The Meaning of Psalms 101:8 Explained

Psalms 101:8

KJV: I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD.

YLT: At morning I cut off all the wicked of the land, To cut off from the city of Jehovah All the workers of iniquity!

Darby: Every morning will I destroy all the wicked of the land: to cut off all workers of iniquity from the city of Jehovah.

ASV: Morning by morning will I destroy all the wicked of the land; To cut off all the workers of iniquity from the city of Jehovah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I will early  destroy  all the wicked  of the land;  that I may cut off  all wicked  doers  from the city  of the LORD. 

What does Psalms 101:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 101:1-8 - My Righteous Purpose
This psalm, as the title indicates, was composed by David, probably at the commencement of his reign. It contains a number of resolutions upon which he was prepared to act. First, he made up his mind that he would give heed to the perfect way, and would walk in his house in the integrity of his heart, Psalms 101:2, r.v., margin. Next, he made up his mind to choose his friends with rigorous care, that froward hearts and evil persons should depart from him; that he would not enter into close relations with those that slandered their neighbors, or that gave evidence by their high looks of proud hearts. Deceit and falsehood were alike to be banished from his palace; while faithful souls, who also walked in "the perfect way," should minister to him. Finally, he made up his mind to carry out his rule in the public state, that the wicked might be put out of the way and the righteous exalted.
It was an excellent program, and happy would he have been if, throughout his life, he had rigorously adhered to it. It is not possible for us to exercise David's absolute power in the selection of our environment. It is often necessary for us to work in places of business among those whom we would not choose as associates. But we can, at least, forbear making any of these our intimates, or the friends with whom we spend our leisure and recreational hours, 1 Corinthians 5:9-11. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 101

1  David makes a vow and profession of godliness

What do the individual words in Psalms 101:8 mean?

Early I will destroy all the wicked of the land that I may cut off from the city of Yahweh doers the evildoers
לַבְּקָרִ֗ים אַצְמִ֥ית כָּל־ רִשְׁעֵי־ אָ֑רֶץ לְהַכְרִ֥ית מֵֽעִיר־ יְ֝הוָ֗ה פֹּ֥עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן

לַבְּקָרִ֗ים  Early 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: בֹּקֶר 
Sense: morning, break of day.
אַצְמִ֥ית  I  will  destroy 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: צָמַת  
Sense: to put an end to, cut off, destroy, exterminate, extirpate.
רִשְׁעֵי־  the  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
אָ֑רֶץ  of  the  land 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
לְהַכְרִ֥ית  that  I  may  cut  off 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: כָּרַת  
Sense: to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant.
מֵֽעִיר־  from  the  city 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
יְ֝הוָ֗ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
פֹּ֥עֲלֵי  doers 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: פָּעַל  
Sense: to do, make.
אָֽוֶן  the  evildoers 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָוֶן 
Sense: trouble, wickedness, sorrow.