Psalms 109:13

KJV

Let his posterity be cut off; [and] in the generation following let their name be blotted out.

KJV (with Strong's)

Let his posterity {H319} be cut off {H3772}; and in the generation {H1755} following {H312} let their name {H8034} be blotted out {H4229}.

Complete Jewish Bible

May his posterity be cut off; may his name be erased within a generation.

Berean Standard Bible

May his descendants be cut off; may their name be blotted out from the next generation.

American Standard Version

Let his posterity be cut off; In the generation following let their name be blotted out.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 109:13 is a profound and intensely imprecatory plea from the psalmist, traditionally attributed to King David, calling for severe divine judgment upon a specific adversary. This verse, embedded within a broader litany of curses, articulates a fervent desire for the complete termination of the enemy's lineage and the utter obliteration of their name and legacy from memory. It powerfully conveys the psalmist's deep anguish and sense of betrayal, alongside a steadfast conviction in God's ultimate and righteous justice against persistent wickedness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 109 is a deeply personal and emotionally charged imprecatory psalm, where the psalmist, likely David, pours out his anguish and calls upon God to execute justice against a treacherous enemy. The specific curses in [Psalm 109:6-19](/psalms/109-6-19 "Psalm 109:6-19 - A Litany of Curses") are directed at an individual who has repaid good with evil, spoken lies, and sought to destroy the psalmist's reputation and life. Verse 13 fits squarely within this section, escalating the severity of the desired judgment from the individual to their entire posterity, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the requested divine retribution. This psalm stands alongside others like [Psalm 35](/psalms/35 "Psalm 35 - A Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies") and [Psalm 69](/psalms/69 "Psalm 69 - A Cry of Distress and Imprecation") in its raw appeal for God's intervention against injustice, revealing the psalmist's reliance on God as the ultimate arbiter of righteousness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Near Eastern societies, the continuation of one's family line and the preservation of one's name were paramount. A large posterity was seen as a sign of divine blessing and a guarantee of legacy, honor, and remembrance, as exemplified in God's promises to Abraham in [Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "Genesis 12:2 - God's Promise to Abraham"). Conversely, the "cutting off" of a family line (often through premature death, childlessness, or societal ostracization) and the "blotting out" of a name were considered the most devastating curses, signifying complete eradication from history, memory, and community. This was not merely physical death but the ultimate shame and loss of identity, a fate worse than death for many. Such a curse implied that the individual's actions were so egregious that their very existence, and any potential future influence, deserved to be utterly erased from all record and remembrance.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within the Psalms and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Judgment and Retribution**, asserting a deep conviction that God is a righteous judge who will ultimately bring about severe consequences for persistent wickedness. The psalmist's prayer is an appeal for God's justice to be fully realized, not a call for personal vengeance to be enacted by humans. Secondly, the desire for the **Eradication of Posterity** highlights the ancient understanding of corporate responsibility and the profound impact of an individual's actions on their descendants, a concept seen in various covenant curses and blessings throughout the Old Testament, such as those found in [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses"). This reflects the severity of the offense in the psalmist's eyes, warranting a comprehensive and lasting judgment. Finally, the plea for the **Blotting Out of Name** speaks to the theme of legacy and remembrance. To have one's name erased signifies a complete loss of identity, honor, and any future remembrance, a concept echoed in passages like [Exodus 32:33](/exodus/32-33 "Exodus 32:33 - Blotting Out Names from God's Book"), where God threatens to blot out those who have sinned against Him from His book, contrasting sharply with the preservation of names in the [Book of Life](/revelation/20-15 "Revelation 20:15 - The Book of Life").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Posterity (Hebrew, _ʼachărîyth'_):** This word (H319) derives from a root meaning "after" or "behind," and refers to the latter part, end, or future. In this context, it specifically denotes one's descendants, offspring, or future generations. The desire for one's `ʼachărîyth` to be cut off signifies a complete and irreversible termination of the family line, ensuring that no future kin will carry on the name or legacy of the wicked individual.
* **Cut off (Hebrew, _kârath'_):** The verb (H3772) is a strong, primitive root meaning "to cut (off, down or asunder)." It implies a decisive termination, destruction, or separation. While often used for making covenants (by cutting sacrifices), in this imprecatory context, it signifies the complete and utter extinction of a family line, ensuring no future generation will carry their name or legacy. This is a severe judgment, often associated with divine retribution for grave offenses.
* **Blotted out (Hebrew, _mâchâh'_):** This verb (H4229) means "to stroke or rub," and by implication, "to erase" or "obliterate." It paints a vivid picture of a name being completely wiped from a record, a scroll, or from memory. This goes beyond physical death, implying a total loss of identity, honor, and any remembrance for future generations, thus ensuring ultimate shame and defeat. It is a powerful metaphor for non-existence and the complete removal of one's mark from history.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Let his posterity be cut off":** This initial clause expresses a fervent desire for the complete and utter termination of the enemy's descendants. In a culture where lineage was paramount for identity, inheritance, and legacy, the cutting off of posterity was the most severe curse imaginable, ensuring that the wicked individual would have no future generations to carry on their name or memory. It signifies a divine judgment that extends beyond the individual to their entire family line, eradicating their future influence and presence.
* **"and in the generation following let their name be blotted out":** This second clause reinforces and intensifies the first, specifying that not only should the physical lineage cease, but their very "name"—representing their identity, reputation, and memory—should be completely erased from history and the collective consciousness. The phrase "in the generation following" emphasizes the desire for this erasure to be permanent and comprehensive, leaving no trace for future generations to remember or honor the wicked individual.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 109:13 employs several potent literary devices to convey the psalmist's intense plea for justice. The primary device is **Imprecation**, which is the invocation of a curse or divine judgment upon an enemy. This psalm, and this verse in particular, exemplifies this genre, expressing a fervent desire for God's wrath to be fully realized against those who have inflicted suffering. The language also utilizes **Hyperbole**, as the desire for the complete eradication of a lineage and the blotting out of a name represents an extreme, all-encompassing form of judgment, emphasizing the depth of the psalmist's suffering and the perceived wickedness of his adversary. Furthermore, the two clauses, "Let his posterity be cut off" and "let their name be blotted out," function as a form of **Merism**, where two contrasting or complementary parts are used to express a totality. Here, the physical lineage ("posterity") and the abstract representation of identity ("name") together encompass the entirety of the enemy's existence and legacy, signifying a desire for their complete and utter non-existence and erasure from memory.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 109:13, while stark in its language, serves as a powerful testament to the biblical understanding of God's absolute justice and His ultimate sovereignty over all things, including the fate of the wicked. It reflects a deep conviction that God sees all injustice and will, in His perfect timing, bring about righteous judgment. The psalmist, overwhelmed by betrayal and persecution, surrenders his desire for justice into God's hands, trusting that the Lord will indeed right all wrongs. This verse, therefore, is not a license for personal vengeance but a fervent prayer for divine intervention, affirming that there are indeed grave consequences for persistent wickedness in the eyes of God, and that evil will not ultimately prevail. It underscores the severity of sin and the certainty of divine retribution for those who remain unrepentant and actively oppose God's righteous order.

* [Psalm 37:28](/psalms/37-28 "The Wicked Shall Be Cut Off")
* [Psalm 58:6-8](/psalms/58-6-8 "Break Their Teeth, Let Them Melt Away")
* [Revelation 20:15](/revelation/20-15 "The Lake of Fire and the Book of Life")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The intense language of Psalm 109:13 can be unsettling to modern readers, particularly those shaped by New Testament ethics of love and forgiveness. However, it is crucial to understand this verse as a raw, honest expression of profound pain and a desperate plea for divine justice in a world marred by sin and betrayal. It reminds us that God is indeed a righteous judge who sees every injustice and will ultimately hold all accountable. While the New Testament calls believers to love their enemies ([Matthew 5:44](/matthew/5-44 "Matthew 5:44 - Love Your Enemies")) and to leave vengeance to God ([Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Vengeance Belongs to God")), these imprecatory psalms affirm that God will, in His perfect timing and wisdom, execute justice. They teach us to bring our deepest hurts and desires for justice to God, trusting Him to deal with evil in His way, rather than taking matters into our own hands. They also serve as a stark warning about the severe consequences of unrepentant wickedness and the ultimate triumph of God's righteousness, reminding us that there is a divine reckoning for all actions.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding the cultural significance of "posterity" and "name" deepen your appreciation for the intensity of this psalm?**
* **In what ways can we, as New Testament believers, reconcile the imprecatory prayers of the Old Testament with Jesus' command to love our enemies?**
* **How does this psalm encourage us to trust God with our desires for justice, especially when we feel wronged or betrayed?**
* **What does this verse teach us about the ultimate consequences of persistent wickedness in God's economy?**

### FAQ
**Are Christians permitted to pray imprecatory psalms like Psalm 109:13 today?**

Answer: While Christians are called to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them ([Matthew 5:44](/matthew/5-44 "Matthew 5:44 - Love Your Enemies")), imprecatory psalms serve several important functions. They provide a model for bringing our raw, honest emotions—including anger, pain, and a desire for justice—before God. They affirm God's character as a righteous judge who will ultimately deal with evil. For believers today, these psalms are not a license for personal vengeance but a reminder that vengeance belongs to the Lord ([Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Vengeance is Mine, I Will Repay")). We can pray for God's justice to prevail, for evil to be restrained, and for the wicked to either repent or face His righteous judgment, all while maintaining a heart of love and forgiveness as commanded by Christ. They teach us to align our desire for justice with God's perfect will and timing, rather than seeking personal retribution.

**What is the theological significance of "blotting out" a name in the biblical context?**

Answer: In the biblical context, to have one's "name blotted out" signifies a complete and utter erasure from memory, history, and any form of legacy. It's more than just physical death; it implies a total loss of identity, honor, and remembrance, a profound shame and ultimate defeat. This concept is often linked to divine judgment, where God removes an individual or their lineage from the record of His people or from the land of the living due to egregious sin, as seen in [Exodus 32:33](/exodus/32-33 "Exodus 32:33 - Blotting Out Names from God's Book") regarding those who rebel against Him. Conversely, having one's name written in the [Book of Life](/revelation/20-15 "Revelation 20:15 - The Book of Life") signifies divine remembrance, eternal life, and a secure place within God's covenant community, ensuring a lasting legacy and identity in God's eternal kingdom.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Psalm 109:13 expresses a plea for the cutting off and blotting out of an enemy's lineage and name, its ultimate fulfillment and resolution are found in Jesus Christ. He is the one who perfectly embodies righteous judgment and ultimate justice, yet also boundless mercy. On the cross, Christ bore the curse of sin, including the ultimate "cutting off" from the Father, so that those who believe in Him might never be cut off from God's presence ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse")). The desire for the blotting out of an evil name finds its Christ-centered fulfillment in the final judgment, where all evil and those whose names are "not found written in the [Book of Life](/revelation/20-15 "Revelation 20:15 - The Book of Life")" will face eternal separation. Conversely, through Christ's redemptive work, the names of believers are eternally secured, "written in heaven" ([Luke 10:20](/luke/10-20 "Luke 10:20 - Rejoice That Your Names Are Written in Heaven")), ensuring a perpetual legacy and remembrance in God's kingdom, contrasting sharply with the fate desired for the wicked in this psalm. Jesus, the ultimate Lamb of God, takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), and as the righteous King, He will ultimately execute perfect justice, bringing an end to all wickedness and establishing an eternal kingdom where only His name, and the names of those who belong to Him, will endure.

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

Proverbs 10:7

¶ The memory of the just [is] blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

Job 18:19

He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings.

Psalms 37:28

For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

1 Samuel 3:13

For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

Jeremiah 22:30

Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man [that] shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.

Deuteronomy 25:19

Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee [for] an inheritance to possess it, [that] thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget [it].

Deuteronomy 9:14

Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven: and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they.