· Translation: KJV

Psalms 37:38As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together. The future of the wicked shall be cut off.

The setting

Israel, ~1000 BC. David declares the certain fate of those who persistently choose evil over God. Modern Israel/Palestine.

The emotion here: sober certainty about divine justice after seeing God's patterns

The original word

karat (כָּרַת) — to cut off, sever completely, like cutting down a tree that will never grow again

Why it matters

Being 'cut off' in Hebrew culture meant losing your place in the covenant community permanently

Read with care

What most readers miss in Psalms 37:38

They are destroyed 'together' — evil people often drag each other down in their fall

Common misconceptionPeople think this is about eternal hell, but David is primarily talking about earthly consequences — how persistent rebellion eventually destroys people's lives and legacy here and now.

Bible Genome reading

Psalms 37:38 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerDavid
EraUnited Kingdom
Primary emotionworship
Literary typepsalm
MarkPromise of God
MarkProphecy

Emotional genome

Comfort power50%
Quotability60%
Memorability60%
Crisis relevance60%
Standalone70%
Themes:divine judgmentjustice

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open Psalms 37

Psalms 37:38 comes from the book of Psalms, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to David. The dominant emotion in this verse is worship, with a comfort power of 50% and a tone that is prophetic. It belongs to the psalm genre of biblical literature. Key themes include divine judgment, justice. Notable phrases: transgressors shall be destroyed; future of the wicked cut off. This verse contains a promise of God. This verse contains prophecy.

Your reflection

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