Psalms 109:15

Let them be before Yahweh continually, that he may cut off their memory from the earth;

World English Bible

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Other translations

WEBBE

Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off their memory from the earth;

BSB

May their sins always remain before the LORD, that He may cut off their memory from the earth.

KJV

Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.

ASV

Let them be before Jehovah continually, That he may cut off the memory of them from the earth;

BBE

Let them be ever before the eyes of the Lord, so that the memory of them may be cut off from the earth.

Original Hebrew

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יִהְיוּ yih·yu let them be H1961 נֶגֶד־ ne·ged- before H5048 יְהוָה yah·weh Yahweh H3068 תָּמִיד ta·mid continually H8548 וְיַכְרֵת ve·yakh·ret and may he cut off H3772 מֵאֶרֶץ me·'e·retz from [the] earth H776 זִכְרָם zikh·ram memory their H2143

The early church

"And that, because he remembered not to act mercifully" [Psalm 109:15]; either Judas, or the people itself. But "remembered not" is better understood of the people: for if they slew Christ, they might well remember the deed in penitence, and act mercifully towards His members, whom they most perseveringly persecuted. For this reason he saith, "but persecuted the poor man and the beggar" [Psalm 109:16]. It may indeed be understood of Judas; for the Lord did not disdain to become poor, when He was rich, that we might be enriched by His poverty. But how shall I understand the word "beggar," save perhaps because He said to the Samaritan woman, "Give me to drink," and on the Cross He said, "I thirst." But as to what followeth, I do not see how it can be understood of our Head Himself, that is, the Saviour of His own body, whom Judas persecuted. For after saying, "He persecuted the poor man and the beggar:" he addeth, "and to slay," that is, "that he might slay Him," for some have so rendered it, "Him that was pricked at the heart." This expression is not commonly used except of the stings of past sins in the sorrows of penitence; as it is said of those who, when they had heard the Apostles after our Lord's ascension, were "pricked in heart," even they who had slain the Lord. ...

Augustine of Hippo · d. 430Expositions on the Psalms

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 6–20

The Lord Jesus may speak here as a Judge, denouncing sentence on some of his enemies, to warn others. When men reject the salvation of Christ, even their prayers are numbered among their sins. See what hurries some to shameful deaths, and brings the families and estates of others to ruin; makes them and theirs despicable and hateful, and brings poverty, shame, and misery upon their posterity: it is sin, that mischievous, destructive thing. And what will be the effect of the sentence, "Go, ye cursed," upon the bodies and souls of the wicked! How it will affect the senses of the body, and the powers of the soul, with pain, anguish, horror, and despair! Think on these things, sinners, tremble and repent.

Read Matthew Henry on Psalm 109 →

Spurgeon · Verse 15

Again, he wishes that his father's sins may follow up the transgressor and assist to fill the measure of his own iniquities, so that for the whole accumulated load the family may be smitten with utter extinction. A king might justly wish for such an end to fall upon an incorrigible brood of rebels; and of persecutors, continuing in the same mind, the saints might well pray for their extinction; but the passage is dark; and we must leave it so. It must be right or it would not be here, but how we cannot see. Why should we expect to understand all things? Perhaps it is more for our benefit to exercise humility, and reverently worship God over a hard text, than it would be to comprehend all mysteries.

Read Spurgeon on Psalm 109 →

Cross-references

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.