Eli's wicked sons Hophni and Phinehas (1 Samuel 2:12)) was a very insulting description.

In the psalm verse cited in the question, David was vowing not to set his eyes on any such thing.

February 04 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

Ver. 3. Wicked thing. The original hath it, if we will render it word for word, "I will set no word of Belial before mine eyes." But word is figuratively there put for thing; as likewise Psalms 41:8; and so is it rendered both by Montanus in the margin, and in the text by Junius; howbeit, in his comment upon this psalm, he precisely follows the original, applying it against sycophants and flatterers, the mice and moths of court. --Charles Haddon Spurgeon

And according to my NLT PARALLEL STUDY BIBLE reference to Psalm 101:3 beliya'al means "worthless," referring to an object that is ruined or devastated. Another meaning is a person who is actively evil, "worthless in relation to a standard of right living. It is frequently used in phrases such as "children of wickedness," meaning troublesome people. 

See 1 Samuel 2:12 as Mr. Maas mentioned, and also Psalm 101:3, "I will set no WORTHLESS THING before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not fasten its grip on me."

I have heard some preachers refer in Psalm 101:3 this "SETTING of a WORTHLESS THING before one's eyes" as the TV. When I was a preacher, I will admit I did this, too. TV, though, in my opinion now, can be used for bad or for good.

February 04 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report