Psalm 139 19

Psalm 139:19 kjv

Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

Psalm 139:19 nkjv

Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God! Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.

Psalm 139:19 niv

If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!

Psalm 139:19 esv

Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me!

Psalm 139:19 nlt

O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!
Get out of my life, you murderers!

Psalm 139 verses

Psalm 139 19 Meaning

Psalm 139:19 is a fervent prayer from the psalmist, expressing a deep desire for God to bring judgment upon the wicked. It also contains a plea for the psalmist himself to be separated from violent and bloodthirsty individuals who oppose God. This verse reveals the psalmist's zeal for God's righteousness and his intolerance for those who defy divine law and perpetrate evil, emphasizing that God alone is capable of executing ultimate justice.

Psalm 139 19 Context

Psalm 139 is a profound reflection on God's omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence. The first eighteen verses marvel at God's intimate knowledge of the psalmist, His constant presence, and His intricate design in creation. The psalmist expresses deep wonder at being "fearfully and wonderfully made" and at God's foreknowledge of his entire life. This verse (19) marks an abrupt, yet thematically consistent, shift from meditating on God's personal attributes to His righteous character concerning evil. Having acknowledged God's perfect knowledge and justice, the psalmist logically extends his awe to God's holy hatred for sin and expresses a desire for God to eradicate evil, both from the world and from his own presence. It represents a zeal for God's holiness that aligns with God's ultimate plan to judge wickedness, rather than a purely personal vendetta.

Psalm 139 19 Word analysis

• Oh that you would slay (ל֗וּ תִּקְטֹ֥ל / lû tiqṭōl):

  • "Oh that you would slay": The Hebrew lû tiqṭōl expresses a strong wish, almost a longing or desperate plea. It's not a command but a fervent desire for God to act. The verb qāṭal (קטל) means "to slay," "kill," or "cut off." It's often used for a definitive, decisive act, implying complete destruction. The psalmist desires the absolute eradication of wickedness by divine power.
  • Significance: This points to God's exclusive prerogative to execute judgment. The psalmist isn't seeking personal revenge but calling for divine justice. It highlights God's authority over life and death and His ultimate control over the destiny of the wicked.

• the wicked (רָשָׁע / rāšā‘):

  • "the wicked": Refers to those who are morally and legally guilty, those who actively defy God's standards and principles, often manifesting as unrighteousness, injustice, and malice.
  • Significance: This isn't just about general 'bad people,' but those who operate contrary to God's righteous character, often in violent or oppressive ways. In the broader biblical context, rāšā‘ are fundamentally at odds with God's covenant and His people.

• O God (אֱלוֹהַ / ’elōah):

  • "O God": This specific divine name emphasizes God's majesty, power, and distinctness. It highlights God's unique sovereignty and capability to carry out the requested action, setting Him apart from any earthly power or judge.
  • Significance: The psalmist addresses God directly, acknowledging His ultimate authority to bring about justice. It reinforces that this is a prayer, appealing to the One who sees all (as detailed earlier in the psalm) and will justly recompense.

• Away from me (ס֥וּרוּ מִ֝נִּ֗י / sûrû minnî):

  • "Away from me": This is an imperative command, "depart from me," indicating a strong desire for physical and spiritual separation from these individuals. It reflects a need for sanctification and purity in the psalmist's personal walk with God.
  • Significance: After calling for God's judgment on the wicked in general, the psalmist shifts to a personal plea for clear demarcation between himself and these evildoers. This expresses a desire to avoid being associated with their ways or facing the consequences of their actions.

• you bloodthirsty men (אַנְשֵׁ֣י דָמִ֑ים / ’anšê dāmîm):

  • "you bloodthirsty men": Literally, "men of bloods." This vivid phrase describes individuals characterized by violence, bloodshed, malice, and often, an appetite for inflicting harm or taking life. It's a grave accusation in the Old Testament, representing the epitome of human wickedness and cruelty, directly opposing the sanctity of life cherished by God.
  • Significance: This specific epithet underscores the extreme nature of the wicked in the psalmist's mind, particularly their violent disposition. It evokes imagery of those who readily shed innocent blood, contrasting sharply with the peace and order God intends.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!": This clause demonstrates a deep yearning for divine intervention and righteous judgment. It's an expression of zeal for God's justice, not a call for personal revenge. The psalmist, understanding God's perfect nature, desires for God's enemies—those who embody opposition to Him—to be decisively removed by divine power. This reflects an alignment with God's ultimate plan to conquer evil.
• "Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!": This second clause functions as both a declaration and a personal prayer for protection and separation. Having voiced a longing for divine judgment on a global or societal scale, the psalmist then applies it personally. He recognizes the imminent danger or contamination from such violent individuals and pleads for them to be utterly removed from his immediate sphere. This ensures his continued devotion to God, uncorrupted by their ways.

Psalm 139 19 Bonus section

The strong language in Psalm 139:19 (and similar "imprecatory" verses) must be understood within its theological framework. It's a prayer rooted in devotion to God's character, asking for His holy wrath against evil to manifest, rather than an instruction for individuals to exact personal vengeance. In the New Testament, while individual believers are commanded to love their enemies (Matt 5:44) and not repay evil with evil (Rom 12:17), the ultimate defeat of wickedness remains a cornerstone of biblical eschatology, reserved for God's final judgment through Christ. The psalmist's desire for the "slaying" of the wicked is a prophetic foretaste of Christ's eventual triumph over all forms of evil (Rev 19:15), where sin and rebellion are definitively put to an end by divine power. It represents a theological and ethical stance that God, as the ultimate righteous Judge, will indeed deal decisively with all ungodliness.

Psalm 139 19 Commentary

Psalm 139:19 stands as a stark declaration of the psalmist's fervent alignment with God's holiness and His justice. Having experienced the profound intimacy of God's omnipresent and omniscient nature throughout the psalm, the psalmist’s spirit cannot tolerate the existence of those who actively defy such a holy God. His prayer for God to "slay the wicked" is not a cry for personal vengeance but a passionate appeal for divine retribution against ultimate evil. It reflects an understanding that those characterized as "wicked" and "bloodthirsty" are fundamentally enemies of God and His order, whose continued existence dishonors His name. The psalmist's request to separate from these men signifies a commitment to spiritual purity and a desire to remain in the holy presence of God, unpolluted by ungodliness. It underlines the stark contrast between God's perfect being and human wickedness, underscoring a heart that seeks God's kingdom and righteousness above all. This sentiment mirrors a righteous zeal for truth and justice to prevail.