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 flattered Him with their mouth and kept lying to Him with their tongue. 37For their heart was not steadfast with Him, nor were they faithful to His covenant. But He is compassionate, forgives iniquity and does not destroy. Yes, many times He restrains His anger, and does not stir up all His wrath. 39For He remembered that they are but flesh, a passing breath that never returns. 40How often they rebelled against 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• full of compassionרַחוּםrachûm · compassionateH7349
• forgaveכִּפֶּרkâphar · to atoneH3722
• iniquityעָוֺן‛âvôn ‛âvôn · iniquity: crimeH5771
• and destroyedשָׁחַתshâchath · to ruinH7843
• not: yea, many a timeרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• turnedשׁוּבshûb · to return: repentH7725
• he his angerאַף'aph · face: angerH639
• awayשׁוּבshûb · to return: repentH7725
• and did not stir upעוּר‛ûr · to rouseH5782
• all his wrathחֵמָהchêmâh chêmâ' · rageH2534

Cross-references for Psalms 78:38

• Psalms 106:43Many times He delivered them, but they kept rebelling deliberately, and so sank low into their iniquity.
• Exodus 34:6Then Adonai passed before him, and proclaimed, “Adonai, Adonai, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth,
• Numbers 14:18‘Adonai is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression. Still, He does not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations.’
• Numbers 16:44Adonai spoke to Moses saying,
• Isaiah 44:21Remember these things, Jacob, and Israel, for you are My servant. I formed you, you are My servant. Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me!
• Isaiah 48:9For My Name’s sake I defer My anger, for My praise I will restrain it for you— otherwise I would cut you off.
• Ezekiel 20:8“But they rebelled against Me and were unwilling to listen to Me. None of them cast away the detestable things that were before their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My fury upon them, to expend My anger upon them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
• 2 Kings 21:20He did what was evil in Adonai’s eyes, 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