Psalms 130:4

But [there is] forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

But there is forgiveness {H5547} with thee, that thou mayest be feared {H3372}.

But with you there is forgiveness, so that you will be feared.

But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared.

But there is forgiveness with thee, That thou mayest be feared.

Psalms 130:4 KJV: "But [there is] forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared."

Context of Psalms 130:4

Psalm 130 is one of the "Songs of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134), a collection likely sung by pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem for annual festivals. The psalm begins with a desperate cry "out of the depths" (verse 1), signifying profound distress or a deep awareness of sin. The psalmist acknowledges that if God were to meticulously record every iniquity, no one could possibly stand righteous before Him (verse 3). Verse 4 serves as a pivotal point, shifting from the overwhelming reality of human sin to a profound declaration of hope, rooted in God's character as a God who offers pardon.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Forgiveness: The verse directly asserts that forgiveness resides with God. This highlights one of God's most compassionate attributes: His willingness and power to pardon sins. This forgiveness is not earned but is a testament to His boundless mercy and grace, offering solace and hope to the contrite heart.
  • The Purpose of Forgiveness (Reverential Fear): The phrase "that thou mayest be feared" reveals the transformative intent behind God's forgiveness. This "fear" is not terror or dread, but rather a profound sense of awe, reverence, respect, and worshipful submission. When individuals comprehend the immensity of God's grace in pardoning their sins, it inspires a deep desire to honor Him and live in obedient gratitude, not out of compulsion, but out of a loving response to His mercy. It fosters a relationship built on trust and adoration.
  • Hope in God's Character: The psalmist's hope is firmly grounded in the very nature of God—a God who not only possesses the power to forgive but also actively desires to do so. This truth provides a stable foundation for patience and expectation, even amidst personal struggles or periods of waiting for divine intervention.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "forgiveness" in this verse is selichah (סליחה), which specifically denotes divine pardon, emphasizing that this act of forgiveness is uniquely God's. It's an act of grace. The term "feared" comes from the Hebrew yira (ירא). While often translated as "fear," in this context, especially when linked with divine forgiveness, it conveys a rich meaning of reverence, awe, and profound respect. It implies that God's mercy inspires a deeper, more loving obedience and worship than any threat of judgment could.

Related Scriptures

  • This understanding of God's forgiving and compassionate nature resonates powerfully with His self-revelation to Moses in Exodus 34:6-7, where He proclaims Himself "The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin."
  • The concept of God not counting sins against us is also echoed in the New Testament, notably by Paul in Romans 4:7-8, where he quotes Psalm 32:1-2 to highlight the blessedness of God's forgiveness and justification by faith.
  • The idea that true reverence for God (the "fear of the Lord") is a response to understanding His character and grace is a foundational principle in wisdom literature, as seen in Proverbs 9:10, which states, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom."

Practical Application

Psalms 130:4 offers profound comfort and timeless guidance for believers today. It teaches us that our acknowledgment of sin is not an end in itself, but a necessary step towards experiencing God's abundant and freely given forgiveness. This divine pardon, in turn, cultivates a genuine and profound reverence for God—a desire to live in a way that honors Him, not out of dread, but out of deep gratitude for His mercy and grace. It encourages us to approach God with humble confidence, knowing that He is eager to forgive, and that His forgiveness transforms our hearts, leading us into a deeper, more worshipful, and obedient relationship with Him.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 33:8

    And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.

  • Jeremiah 33:9

    And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.

  • Isaiah 55:7

    Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

  • Daniel 9:9

    To the Lord our God [belong] mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;

  • Psalms 86:5

    For thou, Lord, [art] good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

  • 1 Kings 8:39

    Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, [even] thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)

  • 1 Kings 8:40

    That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.

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