Psalms 6:1

KJV

¶ To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

KJV (with Strong's)

To the chief Musician {H5329} on Neginoth {H5058} upon Sheminith {H8067}, A Psalm {H4210} of David {H1732}. O LORD {H3068}, rebuke {H3198} me not in thine anger {H639}, neither chasten {H3256} me in thy hot displeasure {H2534}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For the leader. With stringed instruments. On sh'minit [low-pitched musical instruments?]. A psalm of David: ADONAI, don't rebuke me in your anger, don't discipline me in the heat of your fury.

Berean Standard Bible

O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger or discipline me in Your wrath.

American Standard Version

O Jehovah, rebuke me not in thine anger, Neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 6:1, the opening verse of the first Penitential Psalm, is a fervent plea from David to the LORD, beseeching Him not to administer discipline in the full intensity of His anger or hot displeasure. Acknowledging God's sovereign right to correct and chasten, the psalmist expresses a deep fear of overwhelming, destructive wrath, distinguishing it from the corrective, redemptive discipline that aims for restoration rather than annihilation. This verse sets the tone for a psalm of deep personal distress, confession, and an urgent appeal for divine mercy and grace in the face of suffering.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 6 stands as the inaugural "Penitential Psalm" (Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143), a collection characterized by expressions of profound sorrow over sin, earnest confession, and desperate pleas for divine mercy and deliverance from suffering. Immediately preceding Psalm 6, Psalm 5 is a morning prayer for deliverance from the wicked, setting a tone of dependence on God's righteousness. Following Psalm 6, Psalm 7 is a prayer for vindication against false accusers. Thus, Psalm 6 is situated within a series of psalms that grapple with the psalmist's personal anguish, the presence of enemies, and the seeking of God's intervention, often with an underlying sense of personal culpability or deep distress that feels like divine judgment. The superscription "To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David" indicates its musical setting and traditional authorship, further embedding it within the Davidic corpus of prayers and laments.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While the specific historical circumstances of David's distress are not detailed in the psalm, traditional interpretations suggest it could stem from severe illness, the oppression of adversaries, or a deep conviction of sin, perhaps related to events like his sin with Bathsheba or the rebellion of Absalom. In ancient Israelite thought, suffering was often directly linked to divine displeasure or judgment for sin, though this was not always a direct causal relationship (cf. [John 9:2-3](/john/9-2 "John 9:2-3 - Suffering not always due to sin")). The cultural understanding of divine discipline included the belief that God, as a righteous king and father, would correct His people. However, there was also a profound fear of God's consuming wrath, which could bring about utter destruction. David's prayer reflects this tension, acknowledging God's right to discipline while appealing for that discipline to be tempered with mercy, lest it become destructive fury.
* **Key Themes:** This opening verse introduces several profound themes that resonate throughout Psalm 6 and the broader Psalter. Firstly, it highlights the critical distinction between **Divine Discipline vs. Destructive Wrath**. David is not asking to be free from all correction, but from a punishment that feels like overwhelming, consuming judgment, devoid of redemptive purpose. This theme is echoed in passages like [Hebrews 12:5-11](/hebrews/12-5 "Hebrews 12:5-11 - God's discipline for our good"), which clarifies that God's discipline is an act of love for our spiritual growth. Secondly, the verse exemplifies **Humility and Dependence**. David's prayer demonstrates a profound recognition of God's sovereignty and a desperate reliance on His compassionate nature, acknowledging his own vulnerability before divine justice. This humility is a hallmark of true repentance and faith, as seen in the tax collector's prayer in [Luke 18:13](/luke/18-13 "Luke 18:13 - The tax collector's prayer"). Thirdly, it serves as a powerful model for **Prayer in Distress**. The psalmist brings his deepest anguish and fear before God with raw honesty, seeking alleviation from severe suffering and appealing to God's character as merciful and gracious, as also reflected in [Psalm 130:1-2](/psalms/130-1 "Psalm 130:1-2 - Out of the depths I cry").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Rebuke (Hebrew, _ga'ar'_):** This term signifies a strong, authoritative reprimand or a sharp, decisive intervention to stop or restrain. It implies a divine act of correction, often with a sense of indignation or displeasure, but primarily aimed at halting a wrong course or behavior. In this context, David fears a rebuke so severe it feels like destructive judgment rather than corrective guidance.
* **Chasten (Hebrew, _yasar'_):** This word carries the sense of discipline, instruction, or training, much like a parent disciplines a child for their good. It implies a pedagogical purpose, designed to teach, correct, and mature. David is not asking to be free from all discipline, but from a form of chastening that is overwhelming and devoid of its redemptive, instructive intent.
* **Hot displeasure (Hebrew, _chemah'_):** This is a very intense term for wrath, often associated with burning anger, fury, or rage. Unlike mere "anger" (`aph`), which can be a controlled indignation, `chemah` suggests an unbridled, consuming passion. David's plea is that God's discipline, whatever its form, would not be administered with this kind of destructive, unmitigated fury.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"O LORD,":** This direct address to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, immediately establishes the personal and relational nature of the prayer. It signifies a cry from a place of deep intimacy and dependence, appealing to God's character as both sovereign and merciful.
* **"rebuke me not in thine anger,":** David acknowledges God's right to rebuke and His capacity for anger (`aph`), but pleads for restraint. He fears a rebuke that stems from an overwhelming, destructive wrath rather than a corrective, redemptive indignation. This is a plea for God's discipline to be tempered with mercy, preventing utter devastation.
* **"neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.":** This parallel clause reinforces the first, intensifying the plea. "Chasten" (`yasar`) implies discipline for instruction, but "hot displeasure" (`chemah`) speaks of intense, burning fury. David is asking that God's corrective discipline not be delivered with a consuming, unmitigated rage that would obliterate him rather than refine him.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 6:1 primarily employs **Synonymous Parallelism**, where the second clause ("neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure") reiterates and intensifies the meaning of the first ("O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger"). This repetition amplifies the psalmist's fervent plea, emphasizing the distinction between corrective discipline and destructive wrath. The terms "anger" and "hot displeasure" are used to convey escalating degrees of divine wrath, creating a sense of urgency and desperation. The verse also functions as a direct **Supplication**, an earnest and humble appeal to God, characteristic of lament psalms. There is an implicit **Metonymy** where "anger" and "hot displeasure" stand for the actions that flow from them, namely, severe and possibly destructive punishment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 6:1 profoundly articulates the tension between God's perfect justice and His boundless mercy. It reveals a theological understanding that while God is righteous and holy, capable of righteous indignation against sin, His ultimate desire for His people is not destruction but restoration. David's plea is a recognition that divine discipline, when administered in love, serves to refine and correct, leading to repentance and spiritual growth. However, he also acknowledges the terrifying possibility of God's unmitigated wrath, which he desperately seeks to avoid. This verse invites believers to consider the nature of God's discipline, which, though painful, is ultimately for our good, and to approach Him with humility, trusting in His compassionate character even amidst suffering.

* [Psalm 103:8](/psalms/103-8 "Psalm 103:8 - The LORD is merciful and gracious")
* [Hebrews 12:6](/hebrews/12-6 "Hebrews 12:6 - God disciplines those He loves")
* [Lamentations 3:33](/lamentations/3-33 "Lamentations 3:33 - God does not willingly afflict")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 6:1 offers a profound template for prayer in moments of deep distress, whether due to personal sin, illness, or external oppression. It teaches us to approach God with raw honesty about our fears and suffering, yet always with a humble recognition of His sovereignty and righteousness. Instead of demanding relief, David pleads for mercy, distinguishing between God's corrective hand and His consuming wrath. This verse encourages us to examine our own hearts when facing trials: Are we resisting God's discipline, or are we humbly submitting to His refining work? Do we trust that even in our suffering, God's ultimate intention for His children is not destruction but sanctification? It reminds us that our loving Father disciplines those He loves, and we can appeal to His character for grace, even when we feel the weight of our failures or the intensity of His corrective hand.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I typically react when I feel God's corrective hand in my life?**
* **What is the difference between God's discipline and His destructive wrath, and why is this distinction important for my faith?**
* **How does David's prayer in this verse model humility and trust in God's character amidst suffering?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be resisting God's loving discipline, and how can I respond with greater humility and openness?**

### FAQ

**What is the difference between God's "anger" and "hot displeasure" in this verse?**

Answer: While both terms denote divine wrath, "anger" (Hebrew: `aph`, literally "nose" or "nostril") often refers to a more general indignation or controlled displeasure, sometimes depicted as a flaring of the nostrils. It signifies God's righteous response to sin. "Hot displeasure" (Hebrew: `chemah`), however, is a more intense and consuming term, implying burning rage or fury. It suggests an unbridled, overwhelming passion. David's use of both terms highlights his deep fear of God's unmitigated, destructive wrath, distinguishing it from corrective discipline. He acknowledges God's right to be angry but pleads that His discipline would not be administered with such overwhelming, consuming force that would lead to his utter destruction rather than his restoration.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 6:1 finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While David pleaded for God's anger and hot displeasure not to fall upon him, Christ, the perfect Son, willingly bore the full measure of God's wrath against sin on the cross. The "chastening" that brought us peace, and the "stripes" by which we are healed, fell upon Him, as prophesied in [Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - By His stripes we are healed"). Because Jesus endured the ultimate rebuke and the "hot displeasure" of God for humanity's sin, those who are in Christ are no longer subject to God's condemning wrath ([Romans 8:1](/romans/8-1 "Romans 8:1 - No condemnation in Christ Jesus")). Instead, any discipline we experience as believers is now the loving correction of a Father for His children, intended for our good and holiness ([Hebrews 12:7-11](/hebrews/12-7 "Hebrews 12:7-11 - God disciplines us for our good")). Through Christ, David's plea is answered for all who believe: we are chastened, but not in God's destructive fury, because Christ absorbed that fury on our behalf, securing our adoption and eternal reconciliation.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.