Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The surprising twist here is that God's ultimate judgment isn't just about punishment, but about complete eradication. When God "seeks out" the wickedness of the evil person until none is found, it signifies not only finding every sin to punish, but also that the wicked person and their deeds will be so utterly removed that they can no longer be found, a complete wiping away.
Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm describes the oppressive actions of the wicked and their arrogant disregard for God, which leads the psalmist to cry out to God for intervention. After detailing the wicked's cruelty and their belief that God sees nothing (verses 1-13), the psalmist turns to God, recognizing His awareness and power. This verse is a direct appeal to God to dismantle the wicked's ability to harm and to thoroughly judge and eradicate their evil deeds, setting the stage for God's ultimate vindication.
What does it mean to 'break the arm' of an enemy? It's a powerful image of disarming and disabling, a prayer that God would strip the wicked of their ability to inflict harm.
The 'arm' in Scripture often symbolizes strength, power, and the means by which one acts.
Disarming the Oppressor
When the Psalmist prays for God to 'break the arm of the wicked,' he's asking God to neutralize their power to oppress and harm.
It's not just about wishing ill; it's a plea for divine intervention that stops evil in its tracks.
God's Sovereign Power
This prayer acknowledges that human strength and schemes, however formidable, are ultimately fragile against God's might. He can, with a single act, render the most powerful oppressor utterly powerless.
The prayer doesn't stop at disabling the wicked; it calls for a complete investigation and punishment until none of their wickedness remains. What does this thoroughness reveal about God's justice?
The second part of the verse, 'call his wickedness to account till you find none,' speaks to the completeness of God's justice.
An Unsparing Search
This isn't a superficial glance, but a deep, exhaustive 'seeking out.' It implies God will investigate every hidden sin, every evil deed, leaving no stone unturned.
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The Proverbial End of Evil
'Till you find none' suggests a state where all wickedness is so thoroughly dealt with – punished, removed, or eradicated – that it ceases to exist or be found. This points to the ultimate triumph of God's justice over all evil.
It signifies a complete riddance of evil, a profound cleansing where the wicked and their deeds are utterly gone.
This passage speaks of God breaking the arm of Pharaoh, mirroring the prayer in Psalms 10:15 to break the power of the wicked so they can no longer do harm.
Jeremiah 46:22Similar to Psalms 10:15, this verse describes an enemy coming with axes like woodcutters, emphasizing the violent, destructive power that the Psalmist prays God will shatter.
Psalm 37:36This verse offers a picture of the wicked being completely gone when sought for, resonating with the prayer in Psalms 10:15 to seek out wickedness until none is found, signifying utter destruction.
Luke 11:20When Jesus says He casts out demons by the 'finger of God,' it echoes the powerful, decisive action requested in Psalms 10:15 where God's intervention is sought to break the wicked's arm and find no trace of their evil.
Psalm 9:5-6This passage describes the complete destruction and perishing of the wicked, aligning with the ultimate desire expressed in Psalms 10:15 for God to find no wickedness left after He has judged and punished.
calvinPsalms 10:14-15: "Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless."
- Thou hast seen it; for thou considerest mischief and vexation, [230] that thou mayest take the matter into thine own hand: upon thee shall the poor leave, for thou wilt be the helper of the fatherless. 15. Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man; thou shalt seek his wickedness, and shalt not find it.…
gillPsalms 10:15: "Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none."
Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man,.... His power and strength, so that he shall not be able to hold the sword, to strike a blow, or do any hurt to the people of God; see Ezekiel 30:21 . This prayer is in some measure already fulfilled in antichrist, the man of sin, or pope of Rome; though his kingdom is not broke to pieces; as it will be when Christ's kingdom shall be…
The surprising twist here is that God's ultimate judgment isn't just about punishment, but about complete eradication. When God "seeks out" the wickedness of the evil person until none is found, it signifies not only finding every sin to punish, but also that the wicked person and their deeds will be so utterly removed that they can no longer be found, a complete wiping away.
This psalm describes the oppressive actions of the wicked and their arrogant disregard for God, which leads the psalmist to cry out to God for intervention. After detailing the wicked's cruelty and their belief that God sees nothing (verses 1-13), the psalmist turns to God, recognizing His awareness and power. This verse is a direct appeal to God to dismantle the wicked's ability to harm and to thoroughly judge and eradicate their evil deeds, setting the stage for God's ultimate vindication.
This psalm describes the oppressive actions of the wicked and their arrogant disregard for God, which leads the psalmist to cry out to God for intervention. After detailing the wicked's cruelty and their belief that God sees nothing (verses 1-13), the psalmist turns to God, recognizing His awareness and power. This verse is a direct appeal to God to dismantle the wicked's ability to harm and to thoroughly judge and eradicate their evil deeds, setting the stage for God's ultimate vindication.
"Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none." — The surprising twist here is that God's ultimate judgment isn't just about punishment, but about complete eradication. When God "seeks out" the wickedness of the evil person until none is found, it s…
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Last reviewed October 2026