Psalms 119:115 Meaning: Your Resolve and His Judgment
Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.
Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.
Depart from me, ye evil-doers, That I may keep the commandments of my God.
Turn aside from me, ye evil-doers, And I keep the commands of my God.
Depart from me, ye evil-doers; and I will observe the commandments of my God.
Meaning in one sentence
Does Psalm 119:115 mean personal separation from sin or Christ's final judgment? Explore the psalmist's cry to evildoers and its meaning for today.
Context
The psalmist has been declaring his love for God's law. In the verses just before this one, he calls God his hiding place and his shield, and says he hopes in God's word. He has also spoken of his hatred for double-minded people. Now he turns directly to those who do evil. This is not a random outburst. It flows from a heart that has chosen God's ways.
Psalm 119 is a long meditation on Scripture, written as an acrostic. Each section begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. This verse sits in the Samekh section, which is about standing firm in faith. The psalmist knows that to keep God's commandments, he must clear away what competes for his loyalty. So he tells the wicked to step aside, so he can obey. The same phrase echoes in Psalm 6:8 and later appears on the lips of Jesus in Matthew 7:23, linking the psalmist's personal resolve with Christ's final separation of the righteous from the wicked.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words give this verse its weight. The first is sur (turn aside, depart). It is a strong command, not a suggestion. The psalmist does not ask the evildoers to leave politely; he orders them away. This is the language of someone making a clear break.
The second word is mer'eim (evildoers). It is a participle, those who make evil their trade. This is not about occasional failure but a settled way of life. The psalmist wants distance from that pattern, not just from certain people.
The third word is natsar (observe). It means to guard, to watch over, to treasure. The psalmist does not plan to keep God's commands casually. He will guard them like a soldier guards a gate or a shepherd guards his flock. And he calls God Elohai, my God. This is personal. The commandments are not abstract rules; they belong to the God who claims him. To keep them is to stay close to the One he loves.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have long read this verse in two ways that do not cancel each other. Many see it as the believer's personal resolve: as Matthew Henry wrote, 'Those that resolve to keep the commandments of God must have no society with evil-doers.' The psalmist is making a clean break so he can obey without distraction.
Others, like John Gill, hear in these words an echo of Christ's judgment. Jesus uses the same phrase in Matthew 7:23, 'Depart from me, you who work iniquity.' For these readers, the psalm points forward to the final separation of the righteous and the wicked. Both readings share a core truth: there comes a point where loyalty to God requires a clear division. What is at stake is not mere preference but the shape of a whole life.
A common misunderstanding
Some read this verse as a command to judge and reject every sinner we meet, leading to harshness or isolation. In fact, the psalmist is not condemning anyone to hell or calling for their punishment. He is making a personal decision: 'Depart from me... that I may keep the commandments.' The focus is on his own resolve, not on pronouncing final judgment on others. He distances himself from their influence so he can stay faithful, not because he has given up on them entirely.
Living This Out
This week, think about one influence that quietly pulls you away from God's word. It might be a conversation that always leads to gossip, a social media feed that stirs envy, or a friendship where you feel pressured to compromise. The psalmist does not try to reform the evildoers or stay and resist them. He says, 'Depart from me.' For you, that might mean muting that account, stepping back from that group, or having an honest talk with a friend. You are not being unloving; you are making space to obey. Ask God to show you what one step of separation could look like this week.
Main takeaway: Keeping God's commandments requires the courage to separate from what pulls us away from Him.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
The psalmist told the people who do wrong things to go away so he could do what God says. You can ask God to help you stay away from things that make you disobey.
For ages 9, 12
Sometimes friends or habits make it harder for us to follow God. This verse shows us that it is okay to step back from those influences. You do not have to be rude, but you can choose to spend time in ways that help you love and obey God. Ask Him to show you what one thing you could move away from this week to get closer to Him.
Questions People Ask
What does the word 'evildoers' mean in the original Hebrew?
The Hebrew word is mer'eim, a participle from the root meaning 'to do evil.' It describes people who habitually practice evil, not those who stumble occasionally. The psalmist is addressing those whose pattern of life is set against God's ways.
Does this verse mean Christians should completely avoid all sinners?
Not exactly. The psalmist is speaking about his own context and resolve, he wants distance from those who would pull him away from obedience. Jesus Himself ate with sinners. But there is wisdom in stepping back from relationships that consistently lead you into sin. The focus is on protecting your own walk with God, not on judging others.
Why does Jesus use similar words in Matthew 7:23?
Jesus quotes the same Hebrew phrase when He says, 'Depart from me, you who work iniquity.' In the psalm, it is the believer separating from the wicked for the sake of obedience. In the Gospel, it becomes Christ's final judgment on those who never truly knew Him. Many Christians see the psalm as a foreshadowing of that ultimate separation.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study