Psalms 69:24

KJV

Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.

KJV (with Strong's)

Pour out {H8210}{H8798)} thine indignation {H2195} upon them, and let thy wrathful {H2740} anger {H639} take hold {H5381}{H8686)} of them.

Complete Jewish Bible

Pour out your fury on them, let your fierce anger overtake them.

Berean Standard Bible

Pour out Your wrath upon them, and let Your burning anger overtake them.

American Standard Version

Pour out thine indignation upon them, And let the fierceness of thine anger overtake them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 69:24 is a fervent and direct plea for divine judgment, characteristic of the imprecatory Psalms. In this verse, the psalmist, deeply distressed and persecuted, implores God to unleash His righteous indignation and wrathful anger upon those who have caused him immense suffering and humiliation. It expresses a profound trust in God's ultimate justice and His active role in vindicating the oppressed against their adversaries.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 69 is a profound and extended lament, one of the most intense in the Psalter, where the psalmist expresses overwhelming distress, feeling as if he is "sunk in deep mire, where there is no standing" and "come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me" [Psalm 69:2](/psalms/69-2 "Psalm 69:2 - Deep Waters of Affliction"). The psalm details his suffering at the hands of numerous enemies, experiencing profound humiliation, rejection, and even betrayal by family and friends. Verses 1-21 describe his agony and desperate plea for deliverance, while verses 22-28 pivot to specific requests for God's judgment upon his persecutors. This shift sets the immediate literary stage for the intense imprecation found in [Psalm 69:24](/psalms/69-24 "Psalm 69:24 - A Plea for Divine Judgment"), which is part of a larger section of curses. The psalm is also notably prophetic, with several verses quoted in the New Testament concerning Christ's suffering, such as the zeal for God's house [John 2:17](/john/2-17 "John 2:17 - Zeal for God's House") referencing [Psalm 69:9](/psalms/69-9 "Psalm 69:9 - Zeal for Your House").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While traditionally attributed to David, the exact historical setting for Psalm 69 is not explicitly stated, allowing for its application to various periods of intense persecution. In the ancient Near East, justice was often seen as a direct intervention of the divine, especially when human legal systems failed or were corrupt. Imprecatory prayers were not merely expressions of personal vindictiveness but appeals to God's cosmic justice, reflecting a deep belief that God is the ultimate arbiter of right and wrong. The psalmist's suffering likely involved public shame, false accusations, and social ostracism, which were deeply humiliating in a culture where honor and communal standing were paramount. Such prayers were a means for the oppressed to cry out to their covenant God, trusting Him to uphold His righteousness and vindicate His faithful ones against the wicked.

* **Key Themes:** [Psalm 69](/psalms/69 "Psalm 69 - A Psalm of Lament and Imprecation") contributes to several major theological themes. Firstly, it highlights the **reality of human suffering and lament**, portraying the raw agony of one unjustly afflicted and the freedom to express such pain before God. Secondly, it underscores the **justice and sovereignty of God**, affirming His active role in the affairs of humanity and His ultimate commitment to righteousness. The psalmist's plea for judgment is rooted in the conviction that God will not tolerate evil indefinitely but will eventually bring about a just reckoning. Thirdly, the psalm exemplifies the nature of **imprecation**, a challenging but integral aspect of biblical prayer where the psalmist calls upon God to execute judgment upon the wicked. These prayers, while often intense, are expressions of faith in God's holy character and His promise to repay evil, as seen in other imprecatory passages like [Psalm 109:8](/psalms/109-8 "Psalm 109:8 - Another Imprecatory Prayer"). Finally, the psalm's prophetic nature points to the theme of **Messianic suffering**, foreshadowing the unjust persecution and ultimate vindication of Christ.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Indignation (Hebrew, _za'am'_):** This term denotes a strong, intense displeasure or wrath, often associated with God's judgment against sin and rebellion. It implies a settled, righteous, and often public display of divine anger, distinct from a fleeting emotion. It speaks to God's holy resolve against wickedness.
* **Wrathful anger (Hebrew, _charon af'_):** This phrase literally means "burning of nose" or "fierce anger." The "nose" (af) is often associated with anger in Hebrew idiom, as a person's nostrils might flare when enraged. "Charon" intensifies this, depicting a furious, passionate, and consuming outburst of divine wrath. The combination of "za'am" and "charon af" in this verse underscores the psalmist's desire for a complete, overwhelming, and decisive display of God's holy retribution against his adversaries.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Pour out thine indignation upon them":** This is a powerful imperative, a direct and urgent plea to God. The verb "pour out" (שׁפך, _shapakh'_) suggests an overflowing, complete, and unreserved release, like emptying a vessel. It signifies a full measure of God's settled, righteous displeasure (indignation/za'am) being unleashed upon the enemies. The psalmist desires a comprehensive and undeniable manifestation of divine judgment.
* **"and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them":** This second clause functions in synonymous parallelism, intensifying the first. "Wrathful anger" (charon af) speaks of a more intense, burning, and furious divine passion. The phrase "take hold of them" (תַּשִּׂיגֵם, _tassîgēm'_) implies an inescapable grasp, a complete overwhelming, and a relentless pursuit. It suggests that God's fierce anger should not merely touch them but seize them completely, leaving no escape.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 69:24 effectively utilizes several **literary devices** to convey its intense plea for divine judgment. Foremost is **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous parallelism, where the second line reiterates and intensifies the meaning of the first ("Pour out thine indignation upon them" is echoed and amplified by "and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them"). This doubling effect emphasizes the psalmist's fervent desire for a complete and overwhelming divine response. **Anthropomorphism** is also prominent, as human emotions and actions (indignation, wrathful anger, pouring out, taking hold) are attributed to God. This makes God's justice relatable and powerfully immediate, portraying Him as an active, engaged Judge. Furthermore, the verse employs vivid **Imagery** and **Metaphor**. "Pour out" evokes the powerful image of a vessel being emptied completely, signifying a full, unreserved release of divine judgment without restraint. "Take hold" suggests a physical, inescapable grasp, implying that God's judgment will seize the adversaries firmly and completely, allowing no escape. These devices combine to create a potent and memorable expression of the psalmist's cry for justice.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 69:24, while challenging for modern sensibilities, reveals profound theological truths about God's character and the nature of justice. It underscores God's absolute sovereignty and His commitment to righteousness. The psalmist's cry is not merely a personal vendetta but an appeal to the cosmic Judge to uphold His holy name and vindicate His suffering servant. It reflects a deep conviction that God is not indifferent to evil but will, in His perfect timing, pour out His righteous wrath against injustice and rebellion. This verse reminds us that while human justice often fails, divine justice is certain and complete. It also highlights the tension between the Old Testament's emphasis on immediate retribution and the New Testament's call to love enemies, a tension resolved by entrusting vengeance to God alone.

* [Deuteronomy 32:35](/deuteronomy/32-35 "Deuteronomy 32:35 - Vengeance is Mine")
* [Romans 1:18](/romans/1-18 "Romans 1:18 - God's Wrath Revealed")
* [Revelation 16:1](/revelation/16-1 "Revelation 16:1 - Bowls of God's Wrath")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 69:24 provides a powerful outlet for the raw human experience of suffering and the natural, deeply ingrained desire for justice when wronged. It validates the anguish of the oppressed and their right to cry out to God for intervention. For believers today, this verse serves as a profound reminder that God is ultimately the one who will bring justice and judgment upon all evil. We are called to trust in His perfect timing and His sovereign methods, rather than taking vengeance into our own hands, as exhorted in the New Testament (e.g., [Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Leave Vengeance to God")). While we are commanded to love our enemies [Matthew 5:44](/matthew/5-44 "Matthew 5:44 - Love Your Enemies"), this does not negate the reality of God's righteous wrath against sin and injustice. Instead, it places the execution of that wrath entirely in His holy and capable hands. In a broader, prophetic sense, such imprecations find their ultimate fulfillment in the final judgment against unrighteousness and the enemies of God's kingdom, as depicted in apocalyptic literature. Ultimately, Psalm 69:24 is a testament to the psalmist's unyielding faith in God's righteous character, trusting Him to deal with injustice even when the human heart yearns for immediate vindication.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Psalm 69:24 validate the human experience of suffering and the desire for justice?**
* **What is the theological significance of entrusting vengeance to God, rather than seeking it ourselves, in light of this verse?**
* **How does the concept of God's "indignation" and "wrathful anger" inform our understanding of His holiness and justice?**

### FAQ
**Why do "imprecatory" Psalms like Psalm 69:24 exist in the Bible, and how should modern believers interpret them?**

Answer: Imprecatory Psalms are prayers where the psalmist calls upon God to bring judgment or curses upon their enemies. They exist in the Bible for several reasons: they validate the raw human experience of pain, injustice, and the longing for ultimate righteousness; they are expressions of faith that God is a just God who will indeed judge evil; and they serve as a reminder that vengeance belongs to God alone [Deuteronomy 32:35](/deuteronomy/32-35 "Deuteronomy 32:35 - Vengeance is Mine"). For modern believers, these Psalms should be interpreted through the lens of Christ's teaching to love enemies [Matthew 5:44](/matthew/5-44 "Matthew 5:44 - Love Your Enemies") and leave vengeance to God [Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Do Not Avenge Yourselves"). They are not a license for personal animosity but a theological affirmation of God's coming judgment against all unrighteousness, finding their ultimate fulfillment in the final judgment of God's enemies at the end of time, as seen in books like [Revelation 19](/revelation/19 "Revelation 19 - The Marriage Supper of the Lamb and Christ's Return").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While the psalmist of [Psalm 69:24](/psalms/69-24 "Psalm 69:24 - A Plea for Divine Judgment") cries out for God to pour out indignation and wrath upon his enemies, the ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment of such imprecations is found in a profound paradox. Jesus, the true Suffering Servant, embodies the very one upon whom the psalmist's words are prophetically fulfilled in His passion. He endured the ultimate injustice, humiliation, and rejection, yet He did not call down fire on His persecutors; instead, He prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" [Luke 23:34](/luke/23-34 "Luke 23:34 - Jesus' Prayer for Forgiveness"). However, the concept of divine wrath is not abolished in the New Testament; rather, its ultimate "pouring out" is seen at the cross, where Christ, the Lamb of God, bore the full indignation and wrath of God for humanity's sin, becoming a propitiation so that believers might be spared from that judgment [Romans 3:25](/romans/3-25 "Romans 3:25 - Christ Our Propitiation"). Yet, Christ will also return as the righteous Judge, and the imprecations against the enemies of God's kingdom find their final, just fulfillment in His second coming, when He will indeed "tread the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God" [Revelation 19:15](/revelation/19-15 "Revelation 19:15 - The Sword from Christ's Mouth"). Thus, the psalmist's cry for vindication is ultimately answered in Christ's triumph over evil and the establishment of His eternal, righteous kingdom.

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.

Cross-References

Psalms 79:6

¶ Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.

Hosea 5:10

The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: [therefore] I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.

Exodus 15:15

Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.

Deuteronomy 28:15

¶ But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:

Deuteronomy 28:68

And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy [you].

Zechariah 1:6

But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.

Revelation 16:1

¶ And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.