Psalms 139:19 Meaning: Can We Pray for Justice Without Hate?
If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: Depart from me therefore, ye bloodthirsty men.
Dost Thou slay, O God, the wicked? Then, men of blood, turn aside from me!
Oh that thou wouldest slay the wicked, OGod! And ye men of blood, depart from me.
Meaning in one sentence
Psalm 139:19 is a raw cry for God to judge the wicked. Learn what this imprecatory prayer means and how it fits with God's justice and mercy.
Context
Psalm 139 is David's deep meditation on God's complete knowledge of him. He marvels that God knows his every thought and is present everywhere, even in the womb (vv. 1, 18). Then the psalm takes a sudden turn. In verse 19, David cries out for God to act against the wicked. This is not a random outburst; it flows from his awe that God sees everything, including the evil that defies Him. The surrounding verses (vv. 17, 18) are full of wonder at God's thoughts, but they are immediately followed by this stark prayer. The shift shows that knowing God's holiness sharpens our awareness of sin. David is not hiding his feelings; he is bringing them before the God who knows him completely.
Key Words
Two words give this verse its edge. The opening word 'im (from Strong's H518) is not a simple "if"; it is an optative, a longing, "Oh that You would kill!" This is not a patient prediction but a desperate cry. The verb qatal (H6991) is a rarer word for "slay," used elsewhere mainly in Job, and it carries the force of violent, decisive judgment. David does not soften the request.
Then he turns to the wicked themselves, calling them anshei damim, "men of blood." The word dam (H1818, "blood") is plural, emphasizing repeated violence and bloodshed. These are people whose lives are marked by harm. The command suru (H5493, "depart") is a strong separation, David wants no part of their company. This word is used elsewhere when the righteous must distance themselves from evil (Psalm 119:115). The verse is raw, but it is not petty. It is rooted in a desire for God's justice and personal purity.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this verse in different ways. Many in the Reformed tradition, like John Calvin, see it as David's declaration that he has no sympathy with the ungodly. Matthew Henry, a Presbyterian, says David applies the truth of God's omniscience by turning against the wicked. The Cambridge Bible (Anglican) notes that the psalmist is perplexed by the problem of evil, like Job, and cries out for God to act. Other traditions, especially those emphasizing love for enemies, find these imprecatory psalms troubling. They see them as honest human laments that must be read in light of Jesus' teaching to pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44). Both views seek to honor Scripture: one highlights zeal for God's honor, the other the radical grace of the gospel.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume the psalmist is calling down vengeance out of personal hatred. In fact, the surrounding verses show he is grieved because the wicked speak against God and take His name in vain (v. 20). His anger is not personal revenge; it is zeal for God's holiness. The same David who wrote this also spared Saul's life and showed mercy to his enemies. This prayer is a cry for divine justice, not a license for personal retaliation.
Main takeaway: God knows every evil, and we can honestly cry out to Him for justice, trusting Him to act in His time and way.
Questions People Ask
Is it okay for Christians to pray for God to punish evil people?
The psalmist prays for God to slay the wicked, and we can ask God to bring justice. But Jesus teaches us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). Our prayers should align with God's character, He is both just and merciful. We can cry out for justice while also praying for repentance.
Does Psalm 139:19 contradict Jesus' command to love your enemies?
On the surface, it seems to. But the psalmist is expressing a longing for God to uphold His righteousness, not personal vengeance. Jesus' command to love our enemies expands our response: we trust God's ultimate justice while showing mercy ourselves. Both the psalm and Jesus are rooted in God's holiness.
What does 'men of blood' mean in this verse?
The Hebrew phrase 'anshei damim' literally means 'men of bloods', people whose lives are marked by violence and murder. It refers to those who are habitually guilty of bloodshed, not just occasional wrongdoers. The psalmist wants nothing to do with such people.
Why does the psalm suddenly switch from praising God to asking Him to kill the wicked?
After meditating on God's complete knowledge (vv. 1, 18), David is struck by the reality that evil also exists under God's gaze. His prayer for judgment is not a random outburst but a logical response: if God sees everything, He must also deal with rebellion. The shift shows that worship and justice belong together.
How should I read imprecatory psalms like this today?
Imprecatory psalms teach us to be honest with God about pain and anger, and to entrust justice to Him. They are not a mandate for personal revenge. Read them as part of the whole Bible, culminating in Christ, who absorbed God's judgment on the cross and calls us to forgive our enemies.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study