Psalm 69:25 kjv
Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.
Psalm 69:25 nkjv
Let their dwelling place be desolate; Let no one live in their tents.
Psalm 69:25 niv
May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents.
Psalm 69:25 esv
May their camp be a desolation; let no one dwell in their tents.
Psalm 69:25 nlt
Let their homes become desolate
and their tents be deserted.
Psalm 69 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 1:20 | "For it is written in the Book of Psalms, 'May their camp be desolate,...'" | Quotes Ps 69:25, applies to Judas's fate. |
| Ps 5:10 | "Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels;" | General imprecation for judgment. |
| Ps 35:8 | "Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it!..." | Prayer for enemies' swift downfall. |
| Ps 109:7-9 | "When he is tried, let him come forth guilty;... Let his children be fatherless..." | Similar imprecatory prayer with detailed judgment. |
| Rom 12:19 | "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God..." | God reserves vengeance; human's role is not vengeance. |
| Deut 32:35 | "Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot slips..." | God's sovereignty over justice and retribution. |
| Lev 26:33 | "And I will scatter you among the nations,...and your land shall become a desolation..." | Prophecy of national desolation due to disobedience. |
| Isa 6:11-12 | "Then I said: 'How long, O Lord?' He answered: 'Until cities are waste...'" | Prophecy of desolate cities due to sin. |
| Jer 25:9-11 | "...I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all..." | Desolation of land by divine judgment. |
| Mt 23:37-38 | "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... Behold, your house is left to you desolate." | Jesus' prophecy of Jerusalem's desolation. |
| 1 Thes 2:15-16 | "...who drove out the Lord Jesus... wrath has come upon them to the uttermost!" | Judgment on those who opposed God's plan. |
| 2 Thes 1:6-8 | "...when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels..." | God's just recompense to those who trouble believers. |
| Rev 16:1-21 | (Bowl judgments description) | Symbolic descriptions of divine judgment. |
| Rev 18:19 | "...Alas, alas, for the great city, where all who had ships at sea grew rich...for in a single hour was she laid waste." | Desolation of Babylon. |
| Gen 9:27 | "...and let him dwell in the tents of Shem..." | "Tents" can refer to a dwelling or lineage. |
| Job 8:22 | "...those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more." | The wicked's dwelling disappearing. |
| Ps 10:18 | "...that man, who is of the earth, may no longer strike terror." | A call for the wicked to lose their power/place. |
| Prov 10:29 | "The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the upright, but destruction to evildoers." | Contrast between righteous protection and wicked destruction. |
| Hos 10:14 | "...Therefore the tumult of war shall arise among your people, and all your fortresses shall be laid waste..." | Military defeat leading to desolation. |
| Dan 9:27 | "...and on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate..." | Prophecy of desolation connected to ultimate wickedness. |
| 2 Sam 22:42 | "I have ground them fine as dust before the wind; I have cast them out like the mire of the streets." | David's enemies completely vanquished. |
| Zeph 2:4-5 | "For Gaza shall be deserted, and Ashkelon a desolation;..." | Specific cities decreed to become desolate. |
| Jude 1:13 | "...for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever." | Ultimate fate of those who reject God. |
| Ps 52:5 | "But God will break you down forever; he will snatch you away and tear you..." | The swift and complete removal of the wicked. |
Psalm 69 verses
Psalm 69 25 Meaning
Psalm 69:25 is an imprecatory prayer, where the psalmist (David) calls upon God to bring utter desolation and eradication upon his adversaries. It expresses a fervent desire for the complete and lasting destruction of the enemies' habitation, lineage, and future, leaving no trace of their existence or progeny in their accustomed places of dwelling. This prayer appeals to divine justice against those who relentlessly persecute God's righteous servants.
Psalm 69 25 Context
Psalm 69 is a profound lament from David, expressing intense suffering due to the wrongful accusations and relentless persecution by his enemies. He describes himself as sinking in deep mire (v. 2), scorned for his zeal for God's house (v. 9), and forsaken by friends (v. 8). Amidst this profound anguish and injustice, the psalmist appeals directly to God for vindication and deliverance. Verses 22-28 are a powerful section of imprecation, where David petitions God to bring severe judgment upon his oppressors, seeking retributive justice from the Almighty. This prayer is not an expression of personal revenge but a plea for God's righteous judgment against those who oppose His divine will and harm His chosen servants, understanding that divine justice must ultimately prevail. The historical context reflects a time when David was likely fleeing from those who sought his life, perhaps during Absalom's rebellion or persecution under Saul, yet he consistently trusted in God to be his defender and judge.
Psalm 69 25 Word analysis
- May their camp: (Hebrew: חַצְרָם, chatsram). From chatzer, meaning an enclosed court, settlement, or village, and by extension, a settled community or habitation. It implies not just a temporary military encampment but a permanent dwelling place. The plural suffix '-ram' indicates "their."
- be desolate: (Hebrew: יִהְיוּ נָאוֶה, yihyu naveh). Yihyu (from hayah) means "may they be" or "let them become." Naveh refers to a pasture, dwelling, or habitation, but often used in the context of desolation, ruins, or a wasted place. Together, it means "may it become a desolation," or "a ruin." It conveys a sense of utter destruction and abandonment.
- may none dwell: (Hebrew: אֵין יוֹשֵׁב, ein yoshev). Ein means "no, none, not." Yoshev (from yashav) means "one who dwells," an "inhabitant," or "resident." This phrase strongly emphasizes complete emptiness; not only is the place destroyed, but it also remains uninhabited, signifying total and permanent removal of people.
- in their tents: (Hebrew: אָהֳלֵיהֶם, oholeyhem). From ohel, meaning "tent," "dwelling," or "habitation." The plural form "tents" with the suffix "their" refers to the dwellings of the adversaries. "Tents" here serves as a metonym for their households, families, and even their descendants. This suggests that not only their physical presence but also their future generations and legacy would be extinguished.
Words-group analysis
- "May their camp be desolate": This phrase specifically refers to the eradication of their settled communal existence. It implies the dismantling of their established way of life, community, and social structures. The judgment is thorough, affecting their very foundation.
- "may none dwell in their tents": This completes the picture of total and lasting destruction. It ensures that the desolation is not temporary but perpetual, with no one remaining to inhabit their former spaces. "Tents" often symbolize family, lineage, and legacy in ancient Israelite culture, so this part of the imprecation also signifies the complete end of their familial line and any continuity. Together, these two clauses emphasize the wish for an enduring and comprehensive obliteration of the enemies' presence and future.
Psalm 69 25 Bonus section
The imprecations found in psalms like Ps 69 are often interpreted by theologians as God-inspired expressions of righteous indignation against evil, not mere human spite. They highlight God's justice and righteousness as foundational to His character, affirming that He will not tolerate rebellion indefinitely. Furthermore, these psalms act as prophecies that will ultimately find their complete fulfillment in the final judgment, where all opposition to God's kingdom will be utterly vanquished, leaving no place for those who stubbornly refuse to bow to His rule. They remind believers that justice is ultimately God's prerogative ("Vengeance is mine, I will repay," Rom 12:19), and prayer allows believers to align with God's perfect will and timing for justice.
Psalm 69 25 Commentary
Psalm 69:25 encapsulates a fervent plea for divine judgment. As an imprecatory psalm, it calls upon God to execute justice upon those who are relentless enemies of His righteous servant. It is critical to understand these prayers not as expressions of personal vengeance for a New Testament believer to emulate, but as cries for God's holy and perfect justice to be brought forth against evil. The psalmist appeals to God as the ultimate arbiter, confident that only He can set all things right. The severity of the language reflects the depth of the suffering and the profound conviction that God will not let wickedness go unpunished. The desire for "desolation" and for "none to dwell in their tents" speaks to the wish for a complete and utter eradication of their power, influence, and posterity—a divine wiping away of those who are fundamentally opposed to God's ways and His people.
The most profound commentary on this verse is found in Acts 1:20, where Peter directly quotes Psalm 69:25 to refer to Judas Iscariot after his betrayal and death. This application elevates the imprecatory prayer from David's personal context to a prophetic utterance concerning those who betray the Anointed One, the Messiah. It reveals that the ultimate "enemies" are those who reject or betray Christ, and for them, desolation, loss of place, and destruction are divinely decreed. This shows God's specific fulfillment of such prayers in Christ's historical experience, teaching us that ultimate divine justice will indeed visit those who oppose God's redemptive plan through His Son. It signifies that there are times when God’s justice involves the absolute termination of a wicked influence or legacy.