Psalms 34:16
What does Psalms 34:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Psalms 34:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Psalms 34:16 means
In stark contrast to His watchful care for the righteous, this verse reveals God’s active opposition toward those who do evil. "The face of Jehovah is against them that do evil" signifies His disapproval, judgment, and determination to oppose wickedness. The consequence of this divine opposition is severe: to "cut off the remembrance of them from the earth." This implies not merely physical death but a complete erasure of their legacy and influence, highlighting the ultimate futility and destruction that awaits those who persist in evil. God’s justice ensures that unrepentant wickedness will not ultimately prevail or be remembered positively.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000The face of Jehovah is against them that do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
KJV
King James Version · 1611The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901The face of Jehovah is against them that do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to take away the memory of them from the earth.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862(The face of Jehovah <FI>is<Fi> on doers of evil, To cut off from earth their memorial.)
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752They were separated, and repented not: they tempted me, they scoffed at me with scorn: they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890The face of Jehovah is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth:
Context
This verse provides a stark contrast to the divine favor shown to the righteous in verse 15. It explicitly states God's opposition to those who do evil and the dire consequences for them. This sharp distinction sets the stage for a return to the theme of God's help for the afflicted righteous, emphasizing the difference in their outcomes compared to the wicked.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ecclesiastes 8:10
So I saw the wicked buried, and they came to the grave; and they that had done right went away from the holy place, and were forgotten in the city: this also is vanity.
- Amos 9:4
And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good.
- Jeremiah 44:11
Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will set my face against you for evil, even to cut off all Judah.
- Leviticus 26:17
And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be smitten before your enemies: they that hate you shall rule over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.
- Ezekiel 14:7
For every one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that separateth himself from me, and taketh his idols into his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet to inquire for himself of me; I Jehovah will answer him by myself:
- Psalms 10:16
Jehovah is King for ever and ever: The nations are perished out of his land.
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