May his children wander about and beg, seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit!
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easy to miss here is the intensity of the imagery: it's not just that his children will be poor, but that they'll be driven to scavenge for food from the ruins of their own former homes. This paints a picture of utter desolation, where even the remnants of their past life offer no sustenance, forcing them into a desperate, nomadic existence.
May his children wander about and beg, seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is a cry to God for justice against an enemy who has slandered and wronged the psalmist. The psalmist unleashes a series of intense curses, asking God to bring utter destruction upon his foe, even extending this judgment to his family and possessions. This passage is part of a longer section (verses 6-19) where the psalmist details the specific misfortunes he wishes upon his enemy, envisioning a complete ruin of his life and legacy.
Imagine a life of constant displacement, where your home is nothing but rubble. This verse paints a stark picture of the deepest despair.
The psalmist invokes a curse that leaves the wicked man's offspring in a state of utter destitution. They aren't just poor; they are vagabonds, ceaselessly wandering.
A Life of Wandering
'Continually vagabonds' speaks to a life without stability or a place to call home. They are forced to move from place to place, never settling.
Seeking Sustenance in Desolation
The phrase 'seek their bread also out of their desolate places' is incredibly powerful. It suggests they are scavenging, looking for scraps even in the ruins of what was once their home or their community. This isn't just poverty; it's the consequence of utter destruction and abandonment, where even the familiar places offer no solace, only reminders of what's lost.
Why would a psalm call down such harshness on the children? This verse forces us to confront the long shadow of a parent's choices.
This imprecation highlights a profound truth found throughout Scripture: the consequences of sin can extend beyond the individual, impacting future generations.
The Weight of a Father's Sins
The psalmist isn't necessarily suggesting divine retribution innocent children. Instead, it’s a prophetic declaration of the natural, devastating outcome of a life lived in wickedness. When a person actively opposes God and His people, the stability and security they might have provided for their family is destroyed.
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A Plea for Justice, Not Vengeance
While these words sound harsh, remember they come from a place of deep pain and a plea for God’s justice. The psalmist sees the wicked man's actions as so destructive that their legacy is one of ruin for his descendants. It's a stark warning about the interconnectedness of lives and the ripple effect of choosing evil.
This imprecation reflects the devastating reality of the Babylonian exile, where destruction and displacement were common, leading to a state of extreme poverty and ruin for many families.
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom Established
David unites the tribes of Israel and establishes Jerusalem as the capital, leading to a period of relative stability and prosperity.
c. 931 BC
Divided Monarchy
Following Solomon's death, the united kingdom splits into the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah, leading to increased political instability and conflict.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting much of its population and scattering them, serving as a dire warning to Judah.
597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon attacks Jerusalem, exiling King Jehoiachin and a significant portion of the Judean elite, including Ezekiel.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Babylonian forces destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population and leaving the land in ruins.
539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers the Babylonian Empire, initiating a new era and allowing some Jewish exiles to return to Judah.
This passage directly parallels the curse of children being taken into captivity and their labor being exploited, reflecting the dire consequences for the descendants of those who disobey God.
Lamentations 5:11-12This verse describes a similar state of destitution and exploitation where children are forced to beg due to the sins and ruin brought upon their people.
Matthew 23:38Jesus' lament over Jerusalem, 'Behold, your house is left to you desolate,' echoes the idea of a ruined home and the subsequent desolation, which can lead to such desperate circumstances for the people.
Acts 1:20Peter quotes Psalm 109:8, 'Let another take his office,' in reference to Judas, showing how these imprecations are seen as prophetic of judgment falling on those who betray God's people, impacting their lineage or legacy.
pulpitPsalms 109:10: "Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places."
Verse 10. - Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg. If it be just that the sins of the fathers be visited upon the children, the psalmist may be regarded as justified in this wish. Still, it is not one that a Christian will readily echo. Let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places. Professor Cheyne corrects דָרְשׁוּ into לֺגּדְשׁוּ, and tr…
clarkePsalms 109:10: "Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places."
Set his children - beg - The father having lost his office, the children must necessarily be destitute; and this is the hardest lot to which any can become subject, after having been born to the expectation of an ample fortune.
What's easy to miss here is the intensity of the imagery: it's not just that his children will be poor, but that they'll be driven to scavenge for food from the ruins of their own former homes. This paints a picture of utter desolation, where even the remnants of their past life offer no sustenance, forcing them into a desperate, nomadic existence.
This psalm is a cry to God for justice against an enemy who has slandered and wronged the psalmist. The psalmist unleashes a series of intense curses, asking God to bring utter destruction upon his foe, even extending this judgment to his family and possessions. This passage is part of a longer section (verses 6-19) where the psalmist details the specific misfortunes he wishes upon his enemy, envisioning a complete ruin of his life and legacy.
This psalm is a cry to God for justice against an enemy who has slandered and wronged the psalmist. The psalmist unleashes a series of intense curses, asking God to bring utter destruction upon his foe, even extending this judgment to his family and possessions. This passage is part of a longer section (verses 6-19) where the psalmist details the specific misfortunes he wishes upon his enemy, envisioning a complete ruin of his life and legacy.
"May his children wander about and beg, seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit!" — What's easy to miss here is the intensity of the imagery: it's not just that his children will be poor, but that they'll be driven to scavenge for food from the ruins of their own former homes. Thi…
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Last reviewed October 2026