Psalms 79:5

KJV

How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?

KJV (with Strong's)

How long, LORD {H3068}? wilt thou be angry {H599}{H8799)} for ever {H5331}? shall thy jealousy {H7068} burn {H1197}{H8799)} like fire {H784}?

Complete Jewish Bible

How long, ADONAI? Will you be angry forever? How long will your jealousy burn like fire?

Berean Standard Bible

How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire?

American Standard Version

How long, O Jehovah? wilt thou be angry for ever? Shall thy jealousy burn like fire?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 79:5 is a profound and piercing cry embedded within a communal lament, articulating the deep anguish of a people grappling with the devastating consequences of divine judgment. It directly confronts the Lord with a series of rhetorical questions, questioning the duration and intensity of God's righteous anger and zealous jealousy, which has manifested in severe national suffering and humiliation. This verse encapsulates the tension between God's holy wrath and the desperate hope for His covenantal mercy and intervention, serving as a desperate plea for divine intervention in a time of profound national crisis.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 79 is a communal lament, one of several psalms (e.g., [Psalm 74](/psalms/74 "Psalm 74 - A Plea for Deliverance from Desecration")) that likely arose from a period of profound national catastrophe, most probably the destruction of Jerusalem and its sacred Temple. The verses immediately preceding [Psalm 79:5](/psalms/79-5 "Psalm 79:5 - The Psalmist's Lament") paint a grim picture: the nations have invaded God's inheritance, defiled His holy temple, laid Jerusalem in ruins, and left the bodies of His servants as food for birds and beasts ([Psalm 79:1-3](/psalms/79-1-3 "The Desecration of Jerusalem")). The people have become a reproach and derision to their neighbors ([Psalm 79:4](/psalms/79-4 "The Reproach of the Nations")). Against this backdrop of utter devastation and public shame, the psalmist's "How long?" is not merely a question of time but a desperate plea for God to act and reverse the dire circumstances. The lament then moves towards an appeal for God's mercy and a fervent call for His vengeance against the nations, grounded in His glory and unwavering covenant faithfulness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The most widely accepted historical context for Psalm 79 is the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple in 586 BC, followed by the exile of the Judean population. This event was not merely a military defeat but a profound theological crisis for ancient Israel. For the Israelites, the Temple was the dwelling place of God, the tangible symbol of His presence and covenant with His chosen people. Its destruction, along with the city of Jerusalem, implied God's abandonment or severe displeasure, leading to deep spiritual and existential questioning. Culturally, the shame of defeat and the taunts of surrounding nations were deeply humiliating, challenging Israel's unique identity as God's chosen people and the efficacy of their covenant relationship. The question "How long?" reflects the prolonged suffering, the apparent silence of God, and the desperate yearning for a return to normalcy and divine favor, a common sentiment expressed during periods of national calamity and exile.
* **Key Themes:** Psalm 79:5 contributes significantly to several key themes within the Psalter and broader biblical narrative. The most prominent is **Lament and Supplication**, as the psalmist boldly yet faithfully cries out to God in profound distress, a recurring motif throughout the Psalms, notably in [Psalm 13:1](/psalms/13-1 "Psalm 13:1 - How Long, O Lord?"). Another critical theme is **Divine Anger and Judgment**. The psalmist acknowledges that the calamity is not random but a consequence of God's righteous indignation, a just judgment against the sins of His people. This understanding underscores God's holiness and His unwavering commitment to justice, even when it involves His own people. Furthermore, the verse highlights **God's Jealousy (Zeal for His Name)**. God's "jealousy" is not a human emotion of envy but His fervent, unyielding passion for His own glory, holiness, and covenant faithfulness. When His name is profaned or His people turn to idolatry, His jealousy burns like fire, demonstrating His absolute intolerance for anything that diminishes His honor or threatens His unique relationship with Israel. This intense commitment to His own glory is also seen in passages like [Deuteronomy 4:24](/deuteronomy/4-24 "Deuteronomy 4:24 - God as a Consuming Fire").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** This is the covenant name of God, Yahweh (Jehovah), signifying "the self-Existent or Eternal One." The psalmist's direct address to "LORD" emphasizes that the lament is directed to the sovereign, covenant-keeping God of Israel, acknowledging His ultimate authority and power even in the midst of profound suffering and apparent divine abandonment. It underscores the personal and relational nature of the plea.
* **jealousy (Hebrew, _qinʼâh'_):** When applied to God, this term refers to His intense, zealous passion for His own honor, His covenant, and His people. It is not an emotion akin to human envy, but a holy attribute that compels Him to act decisively against anything that threatens His glory or the purity of His relationship with Israel. It signifies His absolute intolerance for idolatry, unfaithfulness, and injustice, manifesting as protective love for His people or as consuming wrath against those who defy Him or lead His people astray.
* **burn (Hebrew, _bâʻar'_):** This verb means "to kindle" or "to consume (by fire)." In the context of divine jealousy, it vividly portrays the active, consuming, and destructive nature of God's holy indignation. It suggests that God's jealousy is not a passive emotion but a dynamic force that manifests in judgment, capable of bringing about utter devastation or thorough cleansing, much like a fire consumes its fuel.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"How long, LORD?"**: This opening phrase is a direct, desperate address to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. It conveys the psalmist's profound anguish and impatience, questioning the duration of the current suffering and the apparent delay in divine intervention. It is a bold yet faith-filled cry, acknowledging God's sovereignty even in the midst of overwhelming pain, and serves as a foundational element of biblical lament.
* **"wilt thou be angry for ever?"**: This rhetorical question expresses the deep-seated fear that God's wrath, which has brought about such calamity, might be unending. It reflects the underlying hope that divine anger, though righteous and severe, is ultimately temporary and purposeful, intended for correction rather than eternal destruction. It's a fervent plea for the cessation of judgment and the restoration of divine favor.
* **"shall thy jealousy burn like fire?"**: This second rhetorical question intensifies the plea, likening God's zealous passion to a consuming fire. It acknowledges the destructive power of God's holy indignation against sin and unfaithfulness. The imagery emphasizes the intensity and thoroughness of the divine judgment, while also implicitly appealing to God's ultimate purpose for His people—that this consuming fire might lead to purification and restoration rather than annihilation, rather than total destruction.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 79:5 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its urgent message and the psalmist's profound distress. The most prominent is **Rhetorical Question**, used three times ("How long, LORD?", "wilt thou be angry for ever?", "shall thy jealousy burn like fire?"). These questions are not posed to elicit information but to express profound anguish, frustration, and a desperate plea for divine intervention, while simultaneously affirming God's power and sovereignty. The repeated questioning underscores the psalmist's deep distress and the perceived prolonging of suffering. **Simile** is strikingly used in "shall thy jealousy burn like fire," vividly comparing God's intense zeal to the destructive and consuming nature of fire, emphasizing the severity and thoroughness of His judgment. This also borders on **Metaphor**, as God's jealousy is not just *like* fire, but is presented as having the very qualities of fire—consuming and purifying. Furthermore, there is a degree of **Personification** in describing "jealousy" as something that can "burn," giving an abstract attribute a dynamic, active quality that impacts the physical world.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 79:5 offers profound theological insights into the nature of God, suffering, and the relationship between divine justice and mercy. It affirms that God's anger and jealousy are not arbitrary human emotions but holy attributes, expressions of His righteous character and His unwavering commitment to His own glory and covenant. The suffering endured by Israel is understood as a consequence of this divine wrath, a just recompense for their unfaithfulness. Yet, the lament itself, with its persistent "How long?", demonstrates a deep-seated faith that God's anger is not eternal and that His ultimate disposition towards His people is one of covenant faithfulness and mercy. It highlights the biblical tension between God's punitive judgment and His redemptive purposes, often leading to a call for repentance and a renewed relationship. The psalmist's bold questioning is an act of profound faith, trusting that God hears and will eventually act to deliver His people and vindicate His name among the nations, demonstrating His sovereign control even over the darkest periods of history.

* [Psalm 13:1](/psalms/13-1 "Psalm 13:1 - A Personal Lament of 'How Long?'")
* [Lamentations 5:20](/lamentations/5-20 "Lamentations 5:20 - A Question of God's Apparent Abandonment")
* [Isaiah 42:13](/isaiah/42-13 "Isaiah 42:13 - The Lord Goes Out Like a Warrior, Like a Man of War He Stirs Up His Zeal")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 79:5 provides a vital framework for understanding and navigating seasons of profound suffering, whether personal or communal. It grants us permission to voice our deepest anguish and confusion directly to God, even to question the duration of our trials with a raw honesty that does not diminish faith but rather expresses its depth. The "How long?" is a testament to persistent hope, a belief that God is sovereign, that He hears, and that He will ultimately intervene according to His perfect timing and purpose. This verse also calls us to a sober reflection on the nature of God's righteous anger and jealousy. While we often focus on His love and mercy, understanding His holy indignation against sin helps us grasp the gravity of our own transgressions and His unwavering commitment to justice and holiness. In acknowledging that our suffering may be, in part, a consequence of divine discipline, we are called to humility and repentance, trusting that God's corrective hand is ultimately aimed at our restoration and His glory. It encourages us to cling to His covenant promises, even when His face seems hidden, knowing that His wrath is temporal and His mercies are new every morning.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life or in the world do you find yourself crying out, "How long, LORD?"**
* **How does understanding God's "jealousy" as a holy zeal for His glory, rather than human envy, deepen your comprehension of His character and actions?**
* **What is the difference between questioning God out of doubt and questioning Him out of desperate faith, as seen in this Psalm?**
* **How might acknowledging God's righteous anger lead to personal repentance and a renewed commitment to holiness in your own life?**

### FAQ
**Does God's anger truly last "for ever" as the psalmist asks?**

Answer: No, the psalmist's question "wilt thou be angry for ever?" is a rhetorical expression of profound distress and a plea for the cessation of divine judgment, rather than a theological assertion that God's anger is literally unending. While God's justice is eternal, His active wrath against His repentant people is not. The Bible consistently teaches that God's anger is temporary for those who turn to Him, and His steadfast love endures forever. For instance, [Psalm 30:5](/psalms/30-5 "Psalm 30:5 - Weeping May Remain for a Night") famously states, "For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." This verse, like many others, emphasizes that God's wrath is purposeful and corrective, not eternal, for His covenant people. It is a disciplinary action intended to bring about repentance and restoration, not a perpetual state of condemnation for those who seek His mercy.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 79:5, with its agonizing cry concerning God's burning anger and jealousy, finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in Jesus Christ. The "how long" of human suffering and divine judgment is answered decisively at the cross. God's righteous anger against sin, which burned like fire (as seen in [Hebrews 12:29](/hebrews/12-29 "Hebrews 12:29 - Our God is a Consuming Fire")), was fully poured out upon His Son, Jesus, who became the propitiation for our sins ([1 John 2:2](/1_john/2-2 "1 John 2:2 - Jesus, the Atoning Sacrifice")). Through Christ's atoning sacrifice, the consuming fire of God's wrath was satisfied, allowing for mercy to triumph over judgment for all who believe ([James 2:13](/james/2-13 "James 2:13 - Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment")). Furthermore, Jesus, as our great High Priest, continually intercedes for us before the Father, ensuring that God's anger does not burn "forever" against His redeemed people ([Hebrews 7:25](/hebrews/7-25 "Hebrews 7:25 - Jesus Our Intercessor")). The jealousy of God, His zealous passion for His own glory and for His people, is now perfectly fulfilled in the New Covenant established through Christ's blood, where believers are brought into an unbreakable, eternal relationship with Him, forever reconciled and purified by the Lamb of God ([Revelation 7:14](/revelation/7-14 "Revelation 7:14 - Washed in the Blood of the Lamb")). Thus, the lament of Psalm 79:5, though born of ancient suffering, points forward to the definitive work of Christ, who absorbed God's wrath and secured everlasting peace for His people, transforming divine judgment into redemptive grace.

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 89:46

How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?

Psalms 85:5

Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?

Psalms 74:1

¶ Maschil of Asaph. O God, why hast thou cast [us] off for ever? [why] doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?

Deuteronomy 29:20

The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.

Zephaniah 3:8

¶ Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination [is] to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, [even] all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

Psalms 80:4

O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?

Ezekiel 36:5

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all [their] heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey.