Psalms 109:15

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

Let them be before the LORD {H3068} continually {H8548}, that he may cut off {H3772} the memory {H2143} of them from the earth {H776}.

Complete Jewish Bible

may they always be before ADONAI, so he can cut off all memory of them from the earth.

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 109:15 is a potent imprecation from a psalm of lament, where the psalmist, deeply afflicted by malicious adversaries, fervently appeals to God for decisive judgment. The verse expresses a profound desire for his enemies to remain perpetually exposed to divine scrutiny, culminating in the complete obliteration of their name, legacy, and memory from the earth, signifying ultimate disgrace and the severing of their familial line. This plea is not for personal vengeance but a surrender of justice to the righteous and sovereign Judge.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 109 stands as one of the most intense imprecatory psalms in the Psalter, characterized by the psalmist's raw outpouring of anguish and a fervent plea for divine vengeance against his persecutors. The psalm opens with a desperate cry for God's intervention, detailing the slander, betrayal, and unprovoked hatred the psalmist has endured despite his kindness (e.g., [Psalms 109:1-5](/psalms/109-1-5 "Psalm 109:1-5 - A Plea for Divine Intervention")). Verses 6-19, which include our focus verse, contain a series of specific and severe curses directed at his enemies, often employing hyperbolic language common in ancient Near Eastern laments to express the depth of the psalmist's suffering and his desire for ultimate justice. This section is followed by a renewed expression of the psalmist's trust in God's deliverance and praise for His righteousness (e.g., [Psalms 109:20-31](/psalms/109-20-31 "Psalm 109:20-31 - Trust and Praise for God's Righteousness")), demonstrating that the imprecations are ultimately a surrender of the demand for justice to God rather than a call for personal retaliation.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for Psalm 109 is likely the reign of King David, who frequently faced profound betrayal and opposition from within his own court (e.g., Absalom's rebellion in [2 Samuel 15](/2_samuel/15 "2 Samuel 15 - Absalom's Rebellion")) and from external enemies. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a person's "memory" (Hebrew: *zeker*) was inextricably linked to their name, reputation, descendants, and the continuation of their family line. To "cut off the memory" was a devastating curse, signifying not merely physical death but the complete eradication of one's legacy, ensuring that their name would be forgotten or remembered only in shame. This concept stood in stark contrast to the highly valued desire for a lasting, honorable name and numerous descendants, which was a significant cultural and theological aspiration. The psalmist's plea reflects a deep understanding of divine justice and the ultimate consequences for wickedness within this cultural framework.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several key themes within Psalm 109 and the broader Psalter. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Justice**, underscoring the unwavering biblical belief that God is a righteous judge who will ultimately vindicate the oppressed and hold the wicked accountable for their deeds. It highlights the **Consequences of Wickedness**, portraying the severe retribution that awaits those who relentlessly pursue evil and injustice, emphasizing that no wrong goes unnoticed by God. The psalm also speaks to **God's Sovereignty**, as the psalmist appeals to God's ultimate power to determine the destiny and legacy of individuals, emphasizing His supreme control over all earthly matters. While challenging to modern sensibilities, these imprecatory prayers also reveal the depth of human suffering and the profound longing for God to right wrongs when all other avenues fail, echoing the New Testament principle that vengeance belongs to God alone, as seen in [Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Vengeance is Mine, I Will Repay"). The desire for the wicked's memory to be cut off stands in stark contrast to the [blessed and enduring memory of the righteous](/proverbs/10-7 "Proverbs 10:7 - The Memory of the Righteous Endures").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** This is the tetragrammaton, the personal, covenantal name of God, often translated as "Jehovah" or "the LORD." It signifies the self-existent, eternal God who is faithful to His promises and just in His dealings. The psalmist appeals to the ultimate authority and righteous character of Yahweh, the God of Israel, as the one who alone can execute such a decisive judgment.
* **continually (Hebrew, _tâmîyd'_):** This adverb denotes an unbroken, perpetual state or indefinite extension. Here, it emphasizes the psalmist's fervent desire for his enemies to be under God's constant, unwavering observation, not for favor, but for unceasing scrutiny leading to judgment. It implies an enduring exposure of their wickedness to the divine Judge.
* **cut off (Hebrew, _kârath'_):** A strong, decisive primitive root meaning "to cut (off, down or asunder)," and by implication, "to destroy or consume." In this context, it signifies a complete and utter destruction or eradication, not merely of physical life but of all that perpetuates one's existence, influence, and legacy. It can also refer to making a covenant, but here it clearly denotes severance and destruction.
* **memory (Hebrew, _zêker'_):** More than just a mental recollection, *zêker* refers to remembrance, a memorial, or one's reputation and legacy. In ancient thought, a person's memory was intimately tied to their name, their descendants, and their lasting impact on the community. To "cut off the memory" meant the complete cessation of their name, the end of their lineage, and the erasure of any positive or honorable remembrance, ensuring they would be forgotten or only remembered in shame.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Let them be before the LORD continually":** This initial clause expresses the psalmist's fervent wish that his adversaries remain under the direct and constant gaze of Yahweh, the sovereign God. It is not a prayer for divine blessing or protection upon them, but rather for their persistent exposure to God's righteous judgment. The implication is that their deeds, character, and intentions should be perpetually scrutinized by the ultimate Judge, ensuring that their wickedness does not go unnoticed, unaddressed, or unpunished.
* **"that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth":** This second clause reveals the desired, devastating outcome of their perpetual exposure to the LORD's scrutiny. It is a severe imprecation, a plea for the complete and utter obliteration of their legacy. This encompasses not only their physical demise but also the termination of their family line, the erasure of their name from honorable remembrance, and the cessation of any positive or enduring impact they might have had. It signifies the ultimate disgrace and a complete removal from the collective consciousness of humanity, a fate reserved for those deemed utterly wicked and unrepentant in the eyes of God.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 109:15 employs several powerful **Literary Devices** to convey the psalmist's intense anguish and desire for divine justice. The primary device is **Imprecation**, which is a curse or an invocation of evil upon someone. This verse is a direct, fervent plea for God's decisive judgment against the psalmist's enemies. There is also an element of **Hyperbole** in the intensity of the desired outcome, particularly the complete erasure of memory, which, while a real cultural concept, is expressed with extreme emotional force to emphasize the severity of the requested judgment. The phrase "cut off the memory" also functions as a form of **Metonymy**, where "memory" stands in for the person's entire legacy, name, and lineage, representing the complete destruction of their identity and influence. Furthermore, there is an implicit **Purpose Clause** connecting the two parts of the verse ("Let them be... *that he may cut off*"), highlighting the direct causal relationship between God's constant observation and the desired, ultimate judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse, while stark in its language, offers profound theological insights into the nature of divine justice and the human cry for vindication in the face of profound injustice. It underscores the biblical truth that God is not indifferent to evil; He is an omniscient and righteous judge who sees all and will ultimately bring every deed into account. The psalmist's imprecation is not a license for personal vengeance but rather a fervent appeal to God's ultimate authority and justice, entrusting the retribution to the One who alone can execute it perfectly and righteously. It highlights the deep pain of injustice and the believer's recourse to a sovereign God who will ultimately set all wrongs right, even if it means the complete obliteration of the wicked's legacy. This psalm reminds us that God's justice is comprehensive, extending beyond physical life to the very memory and legacy of individuals.

* [Deuteronomy 25:19](/deuteronomy/25-19 "Deuteronomy 25:19 - Erasing Amalek's Memory")
* [Proverbs 10:7](/proverbs/10-7 "Proverbs 10:7 - The Memory of the Just and the Wicked")
* [Revelation 20:11-15](/revelation/20-11-15 "Revelation 20:11-15 - The Great White Throne Judgment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 109:15 presents a challenging yet essential aspect of biblical spirituality: the honest expression of human suffering and the longing for divine justice in the face of profound injustice. While New Testament ethics call believers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them ([Matthew 5:44](/matthew/5-44 "Matthew 5:44 - Love Your Enemies")), this verse reminds us that God is indeed a righteous judge who will ultimately bring all things into account. It teaches us that it is permissible to bring our deepest hurts, our raw anguish, and our cries for justice before the LORD, trusting that He sees, knows, and will act in His perfect timing and according to His perfect will. This psalm encourages us to surrender our desire for personal vengeance, placing it instead into the hands of the One who alone can execute perfect justice and whose judgment is always true. It serves as a powerful reminder that the legacy of the wicked will ultimately perish, while the memory of the righteous will endure, a truth that offers comfort and hope to the afflicted.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do imprecatory psalms like Psalm 109 help us understand the depth of human suffering and the longing for divine justice in a fallen world?**
* **In what ways does this verse challenge or affirm our understanding of God's character as a righteous judge who is actively involved in human affairs?**
* **How can believers reconcile the psalmist's plea for judgment with Christ's command to love our enemies (e.g., [Matthew 5:44](/matthew/5-44 "Matthew 5:44 - Love Your Enemies")) and pray for their repentance?**

### FAQ
**Are imprecatory psalms morally justifiable for Christians today?**

Answer: Imprecatory psalms like Psalm 109 are part of inspired Scripture and reveal a profound facet of God's character as a righteous judge who will ultimately bring justice to all. For Christians today, these psalms serve primarily as models for expressing raw human pain, frustration, and a desire for divine justice to God, rather than as a blueprint for personal vengeance. They teach us to surrender our grievances to the Lord, trusting that vengeance belongs to Him alone ([Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Vengeance is Mine, I Will Repay")). While we are called to love our enemies and pray for their repentance and salvation, we can also pray for God's justice to prevail against systemic evil and unrepentant wickedness, acknowledging that God will indeed judge the living and the dead ([Acts 10:42](/acts/10-42 "Acts 10:42 - Jesus, Judge of the Living and the Dead")).

**What does "cut off the memory" truly mean in ancient context?**

Answer: In the ancient Near East, "memory" (Hebrew: *zêker*) was far more comprehensive than simply recalling facts. It encompassed a person's name, their reputation, their descendants, and the continuation of their family line. To "cut off the memory" meant a complete and devastating obliteration of all these aspects. It implied not only physical death but also the termination of one's lineage, the erasure of any honorable remembrance, and the loss of any lasting impact or legacy. It was the ultimate disgrace, ensuring that the individual and their family would be forgotten or remembered only in shame, a stark contrast to the desire for an enduring and blessed name, which was a significant cultural value (e.g., [Proverbs 10:7](/proverbs/10-7 "Proverbs 10:7 - The Memory of the Righteous")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 109:15, with its intense plea for the cutting off of the wicked's memory, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is both the suffering servant and the righteous judge. While the psalmist cries out for justice against his personal enemies, Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, endured unjust suffering and imprecations without returning evil for evil, committing Himself instead to God who judges righteously ([1 Peter 2:23](/1_peter/2-23 "1 Peter 2:23 - Christ Entrusted Himself to God")). He is the one who will ultimately execute the divine judgment longed for in this psalm. At His second coming, Christ will fully establish His kingdom, and all unrighteousness will be judged, with those who reject Him facing eternal separation. The "cutting off of memory" foreshadows the ultimate fate of those whose names are not found written in the [Book of Life](/revelation/20-15 "Revelation 20:15 - The Book of Life"), signifying their eternal separation from God and the complete eradication of their legacy in the new heavens and new earth. Conversely, those who are in Christ receive an [imperishable inheritance](/1_peter/1-4 "1 Peter 1:4 - An Imperishable Inheritance") and their names are eternally remembered and celebrated in God's presence, ensuring a blessed and everlasting memory that will never be cut off ([Philippians 4:3](/philippians/4-3 "Philippians 4:3 - Names Written in the Book of Life")).

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

Psalms 34:16

The face of the LORD [is] against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

Psalms 90:8

Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret [sins] in the light of thy countenance.

Job 18:17

His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.

Psalms 51:9

Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

Psalms 109:13

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

Amos 8:7

The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works.

Deuteronomy 32:34

[Is] not this laid up in store with me, [and] sealed up among my treasures?