Psalms 73:14

KJV

For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

KJV (with Strong's)

For all the day {H3117} long have I been plagued {H5060}{H8803)}, and chastened {H8433} every morning {H1242}.

Complete Jewish Bible

for all day long I am plagued; my punishment comes every morning.

Berean Standard Bible

For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.

American Standard Version

For all the day long have I been plagued, And chastened every morning.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 73:14 captures the psalmist Asaph's raw lament, expressing his profound frustration and perceived injustice as he grapples with the apparent prosperity of the wicked contrasted with his own persistent suffering. He feels relentlessly "plagued" and "chastened" despite his efforts to live righteously, articulating a moment of intense spiritual doubt and questioning the fairness of divine providence before his pivotal revelation in God's sanctuary. This verse encapsulates the climax of his struggle with the problem of evil and suffering, setting the stage for a transformative shift in his understanding of God's ultimate justice and purposes.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 73:14 stands as a poignant declaration within Asaph's deeply personal and theological psalm. The psalm opens with Asaph's confession of nearly losing his footing in faith due to his envy of the arrogant and wicked, whose lives seem carefree and prosperous ([Psalms 73:2-3](/psalms/73-2 "Psalms 73:2-3 - The Psalmist's Envy of the Wicked")). He details their pride, violence, and scoffing at God, contrasting it sharply with his own experience of striving for purity, which he laments feels futile ("Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocency" [Psalms 73:13](/psalms/73-13 "Psalms 73:13 - Asaph's Feeling of Futility")). Verse 14, "For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning," serves as the bitter climax of this complaint, articulating the relentless nature of his perceived affliction. This intense expression of despair precedes the psalm's dramatic turning point when Asaph enters "the sanctuary of God" ([Psalms 73:17](/psalms/73-17 "Psalms 73:17 - The Turning Point in the Sanctuary")), where he gains an eternal perspective and understands the ultimate doom awaiting the wicked.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Asaph was a prominent Levite and chief musician in the temple, responsible for leading worship and teaching ([1 Chronicles 15:19](/1_chronicles/15-19 "1 Chronicles 15:19 - Asaph, a Chief Musician")). His position would have instilled in him a deep understanding of God's covenant and the Deuteronomic theology, which often linked righteousness to material blessing and wickedness to curse ([Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses")). The apparent contradiction of the wicked prospering while the righteous suffer would have been a profound theological crisis for someone steeped in this tradition. The cultural expectation was that God would immediately reward the righteous and punish the wicked. Asaph's lament reflects the challenge this presented to the prevailing understanding of divine justice in ancient Israel. His eventual resolution in the sanctuary underscores the importance of the temple as not merely a place of sacrifice, but also of divine revelation and theological clarity.
* **Key Themes:** Psalms 73:14 contributes significantly to several key themes within the psalm and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights the **problem of evil and suffering (theodicy)**, particularly the perplexing reality of the righteous suffering while the wicked thrive. Asaph's personal experience gives voice to a universal human struggle with perceived injustice in God's governance of the world. Secondly, the verse underscores the theme of **spiritual doubt and despair**, demonstrating that even devout believers can experience profound crises of faith when their earthly observations contradict their theological understanding. This raw honesty validates the human experience of questioning God's ways. Finally, Psalms 73:14 serves as a crucial setup for the psalm's ultimate resolution, emphasizing the **necessity of a divine, eternal perspective**. Without God's revelation, human wisdom and observation are insufficient to comprehend the full scope of His justice and purposes, leading to erroneous conclusions and spiritual stumbling.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Plagued (Hebrew, _nāgūa'_):** This word (נָגוּעַ) derives from the root *naga'*, meaning "to touch, strike, or smite." While it can refer to a simple touch, in contexts of suffering, it often implies a divine visitation or affliction, frequently associated with disease, calamity, or punishment (e.g., [Exodus 12:23](/exodus/12-23 "Exodus 12:23 - The Lord Strikes Egypt")). Asaph's use of *nāgūa'* here suggests he perceives his suffering as a direct, persistent "stroke" or "affliction" from God, implying a sense of being targeted or under a curse, rather than merely experiencing hardship.
* **Chastened (Hebrew, _yissar_):** The verb (יִסַּר) means "to discipline, instruct, correct, or punish." It carries the connotation of parental discipline aimed at correction and moral improvement (e.g., [Proverbs 3:11](/proverbs/3-11 "Proverbs 3:11 - Do Not Despise the Lord's Discipline")). While divine chastening is ultimately for the good of the believer, leading to righteousness ([Hebrews 12:10-11](/hebrews/12-10 "Hebrews 12:10-11 - God Disciplines Us for Our Good")), Asaph's complaint implies he feels this discipline is relentless, undeserved, and purely punitive, rather than redemptive. The combination with "plagued" intensifies his perception of constant, heavy-handed divine hand.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For all the day long have I been plagued":** This clause expresses the continuous and pervasive nature of Asaph's suffering. The phrase "all the day long" (כָּל־הַיּוֹם, *kol-hayyom*) emphasizes a relentless, uninterrupted experience of affliction. He feels that from morning till night, he is under a divine "stroke" or "plague," indicating a deep sense of physical, emotional, or spiritual distress that never ceases. This highlights the weariness and exhaustion that accompany prolonged suffering and the feeling of being constantly under God's heavy hand.
* **"and chastened every morning":** This second clause reinforces the first, adding a dimension of regularity and inevitability to his perceived discipline. "Every morning" (וּבַבְּקָרִים, *uvabbaqarim*) suggests a fresh onset of affliction or correction with each new day, implying that there is no respite or relief. The repetition underscores the psalmist's feeling that God's discipline is not just constant, but also renewed daily, making his burden feel insurmountable and his hope for relief dim. This daily renewal of "chastening" contributes to his sense of futility and despair.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 73:14 employs several powerful literary devices to convey Asaph's deep distress. The most prominent is **Hyperbole**, seen in the phrases "all the day long" and "every morning." While not literally implying non-stop, moment-by-moment suffering, these phrases are used to exaggerate the intensity and relentless nature of his perceived affliction, emphasizing its pervasive impact on his life. This is further reinforced by **Repetition** and **Parallelism**, as the two clauses echo each other in conveying a sense of continuous hardship. The use of verbs like "plagued" and "chastened" creates a strong sense of **Pathos**, evoking sympathy for the psalmist's emotional and spiritual anguish. Furthermore, the verse functions as a **Lament**, a common genre in the Psalms, where the speaker pours out their complaint to God, often expressing a sense of abandonment or injustice before a shift to trust or praise. This lament sets up a dramatic **Contrast** with the carefree lives of the wicked described earlier in the psalm, intensifying Asaph's sense of unfairness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 73:14 profoundly engages with the theological problem of theodicy – the attempt to reconcile God's goodness and omnipotence with the existence of evil and suffering. Asaph's lament voices a common human struggle: why do the righteous suffer while the wicked prosper? This verse challenges a simplistic understanding of divine retribution, pushing the reader to seek a deeper, more eternal perspective on God's justice. It teaches that God's ways are often beyond immediate human comprehension and that His discipline, though painful, is ultimately for our good, even when it feels like a "plague." The psalmist's eventual realization in the sanctuary reveals that true justice is not always meted out in temporal terms but will be perfectly executed in eternity, affirming God's unwavering sovereignty and righteousness despite appearances.

* [Job 21:7](/job/21-7 "Job 21:7 - Why Do the Wicked Live On?")
* [Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Leave Vengeance to God")
* [Hebrews 12:6](/hebrews/12-6 "Hebrews 12:6 - The Lord Disciplines Those He Loves")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 73:14 offers profound resonance for believers today, validating the very real human experience of questioning God's ways when life feels unfair. It reminds us that spiritual struggle and doubt are not signs of a lack of faith, but often a catalyst for deeper understanding, much like Asaph's journey. When we feel "plagued" by hardship or "chastened" by circumstances despite our best efforts to live righteously, this verse encourages us to resist drawing hasty conclusions based solely on our limited earthly observations. Instead, it calls us to cultivate patience, trusting that God's ultimate justice will prevail and that His purposes, even in suffering, are good. Just as Asaph found clarity and renewed faith by entering God's presence, we are reminded to seek divine wisdom through prayer, Scripture, and fellowship, allowing God's eternal perspective to reframe our temporal trials.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When have you felt "plagued" or "chastened" despite your efforts to live righteously?**
* **How do you typically respond when you observe the wicked prospering while you or other believers suffer?**
* **What steps can you take to shift your perspective from earthly observations to God's eternal truth when facing hardship?**
* **How does understanding God's discipline as loving correction, rather than punishment, change your view of suffering?**

### FAQ
**Does Psalms 73:14 mean God is always punishing believers?**

Answer: Not necessarily. While the psalmist Asaph felt "plagued" and "chastened", perceiving it as constant divine punishment, the broader context of Psalm 73 reveals that his initial perspective was flawed. The Hebrew word for "chastened" (*yissar*) often implies loving discipline or instruction, not solely punitive judgment. God's discipline for His children is typically redemptive and corrective, aimed at spiritual growth and conformity to His character ([Hebrews 12:5-11](/hebrews/12-5 "God Disciplines His Children")). Asaph's experience highlights how our limited human perspective can misinterpret God's actions. What feels like punishment may, in God's sovereign plan, be a refining process or a means to draw us closer to Him, as it ultimately was for Asaph when he entered the sanctuary and gained divine insight ([Psalms 73:17](/psalms/73-17 "The Turning Point in the Sanctuary")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 73:14, with Asaph's lament of being "plagued" and "chastened" despite his righteousness, finds its ultimate fulfillment and reinterpretation in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Asaph's struggle with perceived injustice foreshadows the perfect righteousness of Christ, who, though utterly sinless, endured the ultimate plague and chastening – the wrath of God for the sins of humanity ([Isaiah 53:5-6](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5-6 - Christ's Suffering for Our Sins")). Jesus' suffering was not for His own correction, but a redemptive, substitutionary act, taking upon Himself the "plague" of sin so that we might receive peace and healing. His experience on the cross, feeling abandoned by God ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")), resonates with Asaph's despair, yet Christ's suffering was purposeful, leading to resurrection and victory over death and sin ([Romans 4:25](/romans/4-25 "Romans 4:25 - Christ's Resurrection for Our Justification")). For believers, our own experiences of suffering and perceived chastening are now understood through the lens of Christ's cross; we are called to share in His sufferings ([Philippians 3:10](/philippians/3-10 "Philippians 3:10 - Sharing in Christ's Sufferings")), knowing that our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them ([2 Corinthians 4:17](/2_corinthians/4-17 "2 Corinthians 4:17 - Our Light and Momentary Troubles")). Christ Himself is our ultimate "sanctuary," providing the eternal perspective and comfort that Asaph sought, assuring us that true justice will prevail and our ultimate destiny is secure in Him ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life")).

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 94:12

¶ Blessed [is] the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;

Hebrews 12:5

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

Job 7:18

And [that] thou shouldest visit him every morning, [and] try him every moment?

Job 7:3

So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

Job 7:4

When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

1 Peter 1:6

¶ Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

Psalms 34:19

Many [are] the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.