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Psalm 139:20

For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain.

18If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I wake up, I am still with you.
19If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
20For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain.
21LORD, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?
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← Psalm 139:19Psalm 139:21 →
Notice

The word “For” connects speech against God with the plea for the wicked to die, making this accusation part of a fierce prayer for judgment.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

What troubles you about the link between contempt for God’s name and the plea for judgment?

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How does speaking to God about his enemies differ from speaking against people you resent?

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What would reverence for God’s name sound like in your conversations this week?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.

This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Jude 1:15to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the hard things …Both passages name speech against God as wrongdoing; Jude includes such speech among the grounds for judgment.
Exodus 20:7“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who misuses his name.The psalm accuses God’s enemies of misusing his name, the conduct Exodus forbids and declares subject to guilt.
Psalm 74:18Remember this, that the enemy has mocked you, LORD. Foolish people have blasphemed your name.Both prayers address God about enemies whose speech dishonors him and his name.
Deuteronomy 5:11“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who misuses his name.Deuteronomy forbids misuse of God’s name, while the psalm names that misuse among the acts of his enemies.
Psalm 2:1–3Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing?The shared thread is limited: Psalm 2 describes raging and vain plotting, while Psalm 139 names speech against God.
Psalm 73:8–9They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.Both passages describe malicious speech, though Psalm 73 names threats of oppression and Psalm 139 names speech against God.
Isaiah 37:28–29But I know your sitting down, your going out, your coming in, and your raging against me.Both texts name hostility directed against God; Isaiah adds God’s declaration that he knows the person raging against him.
Isaiah 37:23Whom have you defied and blasphemed? Against whom have you exalted your voice and lifted up your eyes on high? Against the Holy One of Israel.Both passages identify God as the target of defiant speech, with Isaiah naming him as the Holy One of Israel.
Revelation 13:6He opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, his dwelling, and those who dwell in heaven.Both texts describe speech against God that dishonors his name; Revelation also names his dwelling and heaven’s inhabitants.
Psalm 74:22–23Arise, God! Plead your own cause. Remember how the foolish man mocks you all day.Both prayers bring speech against God before him; Psalm 74 asks him to act in his own cause.
Leviticus 24:16He who blasphemes the LORD’s name, he shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him. The foreigner as well as the native-born …Both treat contempt for God’s name as grave wrongdoing; Leviticus prescribes death by stoning within Israel’s law.
Job 21:14–15They tell God, ‘Depart from us, for we don’t want to know about your ways.Both passages portray people speaking against God; Job records their demand that he depart and their rejection of his ways.
Where this verse fits

Injustice and anger. sermon or Bible study notes.

What the Bible says about anger →
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Read verses 19–22 and mark who is being addressed

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Encouragement

These are grave words addressed to God amid anger at bloodthirsty people. The psalm records a plea for God to judge; it gives you no command to harm anyone.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 139:20. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

Keep goingPsalm 139 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).