King James Version

What Does Psalms 104:35 Mean?

Psalms 104:35 in the King James Version says “Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye t... — study this verse from Psalms chapter 104 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalms 104:35 · KJV


Context

33

I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

34

My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

35

Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The psalm's conclusion calls for sinners to be consumed from the earth and the wicked to be no more, followed by 'Bless the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD (Hallelujah).' This jarring shift from celebrating creation to denouncing sin shows that sin mars God's good creation. Complete blessing requires sin's removal. This isn't vindictiveness but desire for God's perfect will. The final hallelujah (first occurrence in Psalms) celebrates God despite sin's present intrusion. Christ's second coming will accomplish this—removing all wickedness and fully restoring creation (Rev 21:4, 22:3).

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The psalm's close returns to the fall's effects on creation, which groans awaiting redemption (Rom 8:22). The psalmist longs for creation's liberation from sin's corruption, anticipating eschatological restoration.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you balance celebrating God's good creation with acknowledging sin's corruption of it?
  2. What does longing for wickedness's end teach about proper desire for justice and holiness?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 13 words
יִתַּ֤מּוּ1 of 13

be consumed

H8552

to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive

חַטָּאִ֨ים׀2 of 13

Let the sinners

H2400

a criminal, or one accounted guilty

מִן3 of 13
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

הָאָ֡רֶץ4 of 13

out of the earth

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

וּרְשָׁעִ֤ים׀5 of 13

and let the wicked

H7563

morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person

ע֤וֹד6 of 13
H5750

properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more

אֵינָ֗ם7 of 13
H369

a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle

בָּרֲכִ֣י8 of 13

be no more Bless

H1288

to kneel; by implication to bless god (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (god or the king, as

נַ֭פְשִׁי9 of 13

O my soul

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

אֶת10 of 13
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

יְהוָ֗ה11 of 13

thou the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

הַֽלְלוּ12 of 13

Praise

H1984

to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causativ

יָֽהּ׃13 of 13

ye the LORD

H3050

jah, the sacred name


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Psalms. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Psalms 104:35 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Psalms 104:35 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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