Bible Strands
Psalms 69:28
May they be blotted out of the Book of Life and not listed with the righteous.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses God during a period of acute distress, immediately following a petition that his adversaries' guilt be multiplied and excluded from divine favor. The plea functions as a judicial request within a larger lament.
The words — The Hebrew verb יִמָּחֽוּ (yi.mā.chû) translates literally as "may they be wiped out," directly modifying the phrase מִסֵּפֶר חַיִּים (mi.sē.fēr chā.yîm), "from the scroll of life." The parallel phrase אַל־יִכָּתֵֽבוּ (al-yi.kā.tē.vû) means "may they not be written down" alongside צַדִּיקִים (tza.dî.qîm), "the righteous."
The thread — The imagery of divine records appears in Exodus 32:32, where Moses asks to be blotted from God's written book, and in Luke 10:20, which contrasts earthly ministry with names recorded in heaven. The concept of a fixed Book of Life also appears in Philippians 4:3.
Why it lands — The text presents a binary state of spiritual inclusion or exclusion based on divine inscription rather than human action. It requires the reader to evaluate their standing against a fixed heavenly record and to seek placement among the righteous through that authority alone.
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
Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
Cross-references
- Exodus 32:32 Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.”
- Luke 10:20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
- Philippians 4:3 Yes, and I ask you, my true yokefellow, to help these women who have contended at my side for the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
- Ezekiel 13:9 My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and speak lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of My people or be recorded in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.
- Revelation 13:8 And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.
- Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And books were opened, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books.
- Hebrews 12:23 in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
- Revelation 3:5 Like them, he who overcomes will be dressed in white. And I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and His angels.
- Revelation 22:19 And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and the holy city, which are described in this book.
- Isaiah 65:16 Whoever invokes a blessing in the land will do so by the God of truth, and whoever takes an oath in the land will swear by the God of truth. For the former troubles will be forgotten and hidden from My sight.