Despise
![Michal Watching David from a Window, as in 2 Samuel 6:16: "And it was so, as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart."; watercolor circa 1896–1902 by James Tissot Michal Watching David from a Window, by James Tissot (1836-1902), French painter](/bundles/ncbsw/media/Tissot_Michal_Watching_David_from_a_Window.webp)
We tend to think of "despising" something or someone as just a strong way of expressing dislike, but there is a further shade of meaning there. As the Free Online Dictionary puts it, it also means "to regard (something or someone) as unworthy of interest or concern." This meaning comes into play as "despise" is used in the Bible; it indicates that a person in a particular spiritual state cannot understand or value things belonging to a higher spiritual state, and thus regards them as nothing.