American Standard Version
Psalms 78:38
38But he, being merciful, forgave theiriniquity, and destroyedthemnot:Yea, many a time turned he his anger away,And did not stir up all his wrath.
Psalms 78:38 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
- New International Version (NIV)Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, And did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, And did not stir up all His wrath;
Context of Psalms 78:38
36But they flattered him with their mouth, And lied unto him with their tongue. 37For their heart was not right with him, Neither were they faithful in his covenant. But he, being merciful, forgave theiriniquity, and destroyedthemnot: Yea, many a time turned he his anger away, And did not stir up all his wrath. 39And he remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. 40How oft did they rebel against him in the wilderness, And grieve him in the desert!
Read all of Psalms 78Psalms 78:38 word by word
וְה֤וּא רַח֨וּם׀ יְכַפֵּ֥ר עָוֹן֮ וְֽלֹא־יַ֫שְׁחִ֥ית וְ֭הִרְבָּה לְהָשִׁ֣יב אַפּ֑וֹ וְלֹֽא־יָ֝עִיר כָּל־חֲמָתֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Psalms 78:38
- Psalms 106:43Many times did he deliver them; But they were rebellious in their counsel, And were brought low in their iniquity.
- Exodus 34:6And Jehovah passed by before him, and proclaimed, Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth;
- Numbers 14:18Jehovah is slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation.
- Numbers 16:44And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
- Isaiah 44:21Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
- Isaiah 48:9For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.
- Ezekiel 20:8But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me; they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
- 2 Kings 21:20And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, as did Manasseh his father.
Commentaries on Psalms 78:38
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 38But he, being full of compassion - Feeling for them as a father for his children. Forgave their iniquity - יחפר yechapper, made an atonement for their iniquity. And did not stir up all his wrath - Though they often grieved his Spirit, and rebelled against him, yet he seldom punished them; and when he did chastise them, it was as a tender and merciful Father. He did not stir up all his wrath - the punishment was much less than the iniquity deserved.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 38But he, being full of compassion - literally, “But he, merciful,” That is, he was ready to forgive them. Forgave their iniquity - literally, Atoned for, expiated, covered over their iniquity. There is connected with the word the idea of expiation or atonement, as the ground of pardon. And destroyed them not - Did not cut them off in their repeated acts of rebellion. He bore with them, and spared them. Yea, many a time turned he his anger away - literally…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-39Verses 9-39 Sin dispirits men, and takes away the heart. Forgetfulness of God's works is the cause of disobedience to his laws. This narrative relates a struggle between God's goodness and man's badness. The Lord hears all our murmurings and distrusts, and is much displeased. Those that will not believe the power of God's mercy, shall feel the fire of his indignation. Those cannot be said to trust in God's salvation as their happiness at last, who can not…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 35-39The Israelites remembered the correct teaching about God (Psalms 9:9; 91:1), but they did not let God change the way they thought and lived (Leviticus 26:41).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33-3933-39. Though there were partial reformations after chastisement, and God, in pity, withdrew His hand for a time, yet their general conduct was rebellious, and He was thus provoked to waste and destroy them, by long and fruitless wandering in the desert.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 78:38
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 78
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries