Psalms 26:9 Meaning and Explanation
“Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The psalmist asks God not to bring him into the fate of the violent and wicked.
The Context of Psalms 26:9
The psalmist moves from temple praise to prayer for protection in God's final judgment.
What Does Psalms 26:9 Mean?
Gather not my soul speaks to the final judgment and destiny. The psalmist prays that he not be swept up with sinners—not included in their doom or separated from God's favor. This prayer assumes a final reckoning when God distinguishes between the faithful and the faithless.
Bloody men are those who commit violence and murder. The psalmist's request is that in God's judgment, he be separated from those whose hands are stained with innocent blood. His integrity, he believes, justifies this request.
Psalms 26:9 in the Original Language
asaph (אָסַף), 'gather' — to gather together or sweep up; here in the context of judgment, to sweep someone away with others.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 26:9
What does Psalms 26:9 mean?
The psalmist asks God not to bring him into the fate of the violent and wicked.
What is the context of Psalms 26:9?
The psalmist moves from temple praise to prayer for protection in God's final judgment.