May his days be few; may another take his office!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The original Hebrew word translated as "office" here literally means "charge" or "oversight." It suggests a position of responsibility and care, and the verse is asking that this significant role, now misused, be given to someone else entirely. This isn't just about a job title; it's about a sacred trust being handed over to a more worthy steward.
May his days be few; may another take his office!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This Psalm is a powerful cry of anguish and a prayer for divine justice against an enemy who has brought false accusations and repaid good with evil. The Psalmist is asking God to act decisively against this wicked individual, even calling down curses upon them and their family. The specific request here is for the enemy's life to be cut short and for their position of influence or responsibility to be taken by someone else, a fate famously applied to Judas in the New Testament.
When the wicked seem to win, and oppressors gain power, this verse offers a stark prediction. It's not just about misfortune, but a divine judgment.
This imprecation in Psalm 109 isn't a casual wish for bad luck. It's a prophetic declaration about the inevitable downfall of those who actively oppose God's people and purposes.
A Shortened Reign
The phrase 'May his days be few' speaks to a premature end. It echoes a common biblical theme: that the wicked often don't live out their full lifespan, a consequence of their harmful actions.
Divine Reassignment
'May another take his office' signifies more than just a replacement. It means the authority, the role, the very position the wicked person held is nullified and given to someone else. This isn't just about one person's failure, but about God actively reordering things and entrusting His work to faithful hands.
This verse was famously applied to one of history's most notorious betrayers. What does this application reveal about divine justice and continuity?
The New Testament directly connects Psalm 109:8 to the fate of Judas Iscariot. When the disciples sought to replace him after his betrayal and death, they looked to this very Scripture.
The Apostle's Fall
Peter, addressing the disciples in Acts 1, quotes this verse and Psalm 69:25 to explain why they needed to choose a successor to Judas. Judas held a crucial 'office'—an apostleship—but his treachery disqualified him, leading to a swift, tragic end ('his days be few').
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Divine Succession
'Let another take his office' found its fulfillment when Matthias was chosen by lot to take Judas's place among the twelve apostles. This demonstrates that even in the face of profound betrayal, God's plan and His leadership appointments continue. The office was not eliminated; it was reassigned to someone chosen by God.
Understand the original words
pequddah · Hebrew Noun
Refers to a position of authority, responsibility, or oversight, especially within a community or the temple service. It involves the functional role an individual occupies.
The New Testament writers saw this psalm as a prophecy fulfilled in Judas Iscariot, highlighting how ancient curses against treachery and betrayal could resonate with profound theological meaning in the life of Jesus and his followers.
c. 1010 BC
David's Reign
King David, the traditional author of many Psalms, wrote during a period of established monarchy in Israel. This context of leadership and potential betrayal is crucial for understanding the psalm's imprecations.
c. 10th - 5th century BC
Composition of Psalms
The book of Psalms was compiled over centuries, with many psalms reflecting specific historical experiences of the Israelite people, including periods of threat, exile, and worship.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Betrayal
Jesus' betrayal by Judas Iscariot, one of his closest disciples, is seen by early Christians as a fulfillment of this psalm's prophetic curse against a treacherous insider.
c. 33 AD
Election of Matthias
Following Judas's betrayal and death, the remaining apostles, led by Peter, elected Matthias to take Judas's place, explicitly citing this psalm (Psalm 109:8) as scriptural precedent.
c. 70 AD
Destruction of Jerusalem
The Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple marked a cataclysmic end for the Jewish nation as God's chosen people, leading to their dispersal and loss of their 'office' as the primary recipients of divine revelation.
This passage directly quotes Psalm 109:8, applying it to Judas Iscariot and the need to replace him as an apostle.
Psalms 55:23This verse speaks of violent and deceitful people not living out half their days, echoing the sentiment of a short, cut-off life in Psalm 109:8.
Psalms 69:25Often quoted alongside Psalm 109:8 by Peter in Acts, this verse speaks of desolation befalling the wicked, reinforcing the theme of divine judgment and replacement.
Isaiah 22:19This passage describes God stripping a corrupt official of his position and authority, paralleling the idea of 'another taking his office' due to unfaithfulness.
pulpitPsalms 109:8: "Let his days be few; and let another take his office."
Verse 8. - Let his days be few. There were Divine promises that "bloodthirsty and deceitful men" should not "live out half their days," which might naturally be regarded as justifying this wish (see Psalm 55:23; Proverbs 10:27; Ecclesiastes 7:17). And let another take his office. Τὴν ἐπισκοπὴν αὐτοῦ, LXX. Applied by St. Peter to Judas (Acts 1:20).
bensonPsalms 109:8: "Let his days be few; and let another take his office."
Psalm 109:8 . Let his days be few — The days of his life. Let him die an untimely death. So did Ahithophel, and so did Judas; both hanging themselves. And let another take his office — Made void by his death. This is the clause which St. Peter has cited and applied to Judas, in his discourse to the disciples, at the election of Matthias into Judas’s place. He cites, at the same time, a clause from Psalm 69:25 ; Let their habi…
The original Hebrew word translated as "office" here literally means "charge" or "oversight." It suggests a position of responsibility and care, and the verse is asking that this significant role, now misused, be given to someone else entirely. This isn't just about a job title; it's about a sacred trust being handed over to a more worthy steward.
This Psalm is a powerful cry of anguish and a prayer for divine justice against an enemy who has brought false accusations and repaid good with evil. The Psalmist is asking God to act decisively against this wicked individual, even calling down curses upon them and their family. The specific request here is for the enemy's life to be cut short and for their position of influence or responsibility to be taken by someone else, a fate famously applied to Judas in the New Testament.
This Psalm is a powerful cry of anguish and a prayer for divine justice against an enemy who has brought false accusations and repaid good with evil. The Psalmist is asking God to act decisively against this wicked individual, even calling down curses upon them and their family. The specific request here is for the enemy's life to be cut short and for their position of influence or responsibility to be taken by someone else, a fate famously applied to Judas in the New Testament.
"May his days be few; may another take his office!" — The original Hebrew word translated as "office" here literally means "charge" or "oversight." It suggests a position of responsibility and care, and the verse is asking that this significant role, no…
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Last reviewed October 2026