Psalms 10:15

KJV

Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil [man]: seek out his wickedness [till] thou find none.

KJV (with Strong's)

Break {H7665} thou the arm {H2220} of the wicked {H7563} and the evil {H7451} man: seek out {H1875} his wickedness {H7562} till thou find {H4672} none {H1077}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Break the arm of the wicked! As for the evil man, search out his wickedness until there is none left.

Berean Standard Bible

Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call him to account for his wickedness until none is left to be found.

American Standard Version

Break thou the arm of the wicked; And as for the evil man, seek out his wickedness till thou find none.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 10:15 is a fervent and impassioned plea from the psalmist for God's decisive intervention against the wicked and oppressive. It encapsulates a profound desire for divine justice to be fully manifested, not merely by restraining but by utterly dismantling the power of evil and meticulously eradicating its influence until no trace remains. This verse stands as a powerful testament to the psalmist's unwavering faith in God's ultimate sovereignty, His unwavering commitment to righteousness, and His eventual triumph over all forms of wickedness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 10 is a lament, a heartfelt and desperate cry to God in a time of perceived divine silence and rampant injustice. It stands in close thematic relation to Psalms 9, with some ancient traditions even combining them, as both deal with the triumph of God over the wicked. The psalmist vividly describes the arrogant, greedy, and godless behavior of the wicked, who ruthlessly prey upon the poor, the afflicted, and the vulnerable (see the detailed descriptions in [Psalms 10:2-11](/psalms/10-2 "Psalms 10:2-11 - The Wicked's Oppression")). These oppressors boast in their evil desires, scorn the Lord, and arrogantly believe they will never face consequences. Within this narrative of unbridled evil, verse 15 emerges as the climactic and most direct prayer for God to rise up and act. It follows a direct appeal to God in [Psalms 10:12](/psalms/10-12 "Psalms 10:12 - The Psalmist's Plea for God to Act") to remember the afflicted and to lay His hand upon the wicked, serving as the specific articulation of the desired divine action. The verse marks a turning point from lament to a confident declaration of God's eventual judgment and the vindication of the righteous.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The backdrop for Psalms 10:15 is likely a period of significant social and moral decay within Israelite society, where powerful and ungodly individuals exploited the vulnerable without apparent consequence. The psalmist's complaint is not against external enemies but against internal oppressors who disregard the covenant and God's law. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the "arm" (Hebrew: *zəroaʿ*) was a potent symbol of strength, power, and authority, often associated with military might or the ability to act decisively. To "break the arm" was a common metaphor for rendering someone utterly powerless and incapable of inflicting harm. The plea for God to "seek out his wickedness [till] thou find none" reflects a deep-seated cultural expectation for comprehensive justice, where evil is not merely punished but thoroughly exposed and eradicated, aligning with the covenant ideal of a righteous and pure community where God's justice prevails.
* **Key Themes:** Psalms 10:15 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Psalter and broader biblical theology. The most prominent is **Divine Justice and Retribution**, as the verse is a passionate call for God to actively execute justice against those who oppress and defy Him, highlighting the belief that only God possesses the power to intervene where human efforts fail. This ties into the theme of **God's Sovereignty**, underscoring the psalmist's conviction that no evil power or scheme is beyond God's ultimate reach and authority. The imagery of "breaking the arm" directly addresses the theme of **Dismantling Evil's Power**, symbolizing the complete removal of the wicked's strength, authority, and ability to do harm, rendering them utterly ineffective. Furthermore, "seek out his wickedness [till] thou find none" emphasizes the theme of **Eradication of Wickedness**, speaking to a thorough and complete divine judgment where evil is not merely suppressed but utterly exposed, purged, and removed, leaving no trace of its influence or existence. This reflects a profound desire for the ultimate purification of society from moral corruption, a hope often expressed in passages concerning God's future reign (e.g., [Isaiah 11:9](/isaiah/11-9 "Isaiah 11:9 - No Harm or Destruction on God's Holy Mountain")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Arm (Hebrew, _zəroaʿ_):** This Hebrew word literally refers to the physical limb, but it is frequently used metaphorically in the Old Testament to denote strength, power, might, and authority. To "break the arm" is a vivid idiom signifying the complete destruction or incapacitation of one's power and ability to act or oppress. It implies stripping away their influence and rendering them helpless. This imagery is often used to describe God's judgment against powerful entities (e.g., [Ezekiel 30:21](/ezekiel/30-21 "Ezekiel 30:21 - Breaking the Arm of Pharaoh")).
* **Wicked (Hebrew, _rashaʿ_):** This term refers to those who are morally guilty, unrighteous, and rebellious against God's commands and covenant. It describes individuals who are not merely mistaken but actively choose a path of injustice, oppression, and defiance toward God and His people. They are consistently contrasted with the "righteous" (*tsaddiq*), who live in accordance with God's will.
* **Seek out... till thou find none (Hebrew, _darash... ad-bila-timtsa_):** The verb _darash_ means "to seek," "to search," "to inquire diligently." The phrase "till thou find none" (literally "until not finding") is a strong expression of totality. It implies a meticulous divine investigation and subsequent complete eradication or exposure of the wicked's deeds and influence. It's a prayer for a comprehensive judgment that leaves no remnant or hiding place for evil, ensuring its utter and final removal.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Break thou the arm of the wicked":** This is a direct, imperative prayer, a passionate plea for God to intervene with His overwhelming power. The psalmist asks God to strip the wicked of their strength, authority, and capacity to inflict harm. It is a request for divine incapacitation, rendering the oppressors powerless to continue their schemes and abuses.
* **"and the evil [man]":** This phrase serves to reinforce and specify the target of the prayer. It refers to the individual or collective embodiment of evil, those who actively perpetrate injustice and defy God's moral order. The inclusion of "evil man" emphasizes the personal agency and moral culpability of the oppressors.
* **"seek out his wickedness [till] thou find none":** This clause extends the plea beyond mere incapacitation to a request for total eradication. It implies a divine scrutiny that uncovers every hidden aspect of evil, followed by a complete removal or dissolution of that wickedness. This is not just about stopping the wicked's actions but about purifying the world of their very influence and presence, leaving no trace of their corruption. It speaks to a thorough, comprehensive, and ultimate judgment.

#### Literary Devices
The language of Psalms 10:15 is rich with **Metaphor**. The most prominent is "Break thou the arm," where the physical arm serves as a powerful symbol for strength, power, and authority. To "break" it is to utterly dismantle and incapacitate the wicked, rendering them powerless. This vivid imagery communicates the psalmist's desire for a decisive and complete divine intervention. The phrase "seek out his wickedness [till] thou find none" employs a form of **Hyperbole** or **Merism**, emphasizing the desire for absolute and total eradication of evil. It's an expression of comprehensive judgment, implying that every last vestige of wickedness should be exposed and removed. The use of the **Imperative Mood** ("Break thou," "seek out") underscores the fervent and direct nature of the psalmist's prayer, reflecting a deep conviction in God's ability and willingness to act. While not strict parallelism, the two clauses work in **Syntactic Parallelism** to amplify the request for divine justice, moving from the incapacitation of the wicked to the complete removal of their wickedness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 10:15 is a profound expression of faith in God's active justice in a world marred by sin and oppression. It affirms that God is not a passive observer but a righteous judge who will ultimately intervene to defend the helpless and dismantle the strongholds of evil. This prayer reflects a deep theological conviction that God's character demands that wickedness cannot ultimately prevail. It encourages believers to bring their laments and pleas for justice directly to God, trusting in His sovereignty and His commitment to righteousness, even when His intervention seems delayed. The psalmist's cry is not for personal vengeance but for the vindication of God's holy name and the establishment of His righteous order. It points to a future where God's comprehensive judgment will leave no room for evil to fester or resurface, assuring the oppressed that their suffering is seen and will be addressed by a just God.

* [Psalms 37:17](/psalms/37-17 "Psalms 37:17 - The Arms of the Wicked Broken")
* [Isaiah 40:10](/isaiah/40-10 "Isaiah 40:10 - God's Arm Rules with Power")
* [Revelation 20:1-3](/revelation/20-1 "Revelation 20:1-3 - The Binding of Satan")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 10:15 offers profound encouragement and guidance for believers navigating a world where injustice and oppression are often rampant. It reminds us that when confronted with overwhelming evil, our primary response should be to turn to God in fervent prayer, bringing our pleas for justice before His throne. This is not a call to take vengeance into our own hands, but rather to trust in God's righteous character and His promise to judge the world righteously. The verse reinforces the comforting truth that no evil power, no matter how entrenched or seemingly invincible, is beyond God's reach. He possesses the ultimate authority to dismantle the schemes of the wicked and bring their reign to an end. For those who are downtrodden, marginalized, or suffering under the weight of injustice, this psalm serves as a beacon of hope, affirming that God sees their affliction, hears their cries, and will ultimately intervene to protect the vulnerable. It points to a future where all wickedness will be completely eradicated, a promise that fuels perseverance and hope in the face of present darkness. Our task is to pray, to trust, and to participate in God's justice where we can, while ultimately resting in His sovereign power to "seek out wickedness till none is found."

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this psalm encourage us to pray when we witness or experience profound injustice in our world?**
* **In what ways might we be tempted to "break the arm" of evil in our own strength or through ungodly means, rather than relying on God's sovereign intervention?**
* **What does it mean for us to truly trust God to "seek out wickedness till none is found" in a world where evil often seems to prevail and even flourish?**

### FAQ
**Is this a prayer for vengeance, or something else?**

Answer: This is not a prayer for personal vengeance, but rather a fervent plea for divine justice. The psalmist is not seeking to inflict harm himself, but is appealing to God, the ultimate righteous judge, to intervene and bring an end to the wicked's oppression. It acknowledges God's sovereignty and His moral character, trusting Him to execute justice in His perfect way and timing. The desire is for the vindication of God's righteous order and the protection of the vulnerable, not personal retribution.

**How does God "break the arm" of the wicked today, and "seek out their wickedness till none is found"?**

Answer: God continues to "break the arm" of the wicked through various means, both direct and indirect. This can involve exposing their deeds, limiting their influence, bringing about consequences for their actions, and ultimately, through His eschatological judgment. While we may not always see immediate, dramatic interventions, God works through the course of history, through human instruments of justice, and through the natural consequences of sin to dismantle evil. The ultimate fulfillment of "seeking out their wickedness till none is found" points to the final judgment and the establishment of God's perfect kingdom, where all evil will be completely eradicated, as described in passages like [Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Death or Mourning").

**Does God always answer this prayer immediately, or in the way we expect?**

Answer: The psalmist's very lament in Psalms 10 (e.g., [Psalms 10:1](/psalms/10-1 "Why Do You Stand Far Off, O Lord?")) often expresses a perceived delay in God's intervention. While the prayer for justice is fervent and righteous, God's timing and methods are perfect and often beyond human comprehension. He may allow evil to continue for a season for His own sovereign purposes (e.g., [Romans 9:22](/romans/9-22 "Romans 9:22 - God's Patience with Vessels of Wrath")), but the prayer is rooted in an unwavering faith that God *will* ultimately act, and His justice *will* prevail. Believers are called to persevere in prayer and trust in God's perfect wisdom, knowing that He is faithful to His promises.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 10:15 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The psalmist's plea for God to "break the arm of the wicked" and "seek out his wickedness till thou find none" foreshadows Christ's decisive victory over the forces of evil. While the psalmist prayed against human oppressors, the New Testament reveals that behind all human wickedness lies a spiritual enemy, Satan, who holds humanity captive through sin and death. Jesus, through His crucifixion and resurrection, definitively "broke the arm" of this ultimate wicked one. [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph Over Principalities") declares that Christ "disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him." Similarly, [Hebrews 2:14](/hebrews/2-14 "Hebrews 2:14 - Destroying the Power of Death") states that through His death, Jesus "might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil." The mission of Jesus, as stated in [1 John 3:8](/1_john/3-8 "1 John 3:8 - Destroying the Works of the Devil"), was precisely "to destroy the works of the devil." While His first coming inaugurated the breaking of evil's power, His second coming will bring about the complete and final fulfillment of "seeking out his wickedness till thou find none." At that time, every trace of evil, every oppressive force, and indeed the devil himself, will be utterly eradicated and cast into eternal judgment ([Revelation 20:10](/revelation/20-10 "Revelation 20:10 - The Devil Thrown into the Lake of Fire")). Thus, the psalmist's desperate cry for justice finds its glorious and complete answer in the triumph of the Lamb of God, who not only breaks the arm of the wicked but utterly purges all wickedness from His new creation.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Zephaniah 1:12

And it shall come to pass at that time, [that] I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.

Job 38:15

And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

Psalms 37:17

For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

Psalms 7:9

Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

Ezekiel 30:21

Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and, lo, it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it, to make it strong to hold the sword.

Ezekiel 30:22

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am] against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong, and that which was broken; and I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand.

Zechariah 11:17

Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword [shall be] upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.