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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Psalm 34:16 But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to wipe out all memory of them from the earth.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/34-16.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/6/19_Psa_034_016.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Psalm 34:16 - Taste and See that the LORD is Good" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to wipe out all memory of them from the earth." /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad16.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/psalms/34-15.htm" title="Psalm 34:15">◄</a> Psalm 34:16 <a href="/psalms/34-17.htm" title="Psalm 34:17">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/psalms/34.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/psalms/34.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/psalms/34.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/34.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/34.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to wipe out all memory of them from the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/34.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />The face of the LORD <i>is</i> against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/34.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />The face of the LORD <i>is</i> against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/34.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />The face of the LORD is against evildoers, To eliminate the memory of them from the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/34.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />The face of the LORD is against evildoers, To cut off the memory of them from the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/34.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />The face of the LORD is against evildoers, To cut off the memory of them from the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/34.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />The face of Yahweh is against evildoers, To cut off the memory of them from the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/34.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the memory of them from the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/34.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The face of the LORD is set against those who do what is evil, to remove all memory of them from the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/34.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The face of the LORD is set against those who do what is evil, to erase all memory of them from the earth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/34.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />The face of Jehovah is against them that do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/34.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />But God despises evil people, and he will wipe them all from the earth, till they are forgotten. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/34.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/34.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The LORD confronts those who do evil in order to wipe out all memory of them from the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/34.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />but he opposes those who do evil, so that when they die, they are soon forgotten. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/34.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The face of the LORD is set against those who do evil, and he will remove people's recollection of them from the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/34.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to wipe out all memory of them from the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/34.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But the LORD opposes evildoers and wipes out all memory of them from the earth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/34.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The LORD's face is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/34.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/34.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Yahweh’s face is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/34.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />(The face of YHWH [is] on doers of evil, "" To cut off their memorial from earth.)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/34.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> (The face of Jehovah is on doers of evil, To cut off from earth their memorial.)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/34.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />The face of Jehovah against those doing evil, to cut off their remembrance from the earth.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/34.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />But the countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil things: to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/34.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 33:17>But the countenance of the Lord is upon those who do evil, to perish the remembrance of them from the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/34.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The LORD’s face is against evildoers to wipe out their memory from the earth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/34.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The face of the LORD is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/34.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/34.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />The face of LORD JEHOVAH is against the evil, to blot out their remembrance from the Earth.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/34.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/34.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to destroy their memorial from the earth. The righteous cried, and the Lord hearkened to them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/34-16.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=3729" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/psalms/34.htm">Taste and See that the LORD is Good</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">15</span>The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry. <span class="reftext">16</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: pə·nê (N-cpc) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">But the face</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">of the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: bə·‘ō·śê (Prep-b:: V-Qal-Prtcpl-mpc) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">is against</a> <a href="/hebrew/7451.htm" title="7451: rā‘ (Adj-ms) -- Bad, evil. From ra'a'; bad or evil.">those who do evil,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3772.htm" title="3772: lə·haḵ·rîṯ (Prep-l:: V-Hifil-Inf) -- To cut off, cut down. A primitive root; to cut; by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant.">to wipe out</a> <a href="/hebrew/2143.htm" title="2143: ziḵ·rām (N-msc:: 3mp) -- Remembrance, memorial. Or zeker; from zakar; a memento, abstr. Recollection; by implication, commemoration.">all memory of them</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: mê·’e·reṣ (Prep-m:: N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">from the earth.</a> </span><span class="reftext">17</span>The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/3-12.htm">1 Peter 3:12</a></span><br />For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/15-29.htm">Proverbs 15:29</a></span><br />The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-15.htm">Isaiah 1:15</a></span><br />When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/9-31.htm">John 9:31</a></span><br />We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/44-11.htm">Jeremiah 44:11</a></span><br />Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I will set My face to bring disaster and to cut off all Judah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/20-3.htm">Leviticus 20:3</a></span><br />And I will set My face against that man and cut him off from his people, because by giving his offspring to Molech, he has defiled My sanctuary and profaned My holy name.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/9-4.htm">Amos 9:4</a></span><br />Though they are driven by their enemies into captivity, there I will command the sword to slay them. I will fix My eyes upon them for harm and not for good.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/27-8.htm">Job 27:8-9</a></span><br />For what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off, when God takes away his life? / Will God hear his cry when distress comes upon him?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/59-2.htm">Isaiah 59:2</a></span><br />But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/14-8.htm">Ezekiel 14:8</a></span><br />I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb; I will cut him off from among My people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_thessalonians/1-9.htm">2 Thessalonians 1:9</a></span><br />They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/7-23.htm">Matthew 7:23</a></span><br />Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/9-12.htm">Hosea 9:12</a></span><br />Even if they raise their children, I will bereave them of each one. Yes, woe be to them when I turn away from them!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-20.htm">2 Kings 17:20</a></span><br />So the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel. He afflicted them and delivered them into the hands of plunderers, until He had banished them from His presence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/31-17.htm">Deuteronomy 31:17</a></span><br />On that day My anger will burn against them, and I will abandon them and hide My face from them, so that they will be consumed, and many troubles and afflictions will befall them. On that day they will say, ‘Have not these disasters come upon us because our God is no longer with us?’</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.</p><p class="hdg">face</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/17-10.htm">Leviticus 17:10</a></b></br> And whatsoever man <i>there be</i> of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/26-17.htm">Leviticus 26:17</a></b></br> And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/44-11.htm">Jeremiah 44:11</a></b></br> Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will set my face against you for evil, and to cut off all Judah.</p><p class="hdg">to cut</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/10-16.htm">Psalm 10:16</a></b></br> The LORD <i>is</i> King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/18-17.htm">Job 18:17</a></b></br> His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/10-7.htm">Proverbs 10:7</a></b></br> The memory of the just <i>is</i> blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/31-22.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/psalms/33-1.htm">Doers</a> <a href="/psalms/33-14.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/psalms/34-14.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/psalms/27-2.htm">Evildoers</a> <a href="/psalms/31-16.htm">Face</a> <a href="/psalms/30-4.htm">Memorial</a> <a href="/psalms/31-12.htm">Memory</a> <a href="/psalms/30-4.htm">Remembrance</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/37-2.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/psalms/36-12.htm">Doers</a> <a href="/psalms/37-9.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/psalms/34-21.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/psalms/36-12.htm">Evildoers</a> <a href="/psalms/41-12.htm">Face</a> <a href="/psalms/38-1.htm">Memorial</a> <a href="/psalms/42-9.htm">Memory</a> <a href="/psalms/37-40.htm">Remembrance</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 34</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/34-1.htm">David praises God, and exhorts others thereto by his experience</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/34-8.htm">They are blessed who trust in God</a></span><br><span class="reftext">11. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/34-11.htm">He exhorts to the fear of God</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/34-15.htm">The privileges of the righteous</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/34.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/psalms/34.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil</b><br>This phrase emphasizes God's active opposition to evil. In biblical context, the "face of the LORD" signifies His presence and attention. When God's face is against someone, it indicates disfavor and judgment. This concept is echoed in other scriptures, such as <a href="/leviticus/26-17.htm">Leviticus 26:17</a> and <a href="/1_peter/3-12.htm">1 Peter 3:12</a>, where God's face is turned against those who commit iniquity. Historically, this reflects the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where obedience brought blessings and disobedience brought curses. Theologically, it underscores God's holiness and justice, as He cannot tolerate sin. This phrase also serves as a warning to the faithful to avoid evil and seek righteousness.<p><b>to wipe out all memory of them from the earth</b><br>This phrase speaks to the ultimate consequence of persistent evil: total eradication. In ancient Near Eastern culture, memory and legacy were crucial, as they ensured one's name and deeds lived on. The idea of being forgotten was a severe punishment, as seen in <a href="/deuteronomy/9-14.htm">Deuteronomy 9:14</a> and <a href="/proverbs/10-7.htm">Proverbs 10:7</a>. This reflects the biblical principle that the wicked will not endure, contrasting with the righteous, whose memory is blessed. Theologically, it points to the final judgment, where those who reject God face eternal separation. This phrase also foreshadows the eschatological hope found in Revelation, where evil is ultimately defeated, and God's kingdom is fully established.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/d/david.htm">David</a></b><br>The author of <a href="/bsb/psalms/34.htm">Psalm 34</a>, who wrote this psalm after pretending to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD</a></b><br>Refers to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, who is actively involved in the lives of His people.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/e/evildoers.htm">Evildoers</a></b><br>Those who commit acts contrary to God's will and righteousness.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_earth.htm">The Earth</a></b><br>The physical realm where human history unfolds and where God's justice is executed.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/a/abimelech.htm">Abimelech</a></b><br>The Philistine king before whom David feigned madness, leading to his escape.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_justice.htm">God's Justice</a></b><br>The verse underscores God's active opposition to evil. His justice is not passive; He actively works against those who do evil.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequence_of_sin.htm">The Consequence of Sin</a></b><br>Sin leads to separation from God and ultimately to being forgotten. This serves as a warning to turn away from evil and seek righteousness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_righteous_living.htm">The Importance of Righteous Living</a></b><br>Living righteously aligns us with God's favor and protection, contrasting with the fate of evildoers.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>God has the ultimate authority to judge and erase the memory of those who oppose Him, reminding us of His sovereign power over life and history.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/call_to_repentance.htm">Call to Repentance</a></b><br>This verse serves as a call to repentance, urging individuals to turn from evil and seek God's mercy and forgiveness.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_34.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 34</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_junk_food.htm">What does the Bible say about evil spirits?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_it_all_for_the_lord.htm">What does 'the Lord's eyes on the righteous' mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_do_infamous_names_persist_in_memory.htm">Job 18:16–17: How can the names of the wicked vanish from memory when some of history’s most notorious figures remain famous? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_no_records_of_zechariah's_curse.htm">If this curse from Zechariah 5:3–4 literally targets every thief and liar, why do we see no historical records of a widespread, supernatural judgment occurring? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/34.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(16) <span class= "bld">To cut off.</span>--Notice the fear, so intense and recurring to the Semitic mind, of the extinction of race. (Comp. <a href="/psalms/21-10.htm" title="Their fruit shall you destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.">Psalm 21:10</a>; <a href="/job/18-17.htm" title="His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.">Job 18:17</a>, &c)<p>This verse, according to the sense, should certainly change places with <a href="/psalms/34-15.htm" title="The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry.">Psalm 34:15</a>. This would disarrange the acrostic, bringing <span class= "ital">pe </span>before <span class= "ital">ayin; </span>but, as in Lamentations 2, 3, 4 the same sequence of letters occurs, we are led to the conclusion that the order of the alphabet was not definitely or invariably fixed in respect of these two letters, a license intelligible enough when we remember that <span class= "ital">tsadde, </span>which follows <span class= "ital">pe, </span>was often interchanged with <span class= "ital">ayin, </span>which precedes it.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/34.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 16.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.</span> Conversely, God turns away his face from the wicked, and punishes them by causing their very memory to perish from among men (comp. <a href="/job/18-17.htm">Job 18:17</a>; <a href="/psalms/109-13.htm">Psalm 109:13</a>; <a href="/proverbs/10-7.htm">Proverbs 10:7</a>). The natural wish for continuance, which causes men to build themselves monuments, and erect other great works, and delight in offspring, and seek to establish their families, and create entails, and have their portraits taken, and "call the lands after their own names" (<a href="/psalms/49-11.htm">Psalm 49:11</a>), was especially strong in the Hebrew race, and made the threat that their remembrance should be cut off peculiarly terrible to them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/34-16.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">[But] the face</span><br /><span class="heb">פְּנֵ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(pə·nê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְ֭הוָה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is against</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּעֹ֣שֵׂי</span> <span class="translit">(bə·‘ō·śê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> </span><span class="str2">To do, make</span><br /><br /><span class="word">those who do evil,</span><br /><span class="heb">רָ֑ע</span> <span class="translit">(rā‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7451.htm">Strong's 7451: </a> </span><span class="str2">Bad, evil</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to sever</span><br /><span class="heb">לְהַכְרִ֖ית</span> <span class="translit">(lə·haḵ·rîṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3772.htm">Strong's 3772: </a> </span><span class="str2">To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant</span><br /><br /><span class="word">their memory</span><br /><span class="heb">זִכְרָֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(ziḵ·rām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2143.htm">Strong's 2143: </a> </span><span class="str2">A memento, recollection, commemoration</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from the earth.</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵאֶ֣רֶץ</span> <span class="translit">(mê·’e·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/34-16.htm">Psalm 34:16 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/34-16.htm">Psalm 34:16 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/34-16.htm">Psalm 34:16 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/34-16.htm">Psalm 34:16 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/34-16.htm">Psalm 34:16 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/34-16.htm">Psalm 34:16 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/34-16.htm">Psalm 34:16 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/34-16.htm">Psalm 34:16 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/34-16.htm">Psalm 34:16 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/34-16.htm">Psalm 34:16 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/34-16.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 34:16 Yahweh's face is against those who do (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/34-15.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 34:15"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 34:15" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/34-17.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 34:17"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 34:17" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>