Psalms 139:19
Psalms 139:19 in Multiple Translations
O God, that You would slay the wicked— away from me, you bloodthirsty men—
Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: Depart from me therefore, ye bloodthirsty men.
If only you would put the sinners to death, O God; go far from me, you men of blood.
God, if you would only kill the wicked! Murderers, get away from me!
Oh that thou wouldest slay, O God, the wicked and bloody men, to whom I say, Depart ye from mee:
Dost Thou slay, O God, the wicked? Then, men of blood, turn aside from me!
If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
God, I desire that you would kill all the wicked people! And I wish that violent [MTY] men would ◄leave/go away from► me.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 139:19
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 139:19 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אִם
תִּקְטֹ֖ל
אֱל֥וֹהַּ
רָשָׁ֑ע
וְ/אַנְשֵׁ֥י
דָ֝מִ֗ים
ס֣וּרוּ
מֶֽ/נִּי
אִם
ʼim
H518
if
Conj
תִּקְטֹ֖ל
qâṭal
H6991
to slay
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
אֱל֥וֹהַּ
ʼĕlôwahh
H433
god
N-ms
רָשָׁ֑ע
râshâʻ
H7563
wicked
Adj
וְ/אַנְשֵׁ֥י
ʼîysh
H376
man
Conj | N-mp
דָ֝מִ֗ים
dâm
H1818
blood
N-mp
ס֣וּרוּ
çûwr
H5493
to turn aside
V-Qal-Impv-2mp
מֶֽ/נִּי
min
H4480
from
Prep | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 139:19
אִם
ʼim
H518
"if"
Conj
This Hebrew word is used to express conditions or questions, like if or whether. It can also be used to make oaths or express wishes, as in Oh that! It appears in various forms in the KJV, including if, though, and when.
Definition: : if/whether_or/though 1) if 1a) conditional clauses 1a1) of possible situations 1a2) of impossible situations 1b) oath contexts 1b1) no, not 1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or 1d) when, whenever 1e) since 1f) interrogative particle 1g) but rather
Usage: Occurs in 931 OT verses. KJV: (and, can-, doubtless, if, that) (not), [phrase] but, either, [phrase] except, [phrase] more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or, [phrase] save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, [phrase] surely (no more, none, not), though, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] unless, [phrase] verily, when, whereas, whether, while, [phrase] yet. See also: Genesis 4:7; Exodus 22:3; Leviticus 27:27.
תִּקְטֹ֖ל
qâṭal
H6991
"to slay"
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
This Hebrew word means to kill or slay, and is first used in Genesis 4:8 when Cain kills Abel. It is often used to describe violence or murder. The Bible translates it as 'kill' or 'slay'.
Definition: (Qal) to slay, kill Aramaic equivalent: qe.tal (קְטַל "to slay" H6992)
Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: kill, slay. See also: Job 13:15; Job 24:14; Psalms 139:19.
אֱל֥וֹהַּ
ʼĕlôwahh
H433
"god"
N-ms
Eloah refers to God or a deity, and is used to describe the one true God or false gods. It is often translated as God in the KJV, and is related to the word Elohim, which also refers to God.
Definition: 1) God 2) false god Aramaic equivalent: e.lah (אֱלָהּ "god" H0426)
Usage: Occurs in 59 OT verses. KJV: God, god. See H430 (אֱלֹהִים). See also: Deuteronomy 32:15; Job 22:26; Psalms 18:32.
רָשָׁ֑ע
râshâʻ
H7563
"wicked"
Adj
This word describes someone who is morally wrong, a bad person who is guilty of crime or sin against God or others. It is used to describe the wicked in biblical stories, such as in the book of Genesis.
Definition: 1) wicked, criminal 1a) guilty one, one guilty of crime (subst) 1b) wicked (hostile to God) 1c) wicked, guilty of sin (against God or man)
Usage: Occurs in 248 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did wrong. See also: Genesis 18:23; Psalms 101:8; Psalms 1:1.
וְ/אַנְשֵׁ֥י
ʼîysh
H376
"man"
Conj | N-mp
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Definition: : man 1) man 1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female) 1b) husband 1c) human being, person (in contrast to God) 1d) servant 1e) mankind 1f) champion 1g) great man 2) whosoever 3) each (adjective)
Usage: Occurs in 1851 OT verses. KJV: also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare H802 (אִשָּׁה). See also: Genesis 2:23; Genesis 42:25; Exodus 32:23.
דָ֝מִ֗ים
dâm
H1818
"blood"
N-mp
Blood refers to the liquid that flows through the body, essential for life. In the Bible, blood is often used to symbolize life, guilt, or sacrifice, as seen in the story of Jesus' crucifixion.
Definition: 1) blood 1a) of wine (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 295 OT verses. KJV: blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), [phrase] innocent. See also: Genesis 4:10; Numbers 19:5; Psalms 5:7.
ס֣וּרוּ
çûwr
H5493
"to turn aside"
V-Qal-Impv-2mp
To turn aside or remove is the meaning of this verb, used in various forms throughout the Bible. It can mean to depart, avoid, or put something away, and is often used in the context of turning away from sin or wrongdoing, as seen in the actions of prophets and leaders in the Old Testament.
Definition: : remove 1) to turn aside, depart 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to turn aside, turn in unto 1a2) to depart, depart from way, avoid 1a3) to be removed 1a4) to come to an end 1b) (Polel) to turn aside 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to turn aside, cause to depart, remove, take away, put away, depose 1c2) to put aside, leave undone, retract, reject, abolish 1d) (Hophal) to be taken away, be removed
Usage: Occurs in 284 OT verses. KJV: be(-head), bring, call back, decline, depart, eschew, get (you), go (aside), [idiom] grievous, lay away (by), leave undone, be past, pluck away, put (away, down), rebel, remove (to and fro), revolt, [idiom] be sour, take (away, off), turn (aside, away, in), withdraw, be without. See also: Genesis 8:13; 2 Samuel 6:10; Psalms 6:9.
מֶֽ/נִּי
min
H4480
"from"
Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means a portion or part of something, and is often used to show the relationship between things, like from or out of something.
Definition: prep 1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than 1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of 1b) out of 1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling) 1b2) (of material from which something is made) 1b3) (of source or origin) 1c) out of, some of, from (partitively) 1d) from, since, after (of time) 1e) than, more than (in comparison) 1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or 1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons) 1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive) conj 2) that Aramaic equivalent: min (מִן־ "from" H4481)
Usage: Occurs in 1094 OT verses. KJV: above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason of), from (among), in, [idiom] neither, [idiom] nor, (out) of, over, since, [idiom] then, through, [idiom] whether, with. See also: Genesis 2:6; Exodus 16:32; Leviticus 14:26.
Study Notes — Psalms 139:19
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 139:19 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 139:19
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 139:19
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 139:19
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 139:19
- Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 139:19
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 139:19
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 139:19
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 139:19
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 139:19
- Sermons on Psalms 139:19
Context — You Have Searched Me and Known Me
17How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God, how vast is their sum!
18If I were to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand; and when I awake, I am still with You.
19O God, that You would slay the wicked— away from me, you bloodthirsty men—
20who speak of You deceitfully; Your enemies take Your name in vain. 21Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD, and detest those who rise against You?Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 5:6 | You destroy those who tell lies; the LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit. |
| 2 | Psalms 119:115 | Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may obey the commandments of my God. |
| 3 | Isaiah 11:4 | but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips. |
| 4 | Psalms 6:8 | Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, for the LORD has heard my weeping. |
| 5 | Psalms 64:7 | But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be wounded. |
| 6 | Psalms 9:17 | The wicked will return to Sheol— all the nations who forget God. |
| 7 | Psalms 55:23 | But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You. |
| 8 | Matthew 25:41 | Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. |
| 9 | Psalms 94:23 | He will bring upon them their own iniquity and destroy them for their wickedness. The LORD our God will destroy them. |
| 10 | 2 Corinthians 6:17 | “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” |
Psalms 139:19 Summary
[This verse is a prayer asking God to remove wicked people from our lives because they oppose God and do evil. It's about seeking God's justice and protection, as seen in Psalms 37:38 and Revelation 19:2. We should want to be separated from those who do evil and instead follow God's path of righteousness, as described in Psalms 1:1-3. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's desire for justice and righteousness.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to ask God to slay the wicked in Psalms 139:19?
This verse is a cry to God to judge and remove those who are evil and oppose Him, as seen in Psalms 37:38, which says the wicked will be cut off, and in Revelation 19:2, where God judges the wicked for their deeds.
Is it right to hate those who hate God, as implied in Psalms 139:21-22?
The Bible teaches that we should love our enemies, as in Matthew 5:44, but it also shows that God hates those who do evil, as in Proverbs 6:16-19 and Psalms 5:5, indicating a difference between personal hatred and God's righteous judgment.
How does this verse relate to our personal lives and relationships?
This verse suggests that we should seek to separate ourselves from those who are wicked and opposed to God, as in 2 Corinthians 6:14-17, which warns against being yoked with unbelievers, and in Psalms 1:1-3, which describes the blessings of not walking with the wicked.
Is asking God to slay the wicked a form of revenge or is it something else?
This is not about personal revenge but about asking God to uphold His justice and righteousness, as seen in Deuteronomy 32:4, which describes God's justice, and in Romans 12:19, which tells us not to take revenge but to leave it to God.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways you can practically separate yourself from the influence of wicked or bloodthirsty men and women in your life?
- How does the thought of God's justice and judgment impact your daily decisions and actions?
- In what ways can you align your heart with God's desire for justice and righteousness, as expressed in this verse?
- What does it mean for you to 'hate' those who hate God, and how can you balance this with the command to love your enemies?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 139:19
Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God,.... Since he is God omniscient, and knows where they are, what they have done, are doing, and design to do; and God omnipresent, at hand to lay hold upon
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 139:19
Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. Surely , [ 'im (H518)] - literally, 'If;' elliptical: If only "thou wilt slay the wicked, O God," I shall still more praise thee.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 139:19
Surely thou wilt slay the wicked: and as thou hast precious and gracious thoughts towards me, and all that love and fear thee; so thou hast other kinds of thoughts and purposes towards wicked men, such as thou knowest mine enemies to be, even to destroy them utterly. Depart from me therefore; I renounce your friendship and society. I will not partake with you in your sins, lest I should also partake of your plagues. Ye bloody men, Heb. ye men of blood; either, 1. Passively, deserving death, or guilty of blood, or of death, as the phrase is, ,31 Mt 26:66. Or rather, 2. Actively, blood-thirsty, or shedders of blood, as this phrase is generally taken, as 55:23 59:2. Having called them wicked men in general, he now gives a particular account of their wickedness; they were unjust and cruel towards men, and withal profane and impious towards God, as he tells us in the next verse.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 139:19
Psalms 139:19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.Ver. 19. Surely thou wilt slay the wicked] Those that traduce and slander me for a hypocrite and a Belialist. Some render it, Oh that thou wouldest slay them! inasmuch as they hate me for my zeal, and forwardness to turn the wheel of justice over them, and to give them their due and condign punishment; for, for mine own part, I cannot abide them, but bid tbem avaunt, with Depart from me therefore, ye bloody men] Ye that dare to destroy so goodly a piece of God’ s handiwork as man is above described to be. See Genesis 9:6. Or, ye that seek to double, undo me; first by detraction and then by deadly practice. See Ezekiel 22:9, "In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood."
Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 139:19
(19) Slay the wicked.—This abrupt transition from a theme so profound and fascinating to fierce indignation against the enemies of God, would certainly be strange anywhere but in the Psalms. And yet, perhaps, philosophically regarded, the subject of God’s omniscience must conduct the mind to the thought of the existence of evil, and speculation on its origin and development. But the Hebrew never speculated for speculation’s sake. The practical concerns of life engaged him too intensely. Where a modern would have branched off into the ever-recurring problem of the entrance of evil into the world, the Israelite turned with indignation on those who then and there proved the existence of sin in concrete act. Surely . . . —Or, rather— “O that thou wouldest slay, O God, the wicked, And that ye bloody men would depart from me.” We get the last clause, which is better than an abrupt change to the imprecations, by a slight change of reading.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 139:19
Verse 19. Surely thou wilt slay the wicked] The remaining part of this Psalm has no visible connexion with the preceding. I rather think it a fragment, or a part of some other Psalm. Ye bloody men.] אנשי דמים anshey damim, men of blood, men guilty of death.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 139:19
19–24. But how can this omniscient God tolerate the existence of wicked men, who blaspheme and hate Him? With such the Psalmist will have no fellowship; and he concludes with a prayer that God will purify his heart, and lead him in the right way.
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 139:19
Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God - Compare the notes at Isaiah 11:4.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 139:19
19-22. From the foregoing survey of the divine perfections the psalmist draws unbounded consolation and hope for the righteous. He now, however, sees that the same causes secure the ultimate, inevitable punishment of the wicked.
Sermons on Psalms 139:19
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Empty Words by A.W. Tozer | The preacher delves into the concept of falsehood, emphasizing that it describes intentional lies or deceptions, which are contrary to the truth. The sermon highlights how lies are |
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Do Not Forsake Me, O Lord! by C.H. Spurgeon | C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the necessity of God's constant presence in our lives, urging believers to continually pray, 'Do not forsake me, O Lord!' He illustrates that just as a chi |
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Eyewitnesses of His Glory by T. Austin-Sparks | T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes the significance of the Transfiguration of Jesus, highlighting that it served as a pivotal moment for the disciples, providing them with a vision of His |
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Your Enemies Will Leave Suddenly and Ashamed by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that even righteous individuals can lose their discernment and be challenged by God. He highlights the importance of being able to hear the |
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Crying Unto Jesus by Samuel Rutherford | Samuel Rutherford preaches on the fervent and intense prayers of the Syro-Phoenician woman in Matthew 15:22, highlighting the importance of urgent prayer that is filled with need, |
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Tears Have a Voice by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks emphasizes that tears carry a profound voice, as God pays attention to both our weeping and our prayers. He illustrates that penitent tears serve as divine ambassador |
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Tears Have Tongues by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks emphasizes the profound power of tears in his sermon 'Tears Have Tongues,' illustrating that tears are not silent but rather have a voice that reaches the ears of God |