Psalms 69:28

Authorized King James Version

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

Original Language Analysis

יִ֭מָּחֽוּ Let them be blotted H4229
יִ֭מָּחֽוּ Let them be blotted
Strong's: H4229
Word #: 1 of 7
properly, to stroke or rub; by implication, to erase; also to smooth (as if with oil), i.e., grease or make fat
מִסֵּ֣פֶר out of the book H5612
מִסֵּ֣פֶר out of the book
Strong's: H5612
Word #: 2 of 7
properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book
חַיִּ֑ים of the living H2416
חַיִּ֑ים of the living
Strong's: H2416
Word #: 3 of 7
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
וְעִ֥ם H5973
וְעִ֥ם
Strong's: H5973
Word #: 4 of 7
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
צַ֝דִּיקִ֗ים with the righteous H6662
צַ֝דִּיקִ֗ים with the righteous
Strong's: H6662
Word #: 5 of 7
just
אַל H408
אַל
Strong's: H408
Word #: 6 of 7
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
יִכָּתֵֽבוּ׃ and not be written H3789
יִכָּתֵֽבוּ׃ and not be written
Strong's: H3789
Word #: 7 of 7
to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)

Cross References

Philippians 4:3And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.Luke 10:20Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.Hebrews 12:23To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,Revelation 13:8And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.Ezekiel 13:9And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.Revelation 22:19And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.Revelation 3:5He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.Isaiah 65:16That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.

Analysis & Commentary

Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. This final imprecation in the series invokes the "book of the living" (מִסֵּפֶר חַיִּים/missefer chayyim)—God's register of those alive before Him, those who belong to His covenant people and have eternal life. "Blotted out" (יִמָּחוּ/yimmakhu) means erased, deleted, removed from the record. David prays enemies be permanently excluded from God's people and from eternal life.

The parallel "not be written with the righteous" (עִם־צַדִּיקִים אַל־יִכָּתֵבוּ/im-tzaddikim al-yikkatevu) reinforces the exclusion—they shouldn't be enrolled among God's redeemed people, either temporally (in Israel's register) or eternally (in heaven's book). This distinguishes between merely biological descendants of Abraham and true spiritual children of God—a distinction Jesus, Paul, and John the Baptist all made (Matthew 3:9, John 8:39-44, Romans 9:6-8).

Revelation develops this imagery: the "book of life" contains names of all who are saved (Revelation 13:8, 20:12-15, 21:27). Those whose names aren't written face eternal judgment. This imprecation, therefore, prays for what Scripture elsewhere warns is the sinner's natural destiny apart from divine grace.

Historical Context

Ancient Near Eastern kingdoms maintained citizen registers, and Israel maintained genealogical records crucial for tribal identity, inheritance, and priestly service. To be blotted from such records meant losing covenant standing and benefits. Moses interceded for Israel's sin by offering to be blotted from God's book (Exodus 32:32-33). God responded that only the guilty would be blotted, establishing that the "book" wasn't merely civic register but divine record of covenant membership.

Prophets warned that covenant-breakers would be cut off from Israel's register (Ezekiel 13:9). Paul taught that not all ethnic Israel belonged to true Israel (Romans 9:6-8). Hebrews distinguished between names enrolled in heaven versus merely earthly citizenship (Hebrews 12:23).

Revelation's consistent theme is that only those whose names are in the Lamb's book of life enter the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:27). Those not written face the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).

Questions for Reflection