Psalm 119:150 kjv
They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.
Psalm 119:150 nkjv
They draw near who follow after wickedness; They are far from Your law.
Psalm 119:150 niv
Those who devise wicked schemes are near, but they are far from your law.
Psalm 119:150 esv
They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from your law.
Psalm 119:150 nlt
Lawless people are coming to attack me;
they live far from your instructions.
Psalm 119 150 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 3:6 | "I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about." | Adversaries surrounding the psalmist. |
| Ps 7:1-2 | "O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust... Lest he tear my soul like a lion." | Plea against immediate dangers from enemies. |
| Ps 18:3-6 | "The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me..." | Description of overwhelming hostile forces. |
| Ps 22:16 | "For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me..." | Wicked surrounding the righteous sufferer. |
| Ps 27:2 | "When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh— my adversaries and foes— they stumbled and fell." | Foes drawing near to inflict harm. |
| Ps 36:1 | "Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes." | Link between wickedness and lack of God's fear/law. |
| Ps 38:12 | "Those who seek my life lay traps; those who seek to harm me speak destruction and meditate treachery all day long." | Enemies plotting mischief. |
| Ps 53:1-3 | "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity..." | Moral corruption due to rejecting God. |
| Ps 94:6 | "They murder the widow and the sojourner, and cut off the orphans." | Describes specific evil acts of the wicked. |
| Ps 125:5 | "But those who turn aside to their crooked ways the LORD will lead away with evildoers!" | Those far from God's straight paths. |
| Ps 142:6 | "Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low! Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me!" | Overpowering strength of persecutors. |
| Prov 12:2 | "A good man obtains favor from the LORD, but a man of evil devices he condemns." | Contrast between good and evil devices. |
| Isa 59:1-2 | "Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened... but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God." | Sin causes separation from God. |
| Jer 9:13-14 | "Because they have forsaken my law that I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice... but have stubbornly followed their own hearts..." | Disobedience to God's law as root of rebellion. |
| Lam 1:16 | "For these things I weep; my eyes flow with tears; for a comforter is far from me, one to revive my spirit; my enemies have prevailed..." | Enemies having an advantage/power. |
| John 15:18-20 | "If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you... If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you..." | New Testament context of righteous persecution. |
| Rom 1:28-32 | "And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done." | Abandonment to depravity due to rejection of God. |
| 2 Tim 3:1-5 | "But understand this, that in the last days there will be perilous times. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money... without self-control... having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power." | Moral degradation and rebellion in last days. |
| Jas 4:8 | "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." | Emphasizes God's nearness to those who draw to Him. |
| 1 Pet 4:12-16 | "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you." | Suffering for righteousness; not unusual. |
Psalm 119 verses
Psalm 119 150 Meaning
Psalm 119:150 declares that those who pursue wickedness and evil plots are physically or menacingly close to the psalmist, yet, more significantly, they are profoundly distant from God’s divine instruction and law. The verse contrasts the immediate danger posed by the wicked with their fundamental rebellion against God's revealed will, implying that their actions stem directly from their spiritual alienation from God's truth.
Psalm 119 150 Context
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, an acrostic poem (divided into 22 sections, one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet), and an extensive meditation on the excellence and absolute sufficiency of God’s Torah (Law, instruction, word). Each stanza of eight verses begins with the same Hebrew letter. Verse 150 falls within the 'Resh' (ר) section (verses 145-152), where the psalmist often expresses earnest pleas to God amidst his suffering, frequently from the opposition of proud and wicked individuals.
The overall context of Psalm 119 is one of profound devotion to God’s commands, despite facing scorn and persecution from those who disregard God's ways. This verse encapsulates the common dilemma of the righteous in a fallen world: physically menaced by the ungodly, whose moral compass is fundamentally opposed to God's standards. The psalmist acknowledges the dangerous proximity of these adversaries while simultaneously identifying the spiritual root of their malevolence – their being "far from God's law." This verse, like many others in Psalm 119, sets up a contrast between the psalmist's closeness to God's Word and the antagonists' distance from it.
Psalm 119 150 Word analysis
Those who follow after mischief (רֹדְפֵי זִמָּה - rodphei zimmah)
- Those who follow after / Pursuers (רֹדְפֵי - rodphei): The root radaph (רָדַף) means "to chase," "to pursue," "to persecute." It implies active, often hostile, engagement and relentless pursuit. It's not passive wrongdoing, but intentional and persistent maliciousness.
- Mischief (זִמָּה - zimmah): This is a strong Hebrew word, often denoting pre-meditated evil, depravity, wicked schemes, villainy, or lewdness. It carries a sense of moral corruption and plotting. In the Old Testament, zimmah frequently refers to serious sexual offenses (e.g., Lev 18:17, 19:29; Judg 20:6) or deeply ingrained wickedness (e.g., Ps 26:10; Prov 12:2). Here, it implies evil intentions or plots against the psalmist, stemming from deep moral perversion.
draw nigh (קָרְבוּ - qarevu)
- draw nigh (qarevu): From the root qarav (קָרַב), meaning "to come near," "to approach," "to draw nigh." In this context, it signifies not just physical proximity but a threatening closeness, indicating imminent danger or a looming confrontation from the pursuers. It emphasizes the present and active threat faced by the psalmist.
they are far from thy law (רָחֲקוּ מִתּוֹרָתֶךָ - rāḥaqa mittôrātēkā)
- they are far (רָחֲקוּ - rāḥaqa): From the root rāḥaq (רָחַק), meaning "to be far," "to be distant." This word stands in stark antithetical parallelism to qarevu ("draw nigh"). While the enemies are physically or menacingly close, they are spiritually and morally remote.
- from thy law (מִתּוֹרָתֶךָ - mittôrātēkā): The core of divine revelation and instruction. Torah (תּוֹרָה) is not merely a set of legalistic commands but God’s revealed will, guidance, and blueprint for life. To be "far from thy law" means to disregard, reject, and live in active rebellion against God's truth, leading to destructive behavior and wicked schemes. This phrase highlights the fundamental cause of their 'mischief' and persecution.
Psalm 119 150 Bonus section
- The verse features striking antithetical parallelism: "draw nigh" (physical proximity/imminent threat) is contrasted with "are far" (spiritual/moral distance), and "mischief" (wicked actions) is linked to their being "far from thy law" (rejection of divine guidance). This highlights the ironic and tragic condition of the wicked: their immediate proximity in plotting harm is a direct outcome of their ultimate spiritual distance from God.
- This verse contributes to a major theme throughout Psalm 119, emphasizing that the Torah is not merely rules but the path of life and wisdom. Those who stray from it inevitably walk in destructive and wicked paths.
- The Psalmist implicitly states that his enemies' malice is not against him personally alone, but fundamentally against God's righteous order and therefore God Himself. This grounds his personal suffering in a larger cosmic conflict between righteousness and wickedness, aligning his cause with God's.
- The 'Resh' section (vv. 145-152), where this verse appears, consistently juxtaposes the psalmist's distress and cries for help with affirmations of God's Word and faithfulness, often pleading based on God's statutes. This specific verse provides a rationale for his suffering.
Psalm 119 150 Commentary
Psalm 119:150 succinctly captures a perpetual tension in the life of the godly. The verse highlights the chilling reality of persecution: "Those who follow after mischief draw nigh." This indicates an active, often threatening, proximity of hostile individuals whose intentions are purely malevolent. The Hebrew term zimmah for "mischief" suggests a calculated, deep-seated depravity rather than casual wrongdoing. These are not merely passive opponents but aggressive agents of evil, actively pursuing harmful designs against the psalmist. The sense of danger is immediate and tangible, with the enemies closing in.
However, the psalmist's focus quickly shifts from their physical proximity to their spiritual distance: "they are far from thy law." This antithesis is crucial. Their external closeness as enemies is overshadowed by their internal, profound alienation from God's instruction. The psalmist implies that the source of their hostile actions lies in their rejection of divine Torah. Because they disregard God’s moral blueprint for life, their natural inclination leads to schemes of wickedness and persecution against those who embody or uphold that law. The law acts as a moral compass; those far from it are disoriented and engage in destructive acts. This verse is not just a lament over adversaries but a theological declaration about the root cause of evil: a fundamental departure from God's righteous standards. Despite the perilous nearness of his enemies, the psalmist’s ultimate trust remains in the one who is near, God, and in His perfect Law, which stands eternally firm against all wickedness.