Psalms 85:3

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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

Complete Jewish Bible

withdrawn all your wrath, turned from your fierce anger.

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 85:3 declares a profound and hopeful truth: God, in His sovereign grace, has actively removed His wrath and turned away the intensity of His anger from His people. This verse serves as a foundational statement of divine mercy and forgiveness, establishing a tone of assurance and hope within a psalm that is otherwise a fervent communal prayer for national restoration and the full manifestation of God's blessing after a period of divine discipline.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 85 is a communal lament and prayer, structured around a movement from past divine favor to present plea and future hope. Verses 1-3 recall God's past gracious acts: "Thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob" ([Psalm 85:1](/psalms/85-1 "Psalm 85:1 - God's Favor to the Land")). The psalmist then declares, "Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin" ([Psalm 85:2](/psalms/85-2 "Psalm 85:2 - Forgiveness of Iniquity")). Verse 3 logically extends this historical remembrance, affirming the complete cessation of God's wrath, thereby setting the stage for the community's earnest petition in verses 4-7 for a renewed outpouring of God's mercy and a full restoration of their fortunes. The psalmist builds on the certainty of God's past actions to ground their present cry for revival and future anticipation of righteousness and peace in verses 8-13.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While the exact historical setting is debated, many scholars place Psalm 85 in the post-exilic period, following the return of the Israelites from Babylonian captivity (e.g., [Ezra 1](/ezra/1 "Ezra 1 - Return from Exile")). Though the physical return to the land had occurred, and the temple was being rebuilt, the community likely faced ongoing challenges, including economic hardship, political vulnerability, and a sense that God's full favor had not yet been completely restored. Divine wrath, in the Old Testament understanding, was a just consequence of covenant infidelity and idolatry (e.g., [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses")). The psalmist's declaration in verse 3 reflects the belief that the period of God's disciplinary anger had concluded or was in the process of being lifted, providing a theological basis for the community to appeal for renewed blessing and the full experience of *shalom* (peace, wholeness).
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the psalm and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Forgiveness and Mercy**, emphasizing God's active initiative in removing the consequences of sin, not merely passively withholding judgment. Secondly, it underscores the **Cessation of Divine Wrath**, signifying that the period of punitive discipline has ended, paving the way for reconciliation. This aligns with God's self-revelation as "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth" ([Exodus 34:6](/exodus/34-6 "Exodus 34:6 - God's Compassionate Character")). Thirdly, it reveals **God's Compassionate Character**, demonstrating His readiness to turn from anger towards reconciliation, a divine "turning" (Hebrew *shuv*) that mirrors the human call to repentance (e.g., [Joel 2:13](/joel/2-13 "Joel 2:13 - God's Readiness to Relent")). Finally, the removal of wrath serves as the **Foundation for Restoration**, assuring the community that God is ready to hear their pleas and pour out His blessings, as His anger is no longer a barrier to their full flourishing.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Wrath (Hebrew, _'aph'_):** This term literally refers to the nose or nostrils, and by extension, the snorting sound of anger, conveying intense indignation or displeasure. In biblical contexts, divine wrath is not an uncontrolled outburst but a righteous and just response to sin and rebellion against God's holy character and covenant. The use of this strong term emphasizes the severity of the divine judgment that has now been removed.
* **Taken away (Hebrew, _nasa'_):** This verb carries a range of meanings, including to lift, bear, carry, or forgive. In this context, it signifies God's active and complete removal of His wrath, as if lifting a heavy burden or carrying away a load of punishment. It implies a decisive act of divine initiative, making the cessation of anger a definitive reality.
* **Turned (Hebrew, _shuv'_):** This highly significant verb means to turn back, return, or restore. While often used to describe human repentance (turning *to* God), here it describes God's action of turning *from* the fierceness of His anger. It indicates a deliberate change in divine disposition towards His people, moving from judgment to mercy, signifying a restoration of favor and a readiness to bless.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thou hast taken away all thy wrath":** This clause emphasizes the completeness and totality of God's action. The word "all" (Hebrew, *kol*) signifies that no remnant of divine wrath remains. God has not merely lessened His anger but has entirely removed it, indicating a full cessation of His punitive disposition towards His people. This is a declarative statement of past or accomplished divine action, providing a firm basis for hope.
* **"thou hast turned [thyself] from the fierceness of thine anger":** This second clause functions in synonymous parallelism with the first, reinforcing the same truth with intensified language. "Fierceness of thine anger" (Hebrew, *charon 'aph*) combines two strong terms for anger, highlighting its intensity. God has not merely turned from anger, but from its most fervent expression. The reflexive "thyself" (implied in the Hebrew verb *shuv*) underscores God's deliberate and intentional choice to reverse His disposition, moving from a posture of judgment to one of grace and reconciliation.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 85:3 employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message. The most prominent is **Synonymous Parallelism**, where the second clause ("thou hast turned [thyself] from the fierceness of thine anger") reiterates and intensifies the meaning of the first clause ("Thou hast taken away all thy wrath"). This repetition serves to emphasize the completeness and certainty of God's action in removing His anger. The psalm also uses **Anthropomorphism**, attributing human emotions and actions (wrath, anger, turning) to God. This device makes God's disposition relatable and comprehensible to human experience, allowing the psalmist to express the profound reality of divine justice and mercy in human terms. Furthermore, the phrase "all thy wrath" could be seen as a form of **Hyperbole** or **Merism**, emphasizing the totality of God's removed displeasure, leaving no doubt about the extent of His forgiveness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 85:3 stands as a powerful testament to the character of God, who is not only just in His judgment but also abundant in mercy. It articulates a fundamental theological truth: while God's wrath is a righteous response to sin, His ultimate desire is for reconciliation and restoration. This verse underscores the covenantal nature of God's relationship with His people, where discipline is not an end in itself but a means to bring about repentance and a return to fellowship. The removal of wrath is a divine initiative, a sovereign act of grace that paves the way for the full experience of God's *hesed* (steadfast love) and *emet* (faithfulness), which are central to His covenant promises. It is a declaration that the period of divine displeasure has passed, opening the door for God's blessings to flow freely once more, assuring His people that His compassion triumphs over judgment.

* [Lamentations 3:22-23](/lamentations/3-22 "God's Steadfast Love Endures")
* [Isaiah 12:1](/isaiah/12-1 "God's Anger Turned Away")
* [Micah 7:18-19](/micah/7-18 "God Delights in Mercy")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 85:3 offers profound comfort and enduring hope for believers today. It reminds us that even when we experience the consequences of our sin, or when communities face periods of hardship and discipline, God's wrath is not His final word. His character is fundamentally one of mercy and a readiness to forgive. This verse assures us that God actively "takes away" and "turns from" His anger when His people humble themselves and seek His face. It invites us to trust in His compassionate nature, knowing that His periods of discipline are purposeful and ultimately lead to restoration for those who turn to Him. For individuals burdened by guilt or communities facing spiritual decline, Psalm 85:3 is a beacon, declaring that the path to renewed peace, blessing, and flourishing is always open through God's gracious initiative to remove the barrier of His righteous anger.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God's willingness to "turn from His anger" impact your view of His character and your relationship with Him?**
* **In what areas of your life, or in your community, do you need to experience God's "turning" from judgment to mercy and restoration?**
* **What does Psalm 85:3 teach us about the necessary precursor to true peace and flourishing, both personally and corporately?**

### FAQ
**Does God truly get angry, and does His anger change?**

Answer: Yes, the Bible clearly teaches that God experiences anger, often referred to as "wrath" or "fierceness of anger," as seen in Psalm 85:3. This divine anger is not an impulsive, sinful human emotion, but a righteous and holy response to sin, injustice, and rebellion against His perfect character and laws (e.g., [Romans 1:18](/romans/1-18 "Romans 1:18 - God's Wrath Against Ungodliness")). While God is unchanging in His essential nature (e.g., [Malachi 3:6](/malachi/3-6 "Malachi 3:6 - God Does Not Change")), His disposition towards humanity can change in response to human actions. When people repent and turn to Him, God, in His mercy, "turns from" His anger, meaning He relents from the judgment that was due. This is not a change in His character, but a consistent expression of His justice and mercy, where mercy triumphs over judgment (e.g., [James 2:13](/james/2-13 "James 2:13 - Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment")).

**How does God "take away" wrath?**

Answer: God "takes away" wrath not by ignoring sin or compromising His justice, but by a sovereign act of grace that addresses the sin itself. In the Old Testament, this often occurred through the prescribed sacrificial system, where the sins of the people were atoned for, symbolically "covered" or "carried away" (as implied by the Hebrew *nasa* in Psalm 85:3). The Day of Atonement ([Leviticus 16](/leviticus/16 "Leviticus 16 - Day of Atonement")) was a prime example of God providing a means for the removal of corporate guilt and the turning away of His wrath. Ultimately, this foreshadowed the perfect and final way God would take away wrath: through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who bore the wrath of God in our place, as revealed in the New Testament.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 85:3 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the psalmist celebrated God's past act of turning from anger towards Israel, this divine turning was always provisional, pointing forward to a definitive solution for sin and wrath. The "wrath" that God "took away" and "turned from" for His people was fully and finally absorbed and propitiated by Christ on the cross. It was there that Jesus, the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), bore the full "fierceness of God's anger" against sin, becoming sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). Through His atoning sacrifice, Christ reconciled humanity to God, enabling God to be both just and the justifier of those who believe ([Romans 3:25-26](/romans/3-25 "Romans 3:25-26 - God's Righteousness Through Faith")). Thus, in Christ, God's wrath is not merely averted for a time, but permanently dealt with for all who are in Him, establishing an everlasting peace and a new covenant where God's face is eternally turned towards His redeemed people in favor and grace ([Colossians 1:19-20](/colossians/1-19 "Colossians 1:19-20 - Reconciliation Through Christ")).

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 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.