Psalms 109:14
Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
Psalms 109:14
This verse asks that the iniquity of the offender’s fathers be remembered by the Lord and that the sin of his mother not be blotted out. It intensifies the generational scope of accountability, acknowledging how sin may be transmitted or repeated in families. The verse reflects ancient beliefs about the persistence of generational patterns and the need for God’s mercy and justice to confront inherited wrongdoing. It’s part of a larger lament that recognizes human cycles of sin and the longing for divine intervention to break those cycles.
Theological themes include the persistence of sin, the reality of inherited patterns, and the hope for divine discernment and correction. It challenges readers to consider how sin affects not only individuals but families and communities, while reaffirming that God remains just and merciful across generations. It also invites humility: we do not bear responsibility for our ancestors’ sins, but we do live within their consequences and can seek God’s transformative mercy.
If you carry a family history of brokenness or wrongdoing, this verse can anchor hope that God can intervene across generations. Practical steps: address inherited patterns through prayer, counseling, and healthy boundaries; seek healing for broken family dynamics; and pursue policies or programs that break cycles of poverty, abuse, or addiction. Encourage conversations that acknowledge past harms and commit to a different future.
Cross-References: Exodus 34:6-7; Ezekiel 18:20; Psalm 103:17-18; Lamentations 5:7