Psalms 69:27
Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Judicial hardening appears throughout Scripture as ultimate judgment on persistent rebellion. Pharaoh hardened his own heart repeatedly (Exodus 7:13, 22, 8:15, 19, 32, 9:7, 34), then God hardened it as judgment (Exodus 9:12, 10:1, 20, 27, 11:10, 14:8). Isaiah prophesied such hardening (Isaiah 6:9-10). Jesus explained His parabolic teaching partially veiled truth from those who'd rejected clear teaching (Matthew 13:10-15). Paul taught that God gives persistent rebels over to their sin (Romans 1:24-28).
This isn't divine cruelty but justice. God's patience waits for repentance (2 Peter 3:9), but persistent rejection eventually results in God confirming people in their choice. Hebrews warns against hardening hearts "today" while opportunity remains (Hebrews 3:7-13, 4:7).
"Coming into God's righteousness" became central to Pauline theology. No one enters by works (Romans 3:20, Galatians 2:16) but only through faith in Christ, who is "made unto us... righteousness" (1 Corinthians 1:30).
Questions for Reflection
- How does the concept of judicial hardening—God confirming people in their chosen rebellion—affect your understanding of divine justice?
- What is the relationship between human hardening of hearts and God's judicial hardening?
- How does this verse's terror heighten appreciation for being justified and brought into God's righteousness through Christ?
Analysis & Commentary
Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness. This imprecation prays for judicial hardening—that God confirm the wicked in their chosen evil. "Add iniquity unto their iniquity" (תְּנָה־עָוֹן עַל־עֲוֹנָם/tenah-avon al-avonam) requests that God increase their guilt, not by forcing them to sin but by giving them over to their sinful desires. This is judicial abandonment, where God removes restraining grace and allows evil to compound (Romans 1:24, 26, 28—"God gave them up").
"Let them not come into thy righteousness" (אַל־יָבֹאוּ בְּצִדְקָתֶךָ/al-yavo'u vetziqdatekha) prays they never experience divine justification or salvation. This is ultimate curse: eternal exclusion from God's saving righteousness. David isn't merely praying for temporal judgment but eternal condemnation. This reflects biblical reality that persistent, unrepentant rejection of God results in God confirming people in their choice, finally cutting off opportunity for repentance.
This terrifying prayer finds echo in Revelation's pronouncement: "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still" (Revelation 22:11). When probation ends, God confirms people in their chosen state.