On the surface, Christians and nonbelievers often note the difference between the Old and New Testaments, especially in how God and his people seem to engage with other nations and groups considered their enemies. One stark example is imprecatory prayers.
Reading through an imprecatory prayer from the Psalms disturbs us today with the desire for violence upon their enemies. Jesus told people to pray for enemies, love those who hate you, so why do others in the Old Testament respond to enemies with such brutality?
While it appears a major difference, looking deeper at the historical context and the covenants shows us how God’s love remains the same.
What Is Imprecatory Prayer in the Bible?
An imprecatory prayer calls upon God to bring judgment, justice, or curses upon enemies or the wicked. Imprecatory prayers are found in the Old Testament, particularly the Psalms. These prayers reflect the writer’s raw emotions (anger and grief at wrongdoing, a desire for justice), and they ask God to act against evil. These prayers aren’t about revenge, however. They seek for God to be God, for him to repay according to his divine justice and righteousness. The prayer doesn’t personally act in violence but cries out to God for his intervention, which would by nature be the right action.
These biblical imprecatory prayers can be found mostly in the Psalms, what we call the “Imprecatory Psalms.” Read out of context, modern readers become disturbed at the harsh and unsettling desires regarding enemies. But these are responses to cruelty and oppression. Israel dealt with surrounding nations who sacrificed children in their own country, and we can only extrapolate from there what they did to Israel or Judah when those pagan nations attacked and raided God’s people.
The psalmists wouldn’t take matters into their own hands but call out to God to fight for them. The Old Testament is full of these stories, where God would himself protect them or send an angel to wipe out armies. God had revealed himself as the only true judge, and in faith, these prayers plead with him to wipe out evil and oppressive people, a form of intercession against injustice, saying, “God, don’t let this stand.” These prayers emanated from the covenantal understanding between God and Israel. God had promised to reward righteousness, to defend the innocent, and punish the wicked. As happens with many believers, they saw evil happen and go unpunished, at least in the present, so they called for God to fulfill his word and protect the innocent against the oppressors.
Other ancient religions also had imprecatory prayers or rituals. Babylonians and Egyptians offered curses to their gods against enemies. In that time, people generally believed their gods fought for them, and they would put curses on tablets or other forms, leaving them at temples. The Greco-Roman, Hellenistic culture would use curse tablets of lead to call down harm on enemies, whether personal or political.
In contrast, the Old Testament imprecatory prayers differ in tone and intent. Pagan curses were selfish and self-centered, even manipulative regarding the gods, trying to get the divine to obey the human. Pagan religions rarely, if ever, believed their gods to be good. The Hebrew prayers reminded God of his divine righteousness and love, how the Lord would fight for true justice for all people, and how the Israelites trusted God to act with holiness.
What Are Old Testament Examples of Imprecatory Prayer?
In Psalm 35, David pleads with God as he faces persecution, as scholars believe this was when King Saul chased him. David writes, “Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.” He prays for God to lead his enemies to shame and dishonor. “Let their ways be dark and slippery.” As we remember, David had loyally served Saul, acting righteously. Saul had become a wicked man, and he jealously sought to kill David, removing a political threat. But rather than seeking his own revenge, David cries out to God for justice, protecting him but leading his accusers to downfall.
David’s actions also show us this reality. He had opportunity twice to kill Saul and take the kingdom for himself, yet he refuses, wanting God’s plan to happen in God’s time. The Lord had called and anointed Saul; God would decide when that time came to an end, not a man (1 Samuel 24; 1 Samuel 26).
Another of David’s songs, Psalm 69, was likely written during the time of his son’s (Absalom) rebellion. Absalom had staged a successful coup against his father, and David was betrayed by family and former allies. David writes regarding this overwhelming injustice: “Those who hate me are without cause are more than the hairs of my head.” (Psalm 69:4) He then asks God to “let their table become a snare” and to “blot them out of the book of the living.” His psalm becomes a prayer for God’s judgment against those who hurt David and acted wickedly. As a psalm of David, the New Testament quotes Psalm 69 in connection with Christ’s suffering (John 15:25; Romans 11:19-10).
After centuries of prophetic warnings regarding Israel’s sin, God allowed Babylon to destroy Jerusalem and lead the people away as exiles, further revealing how God punishes the wicked because of his righteousness. Of course, God also promised to judge Babylon for how violent and hateful they had acted toward his people, as well. Psalm 137 was written during that time of the Babylon exile. “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.” While sorrowful over the Jewish sin, the final verses declare judgment against Babylon. “O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us!” The Jews had seen the destruction of their homeland and the brutal killing of their babies. In context, the person who repays is first God, but the Lord also used Persia to bring Babylon down and allow the Jews back to Jerusalem.
Why Don’t We Read Imprecatory Prayers in the New Testament?
We don’t see any imprecatory prayers against other humans in the New Testament.
First, the focus of God’s kingdom changed from a physical nation to a spiritual reality. In the Old Testament, God established Israel and a chosen nation with physical boundaries and racial genealogies, including kings and lands. These things have easy physical enemies. When other nations attacked, they threatened God’s kingdom expression for that time. The Old Testament writers prayed according to the revelation they had at the time.
In the New Testament, Jesus reveals a different kingdom, a spiritual one. Jesus didn’t allow himself to be made an earthly king, and the new covenant would include individuals from all nations and races. The new covenant genealogy happened through discipleship, one believer discipling the next generation; it was no longer about biological descendants.
Therefore, the fight becomes a spiritual one. The New Testament reveals the real enemy: Satan and his demons. The real battle is against sin, death, and spiritual darkness.
We see this shift when we compare Joshua and Jesus. Joshua led Israel into the Promised Land and conquered physical giants and kingdoms. He and God’s armies fought earthly battles with swords and shields to fulfill God’s promise to Abraham. But when Jesus arrived, he didn’t pick up a sword or raise a military army. Instead, he cast out demons, healed the sick, and forgave sinners. He raised up disciples to do the same. He battled against unseen enemies that enslaved people’s hearts and minds and won with God’s power and love. Jesus brought a kingdom “not of this world,” one that changes people from the inside out. An eternal perspective led Jesus to love enemies, seeking to redeem them instead of destroying them.
The apostle Paul explains this new perspective in Ephesians 6:12. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness.” As Christians, we don’t have physical enemies, even though many may treat us as such. God calls us to focus on the lies and forces behind sin and death and pray from Christ’s finished victory over darkness. Instead of calling down curses, we can bless those who persecute us (Romans 12:14) and overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).
Of course, the New Testament doesn’t dismiss injustice. Jesus confronted it through rebuking religious leaders and warning of coming judgment. Revelation shows the future, how God’s future wrath will come against evil and sin. But the Bible remains focused on God’s final goodness and redemption, not personal vengeance. Even Jesus on the cross looked at those placing nails through his hands and said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
The Kingdom of God advances not with violence but by love, truth, self-sacrifice, and spiritual power. Today, when we face or see injustice, we cry out to the same God who loves the innocent and oppressed, but we must be sure to send our prayers against the true enemy. We call this spiritual warfare.
How Can We Apply Old Testament Imprecatory Prayers in Spiritual Warfare?
While we understand the historical context of imprecatory prayers, knowing we no longer seek violence against people, we can also apply the deeper principles behind those prayers in spiritual warfare. God hasn’t changed. He alone is holy and righteous, and he still fights for the oppressed, the poor, and the innocent. He will judge sin and condemn the wicked, both now and in the future. At the same time, the Father’s love seeks to save people from sin and death now so we won’t suffer the consequences later. His ultimate plan is to redeem, heal, and restore. He wants to have renewed relationship with us. These truths remain constant from Genesis to Revelation.
The Devil tempted Adam and Eve to disobey God. Satan has been a liar and murderer from the beginning (John 8:44). We are disciples of Jesus, and he’s called us to join him in his purpose, to seek and save that which was lost (Luke 19:10), to bear witness to the truth (John 18:37), and to undo the works of the Devil (1 John 3:8). And Christ intercedes before the throne as the Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-15). So when we pray, we participate in his work.
Our prayers can carry the passion of imprecatory psalms but target spiritual darkness not human beings. While David cried for God to bring down his physical enemies, we plead for God to destroy the lies, the addiction, pride, fear, and demonic influence. The Devil is behind our selfish desires, the sinful nature, and the oppressive systems of this world. Therefore, we pray for God to bring down strongholds to save people. We don’t seek to harm people but set them free.
Imprecatory prayers teach us to pray boldly and specifically against evil. When we face temptation, oppression, injustice, betrayal, or lies of the enemy, we can pray for God to tear down all imaginations that exalt themselves against the Father. We can also apply these prayers to pray for others trapped in sin or brokenness. We pray for the destruction of the chains binding and the deceptions blinding them. These types of prayers reflect and align with the passion of the Psalms while honoring the love and mission of Jesus.
The Old Testament imprecatory prayers remind us it’s good and biblical to hate evil. But Jesus shows us how to do that correctly, toward our spiritual enemy not the human. Our loving goal for individuals should be salvation, not punishment. With that perspective, we stand in the authority of Christ, speaking the truth of his Word against spiritual darkness as Jesus did and still does.
Peace.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Lemon_tm
This article is part of our prayer resources meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.
Prayers for Healing
Morning Prayers
Prayers for Family
Prayers for Surgery
Prayers for Strength
Night Prayers Before Bed
Prayers for Protection
The Lord's Prayer: Our Father
