Bible Strands
Psalms 139:19
O God, that You would slay the wicked—away from me, you bloodthirsty men—
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses God directly, immediately following his meditation on God's innumerable thoughts toward him and preceding his identification of hostile speakers. This moment captures a pivot from personal awe to a public plea for divine intervention against opposing figures.
The words — The Hebrew verb תִּקְטֹל (tik.Tol) literally means "you will kill," standing in parallel with the imperative סֻרוּ (Su.ru), which translates to "depart." These terms form the core of the psalmist's request for God to remove violent opponents from his presence.
The thread — This appeal for God to judge the wicked aligns with the declaration in Psalms 5:6 that the LORD destroys those who tell lies and abhors the man of bloodshed. It also mirrors the directive in Psalms 119:115 to depart from evildoers so the speaker may faithfully obey God's commandments.
Why it lands — The text requires a sharp separation between the psalmist's reverence for God's nearness and his rejection of those who wield violence and deceit against God's people. It asks the reader to demand divine justice rather than pursue personal vengeance.
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
Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
Cross-references
- Psalms 5:6 You destroy those who tell lies; the LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.
- Psalms 119:115 Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may obey the commandments of my God.
- 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.
- Psalms 6:8 Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, for the LORD has heard my weeping.
- Psalms 9:17 The wicked will return to Sheol—all the nations who forget God.
- 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.
- Psalms 64:7 But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be wounded.
- 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 94:23 He will bring upon them their own iniquity and destroy them for their wickedness. The LORD our God will destroy them.
- 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.