Psalms 78:38

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Yet he, because he is full of compassion, forgave their sin and did not destroy; many times he turned away his anger and didn't rouse all his wrath.

Berean Standard Bible:

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.

American Standard Version:

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.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But he, being full of compassion^{H7349}, forgave^{H3722}{H8762)} their iniquity^{H5771}, and destroyed^{H7843}{H8686)} them not: yea, many a time^{H7235}{H8689)} turned^{H7725} he his anger^{H639} away^{H7725}{H8687)}, and did not stir up^{H5782}{H8686)} all his wrath^{H2534}.

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Commentary for Psalms 78:38

Psalm 78:38 is part of a larger poem, Psalm 78, attributed to Asaph, a Levite and one of the leaders of David's choir. This Psalm serves as a historical retrospective, recounting the history of Israel from the Exodus to the establishment of David's monarchy. It emphasizes the importance of remembering and learning from the past, particularly God's mighty acts and the people's frequent unfaithfulness.

The verse itself highlights God's compassion and mercy towards the Israelites despite their repeated transgressions. In the context of the Psalm, this verse reflects on the divine forbearance during the wilderness wanderings, where the people provoked God through their idolatry, doubt, and rebellion. The phrase "but he, [being] full of compassion, forgave [their] iniquity, and destroyed [them] not" underscores the contrast between the people's behavior and God's response. Instead of unleashing His full wrath, which would have been justifiable given their actions, God chose to forgive. The verse goes on to say "yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath," which suggests a pattern of divine mercy that recurred throughout Israel's history.

This theme of God's compassion and restraint in the face of human sinfulness is a central motif in the Old Testament, offering a message of hope and a call to repentance. It speaks to the character of God as slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, a concept further developed in the New Testament through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Psalm 78:38, therefore, not only provides insight into the historical relationship between God and Israel but also serves as a theological statement about the nature of God that resonates with believers across time.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H7349
   There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רַחוּם
   Transliteration: rachûwm
   Pronunciation: rakh-oom'
   Description: from רָחַם; compassionate; full of compassion, merciful.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3722
   There are 94 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כָּפַר
   Transliteration: kâphar
   Pronunciation: kaw-far'
   Description: a primitive root; to cover (specifically with bitumen); figuratively, to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel; appease, make (an atonement, cleanse, disannul, forgive, be merciful, pacify, pardon, purge (away), put off, (make) reconcile(-liation).
   
3. Strong's Number: H5771
   There are 213 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָוֺן
   Transliteration: ʻâvôn
   Pronunciation: aw-vone'
   Description: or עָווֹן; (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 (אֲבַד)), from עָוָה; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil; fault, iniquity, mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin.
   
4. Strong's Number: H7843
   There are 136 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁחַת
   Transliteration: shâchath
   Pronunciation: shaw-khath'
   Description: a primitive root; to decay, i.e. (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively); batter, cast off, corrupt(-er, thing), destroy(-er, -uction), lose, mar, perish, spill, spoiler, [idiom] utterly, waste(-r).
   
5. Strong's Number: H7235
   There are 211 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָבָה
   Transliteration: râbâh
   Pronunciation: raw-baw'
   Description: a primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect); (bring in) abundance ([idiom] -antly), [phrase] archer (by mistake for רָבַב), be in authority, bring up, [idiom] continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full of, (be, make) great(-er, -ly, [idiom] -ness), grow up, heap, increase, be long, (be, give, have, make, use) many (a time), (any, be, give, give the, have) more (in number), (ask, be, be so, gather, over, take, yield) much (greater, more), (make to) multiply, nourish, plenty(-eous), [idiom] process (of time), sore, store, thoroughly, very.
   
6. Strong's Number: H7725
   There are 952 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שׁוּב
   Transliteration: shûwb
   Pronunciation: shoob
   Description: a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again; ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw.
   
7. Strong's Number: H639
   There are 306 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַף
   Transliteration: ʼaph
   Pronunciation: af
   Description: from אָנַף; properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire; anger(-gry), [phrase] before, countenance, face, [phrase] forebearing, forehead, [phrase] (long-) suffering, nose, nostril, snout, [idiom] worthy, wrath.
   
8. Strong's Number: H5782
   There are 65 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עוּר
   Transliteration: ʻûwr
   Pronunciation: oor
   Description: a primitive root (rather identical with through the idea of opening the eyes); to wake (literally or figuratively); (a-) wake(-n, up), lift up (self), [idiom] master, raise (up), stir up (self).
   
9. Strong's Number: H2534
   There are 117 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֵמָה
   Transliteration: chêmâh
   Pronunciation: khay-maw'
   Description: or (Daniel 11:44) חֵמָא; from יָחַם; heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever); anger, bottles, hot displeasure, furious(-ly, -ry), heat, indignation, poison, rage, wrath(-ful). See חֶמְאָה.