Bible Strands
Psalms 119:150
Those who follow after wickedness draw near; they are far from Your law.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses the LORD in the midst of a prayer for life and justice, immediately contrasting his own dependence on God with the spiritual state of his adversaries.
The words — The phrase רֹדְפֵי זִמָּה (rodefei zimmah) literally means "pursuers of wickedness," paired with the verbs קָרְבוּ (qarvu, "they draw near") and רָחָקוּ (raḥaqu, "they are distant") to state that active pursuit of evil results in spiritual distance from divine instruction.
The thread — This inverse relationship between obedience and proximity to God runs through Proverbs 28:9, which declares that turning away from the law renders prayer detestable, and anticipates the psalmist’s next declaration that the LORD Himself is near.
Why it lands — The verse requires a reader to examine what they actively pursue, establishing that alignment with God’s law and distance from wickedness are non-negotiable conditions for drawing near to Him.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.
Cross-references
- Psalms 27:2 When the wicked came upon me to devour my flesh, my enemies and foes stumbled and fell.
- Proverbs 28:9 Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable.
- 1 Samuel 23:16 And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God,
- 2 Samuel 17:16 Now send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but be sure to cross over. Otherwise the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.’”
- Job 21:14 Yet they say to God: ‘Leave us alone! For we have no desire to know Your ways.
- Psalms 22:11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.
- Psalms 22:16 For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.
- Psalms 50:17 For you hate My instruction and cast My words behind you.
- Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
- Proverbs 1:22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?