Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist isn't just saying "get away from me, bad people." He's actively choosing to separate himself so that he can keep God's commands. This verse highlights that association with the wicked isn't just a passive risk, but a direct threat to one's ability to obey God.
Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist is in a season of deep commitment to God's Word, actively detesting anything that draws him away from it. This verse expresses his resolve to separate himself from the corrupting influence of wicked people precisely because their presence hinders his ability to keep God's commands. Following this declaration, he will continue to pray for God's upholding strength and guidance, acknowledging his own weakness and the constant need for divine help.
Ever feel like the wrong crowd is holding you back from what matters most? The Psalmist understood this deeply.
The verse begins with a powerful declaration: "Depart from me, you evildoers." This isn't just a casual wish; it's a vital strategy for spiritual health.
Why Separate?
The Psalmist doesn't just refer to 'God,' but to 'my God.' What difference does that personal claim make?
The phrase 'my God' is more than a simple possessive pronoun; it signifies a deep, relational commitment.
The Significance of 'My God'
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Understand the original words
mere'im · Hebrew Noun
Those who habitually practice wickedness or act in rebellion against God's moral order. They are characterized by conduct that opposes the way of the righteous.
mitsvah · Hebrew Noun
Authoritative directives given by God to His people. They are binding instructions that require active obedience and preservation.
The psalm expresses a deep personal conviction to follow God's law, a sentiment amplified by the context of early Christian life where believers often faced opposition and needed to separate themselves from surrounding pagan practices and influences, as exemplified by the Apostle Paul's ministry and imprisonment.
c. 62 AD— this verse
Paul's Imprisonment in Rome
The Apostle Paul is under house arrest in Rome, able to receive visitors and preach freely. This period likely saw the writing of several epistles, including Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon.
c. 60-62 AD
Paul's Ministry in Ephesus
Prior to his Roman imprisonment, Paul spent several years ministering in Ephesus, a major center of pagan worship and commerce in Asia Minor.
c. 50-55 AD
Paul's Ministry in Corinth
Paul's extensive missionary journeys included a significant stay in Corinth, where he established a thriving church amidst a decadent culture.
c. 45-49 AD
Paul's First Missionary Journey
Paul, along with Barnabas, embarked on his first major missionary endeavor, traveling through Asia Minor and establishing churches.
This passage speaks to the same principle of separation from ungodly influences to maintain spiritual purity, echoing the psalmist's plea.
Matthew 7:23Jesus' words about not everyone who says 'Lord, Lord' entering the kingdom of heaven parallel the psalmist's desire for genuine obedience over mere association with the 'wicked'.
Romans 12:2This verse directly instructs believers not to be conformed to the world, highlighting the need to separate from its patterns to be transformed by God's will, aligning with the psalmist's purpose.
Psalm 1:1This Psalm describes the blessedness of the one who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, reinforcing the psalmist's desire to distance himself from them to keep God's commands.
1 Corinthians 15:33Paul's warning that 'bad company corrupts good character' directly supports the psalmist's understanding that association with evildoers hinders obedience to God.
pulpitPsalms 119:115: "Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God."
Verse 115. - Depart from me, ye evildoers. There is no fellowship between light and darkness, between righteousness and unrighteousness (2 Corinthians 10:16). Good men must separate themselves from those who are manifestly workers of iniquity (comp. Psalm 6:8). For I will keep the commandments of my God (see ver. 106). Association with the wicked hinders men from keeping God's Law. Not only is there the…
gillPsalms 119:115: "Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God."
Depart from me, ye evildoers,.... The same with the evil thinkers, Psalm 119:113 ; According to Aben Ezra, they that think evil commonly do it; as they devise it, they commit it. This describes such persons whose course of life is, and who make it their constant business to do, iniquity; such the psalmist desires to depart his presence, to keep at a distance from him, as being very disagreeable to him; a…
The psalmist isn't just saying "get away from me, bad people." He's actively choosing to separate himself so that he can keep God's commands. This verse highlights that association with the wicked isn't just a passive risk, but a direct threat to one's ability to obey God.
The psalmist is in a season of deep commitment to God's Word, actively detesting anything that draws him away from it. This verse expresses his resolve to separate himself from the corrupting influence of wicked people precisely because their presence hinders his ability to keep God's commands. Following this declaration, he will continue to pray for God's upholding strength and guidance, acknowledging his own weakness and the constant need for divine help.
The psalmist is in a season of deep commitment to God's Word, actively detesting anything that draws him away from it. This verse expresses his resolve to separate himself from the corrupting influence of wicked people precisely because their presence hinders his ability to keep God's commands. Following this declaration, he will continue to pray for God's upholding strength and guidance, acknowledging his own weakness and the constant need for divine help.
"Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God." — The psalmist isn't just saying "get away from me, bad people." He's actively choosing to separate himself so that he can keep God's commands. This verse highlights that association with the wicked…
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Last reviewed October 2026