The Meaning of Psalms 105:15 Explained

Psalms 105:15

KJV: Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

YLT: 'Strike not against Mine anointed, And to My prophets do not evil.'

Darby: Saying, Touch not mine anointed ones, and do my prophets no harm.

ASV: Saying , Touch not mine anointed ones, And do my prophets no harm.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[Saying], Touch  not mine anointed,  and do my prophets  no harm. 

What does Psalms 105:15 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 105:1-15 - The Lord's Covenant With Israel
This psalm and the next are a pair, probably composed during the Exile in Babylon. They are evidently derived in part from the old Tabernacle service, in which is found the beginning of this psalm and the end of the next, 1 Chronicles 16:1-43. Here we have the story of Jehovah's faithfulness to his Covenant and of Israel's ingratitude.
It is right to make known God's doings. Nothing touches men more quickly, or excites faith and hope more certainly, than to hear what others have experienced of God's saving health. Let us talk more often of His marvelous works. If God has forgiven you, even to ten thousand talents, confess it. If you have learned more of Christ's patience in His bearing with your sins and failures, tell it out. The salient points which stand out in our record of the past may be summarized under the same general headings as those of the psalmist. God has been mindful of His Covenant, ratified by the blood of his Son. He has shown his independence of human standards in choosing us, though we are absolutely unworthy to inherit His Kingdom. How often He has interposed in our behalf even when we have deserved the worst, saying, Touch not mine anointed! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 105

1  An exhortation to praise God, and to seek out his works
7  The story of God's providence over Abraham
16  Over Joseph
23  Over Jacob in Egypt
26  Over Moses delivering the Israelites
37  Over the Israelites brought out of Egypt, fed in the desert, and planted in Canaan

What do the individual words in Psalms 105:15 mean?

[Saying] not do touch My anointed ones and My prophets no do harm
אַֽל־ תִּגְּע֥וּ בִמְשִׁיחָ֑י וְ֝לִנְבִיאַי אַל־ תָּרֵֽעוּ

אַֽל־  [Saying]  not 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַל  
Sense: not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference).
תִּגְּע֥וּ  do  touch 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: נָגַע  
Sense: to touch, reach, strike.
בִמְשִׁיחָ֑י  My  anointed  ones 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adjective, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: מָשִׁיחַ  
Sense: anointed, anointed one.
וְ֝לִנְבִיאַי  and  My  prophets 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: נָבִיא  
Sense: spokesman, speaker, prophet.
אַל־  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַל  
Sense: not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference).
תָּרֵֽעוּ  do  harm 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: מֵרֵעַ 
Sense: to be bad, be evil.