Psalms 85:3

Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned [thyself] from the fierceness of thine anger.

Thou hast taken away {H622}{H8804)} all thy wrath {H5678}: thou hast turned {H7725}{H8689)} thyself from the fierceness {H2740} of thine anger {H639}.

withdrawn all your wrath, turned from your fierce anger.

You withheld all Your fury; You turned from Your burning anger.

Thou hast taken away all thy wrath; Thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.

Psalm 85:3 (KJV) declares God's gracious act of removing His wrath and turning away from the fierceness of His anger. This verse serves as a foundational statement of divine mercy and forgiveness, establishing a hopeful tone within a psalm that is otherwise a heartfelt prayer for national restoration.

Context of Psalm 85:3

Psalm 85 is a communal prayer, likely composed after a period of significant national distress or divine judgment, such as the Babylonian exile or a similar time of hardship. The psalmist begins by recalling God's past acts of favor towards His people Israel, specifically mentioning how God "hast been favourable unto thy land" (Psalm 85:1) and "hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people" (Psalm 85:2). Verse 3 continues this remembrance of God's past mercy, setting the stage for the community's plea for renewed favor and complete restoration in the subsequent verses.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Forgiveness and Mercy: The core message is God's willingness and power to forgive sins and remove the consequences of His displeasure. This isn't a passive act but an active turning away from judgment.
  • End of Wrath: The phrase "taken away all thy wrath" signifies a complete cessation of divine punishment or discipline. It implies that the period of judgment has concluded or is being lifted.
  • God's Compassionate Character: This verse highlights God's inherent nature as one who is "merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in mercy and truth" (Exodus 34:6). His turning from anger demonstrates His readiness to reconcile and restore.
  • Foundation for Restoration: The removal of wrath is the necessary prerequisite for the blessing and peace that the psalmist seeks later in the psalm. It assures the community that God is ready to hear their pleas for restoration.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew terms used in this verse convey powerful meaning:

  • "Wrath" (Hebrew: 'eph) and "fierceness of thine anger" (Hebrew: charon 'aph) are strong expressions for divine indignation or displeasure. The repetition emphasizes the intensity of the anger that God has now turned away from.
  • "Taken away" (Hebrew: nasa) means to lift, bear, or forgive. In this context, it signifies God's active removal or bearing away of His wrath.
  • "Turned [thyself] from" (Hebrew: shuv) is a significant verb meaning to turn back, return, or restore. It's often used for repentance (man turning to God) but here describes God's action of turning away from judgment towards mercy. This divine 'turning' is a promise of hope for those seeking His face, as seen in Joel 2:13, where God is described as one who "repents him of the evil."

Practical Application

Psalm 85:3 offers profound comfort and hope for believers today. It reminds us that:

  • God is a God of Forgiveness: No matter the depth of past transgressions or the severity of consequences, God is willing to remove His wrath when His people turn to Him. This provides assurance that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us.
  • Hope for Restoration: This verse is a powerful declaration that periods of divine discipline are not permanent. Just as God turned from His anger towards Israel, He is ready to restore those who genuinely seek Him, offering a path to renewed peace and favor.
  • Encouragement to Seek God: Understanding that God has turned from His wrath provides encouragement for individuals and communities to humble themselves, confess their sins, and pray for His continued mercy and blessing.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 106:23

    Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy [them].

  • Deuteronomy 13:17

    And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;

  • Jonah 3:9

    Who can tell [if] God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

  • Isaiah 12:1

    ¶ And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.

  • Isaiah 6:7

    And he laid [it] upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

  • Psalms 78:38

    But he, [being] full of compassion, forgave [their] iniquity, and destroyed [them] not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

  • Exodus 32:22

    And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they [are set] on mischief.

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