Psalms 69:28

KJV

Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

KJV (with Strong's)

Let them be blotted {H4229}{H8735)} out of the book {H5612} of the living {H2416}, and not be written {H3789}{H8735)} with the righteous {H6662}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Erase them from the book of life, let them not be written with the righteous.

Berean Standard Bible

May they be blotted out of the Book of Life and not listed with the righteous.

American Standard Version

Let them be blotted out of the book of life, And not be written with the righteous.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 69:28 is a potent imprecation, a prayer for divine judgment, found within a psalm of lament attributed to David. It articulates a fervent desire for the ultimate and irreversible separation of the wicked from the community of God's faithful, calling for their complete erasure from divine remembrance and exclusion from the fellowship of the righteous, underscoring a belief in God's ultimate and just retribution.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 69 is a profound lament, deeply emotional and often prophetic, frequently identified as a "Messianic Psalm" due to its numerous foreshadowings of the suffering of Jesus Christ, as seen in New Testament citations like [John 19:29](/john/19-29 "John 19:29 - Jesus Given Sour Wine") and [Romans 15:3](/romans/15-3 "Romans 15:3 - Christ Did Not Please Himself"). The psalmist, David, expresses profound distress and cries out to God against his numerous enemies who persecute him unjustly and without cause. The verses immediately preceding Psalm 69:28 detail the psalmist's intense suffering, the injustice he endures, and the malicious actions of his adversaries, culminating in this series of strong appeals for divine retribution and judgment upon those who maliciously oppose God's anointed one. This verse is part of a sustained imprecatory section (verses 22-28) where the psalmist calls for specific curses upon his enemies.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The concept of a "book of the living" or divine register was familiar in the ancient Near East, including Israel. Such "books" or scrolls were used to record names for various purposes: city citizens, military rolls, or those allotted life and prosperity. In a theological sense, this concept reflects God's omniscient knowledge and meticulous record-keeping concerning humanity. To be "blotted out" (Hebrew: _machah_) from such a book carried significant weight, implying a complete and irreversible removal, often associated with disinheritance, death, or exclusion from a community's privileges. This idea is rooted in the covenantal relationship God established with Israel, where faithfulness led to life and blessing, while rebellion could lead to being "cut off" or removed from the covenant community, as seen in the warnings of the Mosaic Law. The psalmist's plea, therefore, draws upon established cultural and theological understandings of divine accountability and consequence.
* **Key Themes:** Psalm 69:28 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Psalter and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Judgment**, asserting God's role as a righteous judge who will ultimately bring justice upon those who persistently reject Him and persecute His people. It expresses the conviction that evil will not prevail indefinitely and that God will indeed execute His just decrees. Secondly, the phrase "book of the living" introduces the profound theme of **Divine Remembrance and the Book of Life**. This refers to a divine register, often understood as God's roll of those who belong to Him, are in covenant with Him, and are destined for eternal life and fellowship. To be "blotted out" signifies an eternal erasure from God's favorable remembrance and fellowship, a concept found in various parts of Scripture, such as Moses' plea in [Exodus 32:32-33](/exodus/32-32 "Exodus 32:32-33 - Moses' Intercession for Israel") and Paul's reference to names written in the book of life in [Philippians 4:3](/philippians/4-3 "Philippians 4:3 - Paul Mentions Names in the Book of Life"). Lastly, the verse underscores the theme of **Exclusion from the Righteous**. Not being "written with the righteous" signifies an eternal separation from God's elect, those who are justified by faith and live according to His will. This starkly portrays the spiritual divide between those who serve God and those who reject Him, a pervasive theme echoed throughout the Psalms, as exemplified in [Psalm 1:6](/psalms/1-6 "Psalm 1:6 - The Way of the Righteous and the Ungodly").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Blotted out (Hebrew, _machah'_):** This verb carries a strong sense of erasure, wiping away, or obliteration. It implies a complete and irreversible removal. When applied to a name in a book or scroll, it signifies permanent exclusion or removal from a record. In a theological context, it means to be utterly removed from God's favorable remembrance, presence, and the covenant community, often with implications of being cut off from life itself.
* **Book of the living (Hebrew, _sepher chayim'_):** This phrase refers to a divine register or scroll where the names of those who are in covenant with God, those who are alive and part of His people, are recorded. It is not merely a list of the physically living, but rather those who possess true life, which is spiritual life and fellowship with God. It represents God's comprehensive knowledge of His people and their destiny.
* **Righteous (Hebrew, _tsaddiqim'_):** This term describes those who are in right standing with God, who live according to His will and uphold His covenant. They are characterized by integrity, justice, and faithfulness. In the context of the psalm, it refers to God's chosen people, those who are truly His and are destined for His eternal blessing and presence.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Let them be blotted out of the book of the living":** This is a powerful imprecation, a prayer-curse, expressing a fervent desire for God to remove the psalmist's enemies from His divine register of those who belong to Him and are destined for life and blessing. It's a plea for their complete and final exclusion from God's favor and remembrance, implying a spiritual death or eternal separation from His life-giving presence.
* **"and not be written with the righteous":** This clause parallels and reinforces the first, specifying the consequence of being "blotted out." It means to be permanently excluded from the company and destiny of those whom God considers His own, those who are justified and live in accordance with His will. It signifies a profound and eternal separation from God's people and the blessings reserved for them, both in this life and the life to come.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 69:28 employs several significant literary devices to convey its powerful message. The most prominent is **Imprecation**, where the psalmist invokes divine judgment and curses upon his enemies. This is a common feature in the Psalms, reflecting a deeply held belief in God's justice and the desire for wrongs to be righted by divine intervention. The phrase "book of the living" functions as a potent **Metaphor**, representing God's comprehensive knowledge, His divine record-keeping, and the ultimate destiny of individuals. It is not a literal book but a conceptual framework for understanding divine election and judgment. Furthermore, the verse exhibits strong **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous parallelism, where the second clause ("and not be written with the righteous") reiterates and intensifies the meaning of the first ("Let them be blotted out of the book of the living"). Both phrases convey the same core idea of ultimate and irreversible exclusion from God's favor and His people, reinforcing the finality and severity of the desired judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 69:28, while challenging in its imprecatory nature, serves as a stark reminder of God's absolute justice and the ultimate consequences of persistent rebellion against Him and His anointed ones. It underscores the biblical truth that there is a divine reckoning, where those who willfully oppose God's purposes and persecute His people will face His righteous judgment. The concept of the "book of the living" is a profound theological motif, representing God's sovereign knowledge and determination of who belongs to Him, emphasizing that true life and blessedness are found only in covenant relationship with the Creator. This verse thus highlights the critical importance of one's spiritual standing before God, asserting that eternal destiny is inextricably linked to being "written with the righteous."

* [Exodus 32:32-33](/exodus/32-32 "Exodus 32:32-33 - Moses' Plea for Israel")
* [Daniel 12:1](/daniel/12-1 "Daniel 12:1 - Those Written in the Book")
* [Revelation 20:15](/revelation/20-15 "Revelation 20:15 - The Book of Life and Final Judgment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The imprecatory nature of Psalms 69:28 can be unsettling for modern readers, yet it offers profound insights into divine justice and the seriousness of one's spiritual standing. While believers in the New Covenant 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")), this psalm reminds us that God is ultimately a righteous judge who will not allow evil to triumph indefinitely. It provides a theological framework for understanding that there will be a final separation between those who belong to God and those who do not. This verse compels us to consider the eternal implications of our choices and allegiances. It underscores the profound privilege and necessity of having our names "written in the book of the living" through faith, urging us to live lives that reflect our identity as the righteous, those set apart for God's purposes. It serves as a sober warning to those who persist in rebellion against God, implicitly calling for repentance and reconciliation before the day of ultimate judgment.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the concept of God's "book of the living" shape your understanding of divine sovereignty and personal accountability?**
* **In what ways does this psalm's call for justice resonate with or challenge your own understanding of how God deals with evil in the world?**
* **Given the New Testament's command to love enemies, how can a Christian reconcile the imprecatory nature of this psalm with their faith?**
* **What does it mean for your life today to strive to be "written with the righteous" and to ensure your name remains in God's book of life?**

### FAQ
**What does "the book of the living" signify in biblical terms?**

Answer: "The book of the living," also referred to as the "book of life" in other passages, represents a divine register or record maintained by God. It is not a literal book but a theological concept signifying God's complete knowledge of all individuals. Primarily, it refers to those who are in covenant with God, those who are truly His, and those who are destined for eternal life and fellowship with Him. It encompasses both physical life and, more profoundly, spiritual and eternal life. To have one's name written in this book means to be remembered by God, to be part of His chosen people, and to inherit His blessings, including eternal salvation, as seen in [Revelation 21:27](/revelation/21-27 "Revelation 21:27 - Only Those Written in the Lamb's Book of Life Enter New Jerusalem"). Conversely, to be "blotted out" signifies removal from God's favorable remembrance and exclusion from His eternal kingdom.

**Are imprecatory psalms like Psalms 69:28 appropriate for Christians to pray today?**

Answer: Imprecatory psalms, which express a desire for God's judgment upon enemies, reflect a raw and honest outpouring of emotion from the psalmist, often in the face of severe injustice and persecution. While they acknowledge God's role as a righteous judge who will ultimately bring justice, New Testament teachings call believers to a higher standard of love and forgiveness, even towards enemies. Jesus commanded His followers to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" ([Matthew 5:44](/matthew/5-44 "Matthew 5:44 - Love Your Enemies")). Therefore, while Christians can read and understand these psalms as part of God's inspired Word, recognizing the psalmist's pain and the Old Testament context of divine justice, they are generally not seen as direct models for personal prayer regarding one's own enemies. Instead, they point to the ultimate triumph of God's justice and encourage believers to entrust vengeance to God, as stated in [Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Do Not Take Revenge").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 69:28, with its plea for the wicked to be "blotted out of the book of the living," finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the psalmist's imprecation reflects a desire for justice against those who persecuted God's anointed, it also foreshadows the ultimate separation that occurs through Christ. Psalm 69 is profoundly Messianic, with many of its verses pointing to Christ's suffering, rejection, and zeal for God's house ([John 2:17](/john/2-17 "John 2:17 - Jesus' Zeal for the Temple")). Jesus, the true righteous one, endured the ultimate blotting out, being forsaken by God on the cross, taking upon Himself the sin that would otherwise blot out humanity from the book of life. His sacrifice provides the means by which names *can* be written and remain in the "Lamb's book of life" ([Revelation 13:8](/revelation/13-8 "Revelation 13:8 - The Lamb Slain from the Foundation of the World")). Those who reject Christ, who refuse His atoning work and persist in unrighteousness, are ultimately the ones whose names will not be found "written with the righteous" in that eternal record, facing the final judgment where they are "thrown into the lake of fire" ([Revelation 20:15](/revelation/20-15 "Revelation 20:15 - The Book of Life and Final Judgment")). Thus, the psalm's cry for judgment is fulfilled in Christ, who, through His redemptive work, establishes the ultimate criteria for inclusion or exclusion from God's eternal presence.

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.