Bible Strands
Psalms 6:8
Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, for the LORD has heard my weeping.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses his adversaries, commanding them to leave him because Yahweh has listened to his weeping. This declaration follows his report of eyes failing from grief caused by his foes.
The words — The imperative ס֣וּרוּ (Su.ru) commands a turning away, while פֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָ֑וֶן (Po.'a.lei 'A.ven) literally identifies the addressees as those doing wickedness. The statement grounds this command in שָׁמַ֥ע (sha.Ma'), confirming Yahweh has heard the speaker.
The thread — This command to depart from evildoers appears again in Psalm 119:115 and is reversed in tone by Jesus in Luke 13:27, where he commands evildoers to depart from him. Psalm 145:18 contrasts this by noting Yahweh’s nearness to those who call on him in truth.
Why it lands — The text demands a clear separation from active rebellion as a direct result of divine attention to suffering. It requires the reader to recognize that God’s hearing of prayer establishes a boundary between the afflicted and their oppressors.
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
Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.
Cross-references
- Luke 13:27 And he will answer, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.’
- Psalms 119:115 Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may obey the commandments of my God.
- Psalms 145:18 The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.
- Psalms 3:4 To the LORD I cry aloud, and He answers me from His holy mountain. Selah
- Matthew 7:23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’
- Psalms 139:19 O God, that You would slay the wicked—away from me, you bloodthirsty men—
- 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.
- Hebrews 5:7 During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.
- Psalms 116:8 For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
- Isaiah 30:19 O people in Zion who dwell in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will surely be gracious when you cry for help; when He hears, He will answer you.