The Meaning of Psalms 26:9 Explained

Psalms 26:9

KJV: Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:

YLT: Do not gather with sinners my soul, And with men of blood my life,

Darby: Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with men of blood;

ASV: Gather not my soul with sinners, Nor my life with men of blood;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Gather  not my soul  with sinners,  nor my life  with bloody  men: 

What does Psalms 26:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 26:1-12 - A Declaration Of Loyalty To God
In some respects this psalm resembles the previous one, only, instead of entreaties for forgiveness, there are protestations of innocence. It may have been composed during Absalom's rebellion, and contains a strenuous protest against the dissembling and hypocrisy upon which that revolt was based. In these avowals of conscious rectitude, it should be borne in mind that David did not mean to claim absolute sinlessness, but rather to declare his innocence of the specific charges with which he had been assailed.
We all need the laver of purification mentioned in Psalms 26:6-7. Or better, let us repair to our Lord, who still washes the feet of His disciples, as in John 13:1-38. Hatred to evil men is one side of the coin; love to God's house, the reverse. Either implies the other. However firm our foot seems to stand, we all need the redeeming mercy and grace of God. Ah, the riches of His gentle goodness! Ephesians 2:7. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 26

1  David resorts to God in confidence of his integrity

What do the individual words in Psalms 26:9 mean?

Not do gather with the sinful my soul nor with men bloodthirsty my life
אַל־ תֶּאֱסֹ֣ף עִם־ חַטָּאִ֣ים נַפְשִׁ֑י וְעִם־ אַנְשֵׁ֖י דָמִ֣ים חַיָּֽי

תֶּאֱסֹ֣ף  do  gather 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָסַף 
Sense: to gather, receive, remove, gather in.
חַטָּאִ֣ים  the  sinful 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: חַטָּא  
Sense: sinners adj.
נַפְשִׁ֑י  my  soul 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
וְעִם־  nor  with 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
אַנְשֵׁ֖י  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
דָמִ֣ים  bloodthirsty 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: דָּם  
Sense: blood.
חַיָּֽי  my  life 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.