Psalms 78:38

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 deceived Him with their mouths, and lied to Him with their tongues. 37Their hearts were disloyal to Him, and they were unfaithful to His covenant. And yet He was compassionate; He forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them. He often restrained His anger and did not unleash His full wrath. 39He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return. 40How often they disobeyed Him in the wilderness and grieved Him in the desert!

Psalms 78:38 word by word

וְה֤וּא רַח֨וּם׀ יְכַפֵּ֥ר עָוֹן֮ וְֽלֹא־יַ֫שְׁחִ֥ית וְ֭הִרְבָּה לְהָשִׁ֣יב אַפּ֑וֹ וְלֹֽא־יָ֝עִיר כָּל־חֲמָתֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

• And yet Heהוּאhû' hîy' · he/she/itH1931
• was compassionateרַחוּםrachûm · compassionateH7349
• He forgaveכִּפֶּרkâphar · to atoneH3722
• iniquityעָוֺן‛âvôn ‛âvôn · iniquity: crimeH5771
• and did notלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• destroy themשָׁחַתshâchath · to ruinH7843
• He oftenרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• restrained His angerאַף'aph · face: angerH639
• restrained His angerשׁוּבshûb · to return: repentH7725
• unleashעוּר‛ûr · to rouseH5782
• His full wrathכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• His full wrathחֵמָהchêmâh chêmâ' · rageH2534

Cross-references for Psalms 78:38

• Psalms 106:43Many times He rescued them, but they were bent on rebellion and sank down in their iniquity.
• Exodus 34:6Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness,
• Numbers 14:18‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion, forgiving iniquity and transgression. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation.’
• Numbers 16:44and the LORD said to Moses,
• Isaiah 44:21Remember these things, O Jacob, for you are My servant, O Israel. I have made you, and you are My servant; O Israel, I will never forget you.
• Isaiah 48:9For the sake of My name I will delay My wrath; for the sake of My praise I will restrain it, so that you will not be cut off.
• Ezekiel 20:8But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt.
• 2 Kings 21:20And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh had done.

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

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Anger
• God Continued...
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Asaph
• Compassion
• Consume
• Gush
• Limit
• Psalms
• Dark Sayings
• Forgiveness
• God
• Hezekiah (2)

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