78:48 78:48

Psalms 78:49

78:50 78:50

Bible Versions

He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels [among them].
He cast {H7971}{H8762)} upon them the fierceness {H2740} of his anger {H639}, wrath {H5678}, and indignation {H2195}, and trouble {H6869}, by sending {H4917} evil {H7451} angels {H4397} among them.
He sent over them his fierce anger, fury, indignation and trouble, with a company of destroying angels
He unleashed His fury against them, wrath, indignation, and calamity— a band of destroying angels.
He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, Wrath, and indignation, and trouble, A band of angels of evil.

Psalms 78:49 (KJV) describes God's direct and forceful intervention against the Egyptians during the Exodus, emphasizing the intensity of His judgment through a unique agent.

Context

Psalm 78 is a historical psalm, recounting God's dealings with Israel from the Exodus through the time of David. It serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness despite Israel's repeated rebellion. Verse 49 specifically details the plagues God sent upon Egypt to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites. This verse highlights the culmination of divine anger, revealing the severity of the judgment necessary to break Pharaoh's stubborn resistance and secure His people's liberation.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty in Judgment: The verse powerfully asserts God's ultimate control over all forces, including those that bring calamity. He is not merely reacting but actively "casting" judgment, demonstrating His absolute authority over nations and their rulers.
  • The Nature of God's Wrath: The accumulation of terms like "fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble" underscores that God's wrath is not a human emotion but a righteous, purposeful response to sustained rebellion and oppression. It is a just consequence for opposing His divine will and harming His chosen people, as seen throughout the Exodus narrative.
  • Supernatural Agency: The unique mention of "sending evil angels" suggests that the plagues were not merely natural disasters but had a direct supernatural component, executed by divine messengers. This elevates the severity and directness of God's intervention.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "evil angels" translates the Hebrew mal'akhei ra' (מַלְאֲכֵי רָע). The word mal'akh means "messenger" or "angel," and ra' can mean "evil," "calamity," "adversity," or "trouble." Therefore, "messengers of calamity" or "angels of trouble" might be a more precise interpretation than inherently wicked or demonic angels. These are angels acting as instruments of God's judgment, bringing about the "evil" (calamity) upon the Egyptians as part of His righteous decree. This highlights God's ability to use any means, even those that bring destruction, to achieve His purposes, as also seen in Psalms 104:4 where He makes His angels "ministers a flaming fire."

Practical Application

Psalms 78:49 serves as a potent reminder of the seriousness of God's judgment against sin and rebellion. It encourages profound reverence for God's power and justice. For believers, it reinforces the comfort that God is sovereign over all things, even destructive forces, and will ultimately bring justice. For those who oppose Him, it stands as a warning of the inevitable consequences. Understanding God's righteous wrath helps us appreciate the immense grace extended through His provision of salvation, where His anger was propitiated by Christ's sacrifice, offering a path to reconciliation rather than judgment.

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.

  • 1 Kings 22:21

    And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.

  • 1 Kings 22:22

    And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade [him], and prevail also: go forth, and do so.

  • Psalms 11:6

    Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: [this shall be] the portion of their cup.

  • Exodus 12:13

    And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye [are]: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy [you], when I smite the land of Egypt.

  • Exodus 15:7

    And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, [which] consumed them as stubble.

  • 2 Samuel 24:16

    And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.

  • Lamentations 4:11

    The LORD hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.
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