Psalm 34:16 kjv
The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
Psalm 34:16 nkjv
The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
Psalm 34:16 niv
but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.
Psalm 34:16 esv
The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
Psalm 34:16 nlt
But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil;
he will erase their memory from the earth.
Psalm 34 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 11:5-6 | The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked... he abhors... | God hates and punishes the wicked. |
| Prov 10:7 | The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. | Contrast: Wicked's legacy decays. |
| Isa 26:14 | They are dead, they will not live again; they are spirits, they will not rise; for you punished and destroyed them, and you wiped out all remembrance of them. | Wicked remain dead, remembrance erased. |
| Prov 10:29 | The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the upright, but destruction to evildoers. | God's path leads to destruction for evil. |
| Ps 9:5-6 | You have rebuked the nations, you have made the wicked perish; you have blotted out their name forever and ever. | God destroys wicked, erasing their names. |
| Ps 37:10 | A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. | Wicked's disappearance and end. |
| Job 18:17 | His remembrance will perish from the earth, and he will have no name in the street. | Wicked's memory utterly removed. |
| Mal 4:1 | For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble... | Wicked consumed like stubble on Judgment Day. |
| Rom 1:18 | For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men... | God's wrath opposes unrighteousness. |
| Nah 1:2 | The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and wrathful... | God's character as vengeful and full of wrath. |
| Deut 32:41 | ...I will take vengeance on my adversaries and repay those who hate me. | God's vengeance against adversaries. |
| Ps 5:5-6 | The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers... | God's hatred for and rejection of evildoers. |
| Ps 7:11-12 | God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day... | God's daily indignation against sin. |
| Lev 20:3 | I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people... | God's "face against" action of cutting off. |
| Jer 21:10 | For I have set my face against this city for evil and not for good... | God sets His face against a city for judgment. |
| Ezek 15:7 | So I will set my face against them. Though they escaped from the fire, yet the fire shall consume them... | God's decisive judgment and consumption. |
| 2 Pet 2:9 | ...then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment. | God preserves godly and punishes wicked. |
| Ps 34:15 | The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. | Immediate contrast: God's favor for righteous. |
| Ps 112:6 | For he will never be shaken; the righteous will be in everlasting remembrance. | Righteous possess everlasting memory. |
| Phil 4:3 | ...whose names are in the book of life. | Names of the righteous preserved in eternity. |
| Rev 20:12-15 | ...and the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. | Judgment based on deeds, fate of the wicked. |
| Matt 25:41 | Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire...' | Final separation and condemnation of wicked. |
Psalm 34 verses
Psalm 34 16 Meaning
Psalm 34:16 conveys the truth of God's active opposition and judgment against those who habitually practice wickedness. His divine presence is arrayed against them, leading to their complete destruction, not merely of their lives, but also of their lasting influence and memory on the earth. This declaration highlights God's justice and His commitment to eradicating evil from His creation.
Psalm 34 16 Context
Psalm 34 is a psalm of thanksgiving attributed to David, written after his encounter with Abimelech (Akish) where he feigned madness to escape (1 Sam 21:10-15). It praises the Lord for His goodness and deliverance. The psalm flows from David's personal testimony of salvation (vv. 1-7), through an invitation to "taste and see that the LORD is good" (vv. 8-10), to didactic wisdom about how to live a life pleasing to God (vv. 11-14). Verse 16 builds directly upon the contrast initiated in verse 15. While verse 15 assures God's watchful eyes and attentive ears for the righteous, verse 16 vividly portrays His resolute opposition to the wicked. This section of the psalm (vv. 15-22) articulates the stark difference in the destinies of those who seek the Lord and those who persist in evil, highlighting divine justice. In the broader historical and cultural context of the ancient Near East, a person's name and memory were inextricably linked to their identity, legacy, and influence. To be "cut off from remembrance" was the ultimate disgrace and the severest form of societal and familial destruction, effectively erasing one from existence and history, and countering common cultural emphasis on the perpetuation of family lines.
Psalm 34 16 Word analysis
- "The face of the LORD" (פְּנֵי יְהוָה, penei Adonai): This is an anthropomorphism, attributing a human feature (face) to God to convey His active presence, disposition, and attention. While God's face can signify favor and blessing (Num 6:25, Ps 4:6), when turned "against" someone, it denotes intense displeasure, wrath, and judgment. It means God Himself, in His complete essence, is resolutely set in opposition.
- "is against" (אֶל, el or לְ, lĕ / בְּ, bĕ - Hebrew preposition can carry varied meanings, here meaning "upon" or "against"): The preposition denotes not merely passive disapproval but active, confrontational opposition. It suggests a divine posture of confrontation and execution of justice, directly opposing the wicked.
- "those who do evil" (מְרֵעִים, mere'im): From the root ra'a, meaning wicked, evil, harmful. This refers to individuals whose consistent actions, character, and intentions are morally corrupt and bring harm or wickedness into the world. It is a class of people characterized by their wrongdoing.
- "to cut off" (לְהַכְרִית, lĕhakhrit): This is the infinitive construct of the Hiphil verb karat, which means to cut, to sever, to destroy, to abolish. The Hiphil stem indicates that God is the one actively causing this severing. It signifies a complete and definitive obliteration, an act of divine termination that is irreversible.
- "the remembrance of them" (זִכְרָם, zikram): From zeker, meaning memory, remembrance, memorial, renown, or even name itself. In ancient thought, one's name carried significant weight, representing reputation, identity, and legacy. To cut off one's remembrance is more severe than physical death; it implies the erasure of one's name, deeds, influence, and lineage from human history and memory, leaving no trace.
- "from the earth" (מֵאֶרֶץ, me'erets): "From the land" or "from the earth." This phrase emphasizes the complete eradication of their legacy within the sphere of human experience and existence. Their memory will not persist among the living or influence future generations. It denotes an absolute end to their worldly presence and recognition.
Psalm 34 16 Bonus section
The anthropomorphism of God's "face" serves to humanize the divine interaction, making God's disposition clear and personal. When God's face is against someone, it signifies divine disfavor and the direct application of His wrath or judgment. This stands in stark contrast to God's "face" shining upon His people, signifying blessing and favor (Num 6:25). The severe judgment of being "cut off from remembrance" underscores the biblical emphasis on leaving a righteous legacy. While the wicked's memory perishes, the righteous are promised everlasting remembrance (Ps 112:6). This verse serves as a powerful motivator for adhering to the "fear of the LORD," mentioned in Psalm 34:11, as true wisdom involves understanding and acting upon the certain consequences of God's justice towards good and evil.
Psalm 34 16 Commentary
Psalm 34:16 provides a profound declaration of God's active justice. Following the assertion of His watchful care for the righteous (v. 15), this verse offers a chilling counterpoint: God's face – His very presence and disposition – is turned against those who do evil. This is not a passive turning away, but a dynamic, hostile stance of judgment. The consequence is not merely their demise but the comprehensive act of "cutting off their remembrance." This divine act extends beyond physical death; it implies the utter eradication of their legacy, their name, and all that they stood for from the collective memory of humanity. In a world often perceiving the wicked as prospering, this verse firmly assures that God's justice prevails, ultimately rendering their influence and very memory obsolete. It serves as a stern warning against persistent wrongdoing, affirming God's unwavering commitment to righteously judging evil. It also offers comfort to the afflicted, knowing that their oppressors will not have a lasting monument or legacy.