Psalms 78:50

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;

Complete Jewish Bible:

to clear a path for his wrath. He did not spare them from death, but gave them over to the plague,

Berean Standard Bible:

He cleared a path for His anger; He did not spare them from death but delivered their lives to the plague.

American Standard Version:

He made a path for his anger; He spared not their soul from death, But gave their life over to the pestilence,

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

He made^{H6424}{H8762)} a way^{H5410} to his anger^{H639}; he spared^{H2820}{H8804)} not their soul^{H5315} from death^{H4194}, but gave^{H5462} their life^{H2416} over^{H5462}{H8689)} to the pestilence^{H1698};

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for Psalms 78:50

Psalm 78:50 is part of a lengthy psalm attributed to Asaph, a Levite and one of the leaders of David's choir. This psalm serves as a historical recount and theological reflection on the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, emphasizing the importance of remembering God's mighty acts and adhering to His commandments. The verse in question continues the theme of God's judgment that runs throughout the psalm.

In Psalm 78:50, the psalmist describes a specific instance of God's wrath, where He allowed a path for His anger and did not shield the people from death. Instead, He handed their lives over to "pestilence," which can be understood as a deadly epidemic or plague. This reflects the historical context of the Israelites' wandering in the wilderness, during which they repeatedly provoked God's anger through their disobedience, idolatry, and lack of faith. The verse speaks to the gravity of divine judgment and the consequences of turning away from God.

The themes present in this verse include the sovereignty of God over life and death, the seriousness of sin, and the reality of divine retribution. It serves as a stark reminder of the potential outcomes of forsaking God's laws and the importance of repentance and faithfulness. The psalm as a whole encourages the reader to learn from the past, to teach future generations about God's deeds, and to remain steadfast in faith and obedience to avoid similar fates.

*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: H6424
   There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּלַס
   Transliteration: pâlaç
   Pronunciation: paw-las'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to roll flat, i.e. prepare (a road); also to revolve, i.e. weigh (mentally); make, ponder, weigh.
   
2. Strong's Number: H5410
   There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָתִיב
   Transliteration: nâthîyb
   Pronunciation: naw-theeb'
   Description: or (feminine) נְתִיבָה; or נְתִבָה; (Jeremiah 6:16), from an unused root meaning to tramp; a (beaten) track; path(-way), [idiom] travel(-ler), way.
   
3. 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.
   
4. Strong's Number: H2820
   There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָשַׂךְ
   Transliteration: châsak
   Pronunciation: khaw-sak'
   Description: a primitive root; also interchangeable with חָשַׁךְ; to restrain or (reflex.) refrain; by implication, to refuse, spare, preserve; to observe; assuage, [idiom] darken, forbear, hinder, hold back, keep (back), punish, refrain, reserve, spare, withhold.
   
5. Strong's Number: H5315
   There are 683 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נֶפֶשׁ
   Transliteration: nephesh
   Pronunciation: neh'-fesh
   Description: from נָפַשׁ; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental); any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it.
   
6. Strong's Number: H4194
   There are 155 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָוֶת
   Transliteration: mâveth
   Pronunciation: maw'-veth
   Description: from מוּת; death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin; (be) dead(-ly), death, die(-d).
   
7. Strong's Number: H5462
   There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: סָגַר
   Transliteration: çâgar
   Pronunciation: saw-gar'
   Description: a primitive root; to shut up; figuratively, to surrender; close up, deliver (up), give over (up), inclose, [idiom] pure, repair, shut (in, self, out, up, up together), stop, [idiom] straitly.
   
8. Strong's Number: H2416
   There are 452 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חַי
   Transliteration: chay
   Pronunciation: khah'-ee
   Description: from חָיָה; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively; [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.
   
9. Strong's Number: H1698
   There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דֶּבֶר
   Transliteration: deber
   Pronunciation: deh'-ber
   Description: from דָבַר (in the sense of destroying); a pestilence; murrain, pestilence, plague.