King James Version

What Does Psalms 69:27 Mean?

Psalms 69:27 in the King James Version says “Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness. iniquity unto: or, punishment of iniquit...” — study this verse from Psalms chapter 69 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness. iniquity unto: or, punishment of iniquity, etc”

Psalms 69:27 · KJV

Context

25

Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents. their habitation: Heb. their palace let none: Heb. let there not be a dweller

26

For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded. those: Heb. thy wounded

27

Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness. iniquity unto: or, punishment of iniquity, etc

28

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

29

But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.

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Commentary

KJV Study 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.

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Historical & Cultural 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).

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the concept of judicial hardening—God confirming people in their chosen rebellion—affect your understanding of divine justice?
  2. What is the relationship between human hardening of hearts and God's judicial hardening?
  3. How does this verse's terror heighten appreciation for being justified and brought into God's righteousness through Christ?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 7 words
תְּֽנָה1 of 7

“Add”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

עֲוֹנָ֑ם2 of 7

“iniquity”

H5771

perversity, i.e., (moral) evil

עַל3 of 7
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

עֲוֹנָ֑ם4 of 7

“iniquity”

H5771

perversity, i.e., (moral) evil

וְאַל5 of 7
H408

not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

יָ֝בֹ֗אוּ6 of 7

“and let them not come”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

בְּצִדְקָתֶֽךָ׃7 of 7

“into thy righteousness”

H6666

rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity)

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 69:27 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 69:27 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 26:10Nehemiah 4:5Romans 1:282 Timothy 4:142 Thessalonians 2:11-12Revelation 22:10-11

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