Psalms 90:7

KJV

¶ For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.

KJV (with Strong's)

For we are consumed {H3615}{H8804)} by thine anger {H639}, and by thy wrath {H2534} are we troubled {H926}{H8738)}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For we are destroyed by your anger, overwhelmed by your wrath.

Berean Standard Bible

For we are consumed by Your anger and terrified by Your wrath.

American Standard Version

For we are consumed in thine anger, And in thy wrath are we troubled.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 90:7 profoundly articulates the severe and pervasive impact of divine displeasure on humanity, asserting that human mortality, suffering, and the brevity of life are not merely natural processes but are often direct, active consequences of God's righteous anger and consuming wrath against sin. This verse serves as a stark reminder of God's absolute holiness and unwavering justice, setting a solemn tone for Moses' subsequent pleas for mercy, wisdom, and the restoration of divine favor upon His people.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 90, uniquely attributed to "Moses, the man of God," stands as one of the oldest and most profound meditations on human mortality and divine eternity within the Psalter. The preceding verses establish a stark contrast between God's timeless, unchanging nature and the ephemeral, transient existence of humanity. [Psalm 90:1-2](/psalms/90-1-2 "Psalm 90:1-2 - God, Our Dwelling Place") declares God as an eternal dwelling place, existing "from everlasting to everlasting." This eternal backdrop then highlights the fragility of human life, which [Psalm 90:3](/psalms/90-3 "Psalm 90:3 - Return to Dust") describes as being turned back to dust, and [Psalm 90:4-6](/psalms/90-4-6 "Psalm 90:4-6 - A Thousand Years Like Yesterday") likens to a fleeting watch in the night, a dream, or grass that flourishes briefly before withering. Verse 7 then provides the theological explanation for this pervasive human frailty and mortality: it is not merely a natural cycle but a direct, active consequence of God's righteous judgment. The verses that follow, particularly [Psalm 90:8-11](/psalms/90-8-11 "Psalm 90:8-11 - Secret Sins and God's Anger"), further elaborate on how God's anger is revealed through the brevity, toil, and sorrow of life, culminating in Moses' earnest plea for wisdom and mercy in [Psalm 90:12-17](/psalms/90-12-17 "Psalm 90:12-17 - A Prayer for Wisdom and Favor").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Attributed to Moses, this psalm is widely understood to reflect the harsh realities experienced by the Israelites during their forty years of wandering in the wilderness. This period was marked by repeated acts of divine judgment due to the nation's persistent rebellion, disobedience, and lack of faith, as seen in pivotal events like the incident of the golden calf ([Exodus 32](/exodus/32 "Exodus 32 - The Golden Calf")) or the rebellion following the spies' report ([Numbers 14](/numbers/14 "Numbers 14 - Rebellion at Kadesh Barnea")). During this time, an entire generation of adult Israelites perished in the desert, a direct and tangible manifestation of God's wrath against their covenant breaking. This profound historical experience deeply informed Moses' understanding of human frailty and the severe consequences of sin. In the ancient Near East, suffering, disease, and death were often perceived not as random occurrences but as direct expressions of divine pleasure or displeasure, making the psalm's theological explanation of mortality resonate deeply with the cultural worldview of its original audience.
* **Key Themes:** Psalms 90:7 significantly contributes to several overarching themes within the psalm and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully underscores the theme of **Divine Judgment and Holiness**, asserting that God's anger and wrath are not passive emotions but active, consuming forces that bring about human perishing and distress. This highlights God's absolute holiness and His righteous, unwavering response to sin, a truth consistently taught throughout Scripture (e.g., [Romans 1:18](/romans/1-18 "Romans 1:18 - God's Wrath Revealed Against Ungodliness")). Secondly, it reinforces the theme of **Human Frailty and Mortality**, directly linking the brevity, toil, and hardship of human life to divine displeasure rather than mere natural decay. This theological explanation for the human condition provides a profound impetus for repentance and the urgent need for wisdom, as Moses prays in [Psalm 90:12](/psalms/90-12 "Psalm 90:12 - Number Our Days") to "teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Finally, it subtly introduces the theme of **God's Sovereignty over Life and Death**, portraying Him as the ultimate arbiter of human destiny, capable of both consuming and restoring.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Consumed (Hebrew, _kâlâh'_):** From H3615, a primitive root meaning "to end," "to cease," "to be finished," or "to perish." In this context, it denotes a destructive completion, an utter perishing or being brought to naught. It implies an active, powerful force that brings about cessation or destruction, highlighting the comprehensive and inescapable nature of God's judgment. It suggests that human life is not merely decaying but is actively brought to an end or overwhelmed by divine power.
* **Anger (Hebrew, _ʼaph'_):** From H639, properly meaning "the nose or nostril." Metaphorically, it refers to intense, hot anger, often associated with rapid breathing or flaring nostrils when enraged. It points to a passionate, often swift, expression of displeasure. In this verse, it represents God's righteous indignation, a fierce and active opposition to sin that has tangible, destructive effects.
* **Troubled (Hebrew, _bâhal'_):** From H926, a primitive root meaning "to tremble inwardly (or palpitate)," or figuratively, "to be (causative, make) (suddenly) alarmed or agitated." It conveys a sense of sudden, overwhelming fear, dismay, or distress that throws one into disarray. When applied to the effect of God's wrath, it describes not just physical destruction but also profound psychological and spiritual disquiet, a state of terror and agitation that accompanies divine judgment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For we are consumed by thine anger":** This opening clause provides the fundamental reason for the human condition of mortality, suffering, and brevity of life, directly attributing it to God's active "anger." The verb "consumed" (H3615, _kâlâh'_) signifies a complete perishing or being brought to an end, implying that human life is cut short, overwhelmed, or utterly destroyed by the force of divine displeasure. This is not a passive observation of natural decay but an active consequence of God's holy nature reacting to human sin. It underscores the severity and efficacy of divine judgment.
* **"and by thy wrath are we troubled":** This second clause functions in powerful synonymous parallelism with the first, reinforcing and intensifying the psalm's message. "Troubled" (H926, _bâhal'_) conveys a sense of being terrified, dismayed, or thrown into profound disarray, encompassing both internal agitation and external distress. "Wrath" (H2534, _chêmâh'_), closely related to "anger" (H639, _ʼaph'_), emphasizes the burning, fierce indignation of God, often with a connotation of heat or fury. Together, these phrases describe not only the physical perishing but also the profound spiritual, emotional, and psychological distress that accompanies divine judgment, leaving humanity in a state of fear, disquiet, and existential dread.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 90:7 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its somber and profound message. The most prominent is **Synonymous Parallelism**, where the second clause ("and by thy wrath are we troubled") reiterates and intensifies the meaning of the first clause ("For we are consumed by thine anger") using different but closely related terms. This repetition serves to emphasize the comprehensive, inescapable, and dual nature (both physical and psychological) of God's judgment. **Personification** is also evident, as God's "anger" and "wrath" are depicted as active, almost tangible agents that "consume" and "trouble" humanity, giving these abstract divine attributes a dynamic, destructive power. Furthermore, the language uses **Metaphor** where God's anger and wrath are implicitly compared to a consuming fire or an overwhelming force that brings about an end and causes inner turmoil, highlighting their destructive and unsettling capacity. The overall tone is one of **Lament** and **Confession**, characteristic of many psalms that express distress and suffering, acknowledging the righteousness of God's judgment while setting the stage for the subsequent pleas for divine mercy and restoration.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 90:7 stands as a profound theological statement on the nature of God's justice, holiness, and sovereignty over life and death. It asserts that God's wrath is not an arbitrary or capricious emotion, but a righteous and necessary response to human sin and rebellion against His holy character. This divine anger is not merely a feeling but has tangible, consuming effects on humanity, manifesting in the brevity of life, suffering, and ultimately, death. This understanding challenges any simplistic or sentimental view of God as solely benign, emphasizing His absolute purity and His unwavering commitment to upholding His moral order. It underscores the gravity of sin and the profound consequences of living apart from His will, serving as a sobering reminder that while God is merciful, He is also a consuming fire whose justice demands a reckoning for unrighteousness.

* [Romans 1:18](/romans/1-18 "Romans 1:18 - God's Wrath Revealed from Heaven")
* [Hebrews 12:29](/hebrews/12-29 "Hebrews 12:29 - Our God is a Consuming Fire")
* [Nahum 1:6](/nahum/1-6 "Nahum 1:6 - Who Can Stand Before His Indignation?")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 90:7 serves as a powerful call to profound reverence, humility, and earnest self-examination. Recognizing that human frailty, suffering, and the brevity of life are deeply linked to divine displeasure should prompt us to seriously consider our own lives and our relationship with a holy God. This verse is not meant to instill despair or paralyzing fear, but rather to cultivate a profound sense of awe for God's holiness and justice, leading us to a deeper understanding of the seriousness and pervasive nature of sin. It encourages us to live wisely and intentionally, acknowledging the fleeting nature of our days and seeking God's favor and mercy with urgency rather than carelessly incurring His wrath. Understanding the consuming nature of divine anger should motivate us to turn from sin, embrace genuine repentance, and seek refuge in God's boundless grace. It reminds us that while He has the power to consume, He also has the power to restore, satisfy us with His steadfast love, and establish the work of our hands, as Moses prays later in the psalm ([Psalm 90:14](/psalms/90-14 "Psalm 90:14 - Satisfy Us with Your Steadfast Love") and [Psalm 90:17](/psalms/90-17 "Psalm 90:17 - Establish the Work of Our Hands")).

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God's "anger" and "wrath" in this verse shape your view of His character and attributes?**
* **In what ways might our current struggles, the brevity of life, or the suffering in the world serve as a somber reminder of God's justice and a call to deeper repentance?**
* **Given the consuming nature of divine wrath, what specific steps can you take to live more reverently, wisely, and in greater alignment with God's holy will?**

### FAQ
**Does God's wrath contradict His love and mercy, or are they compatible attributes?**

Answer: No, God's wrath does not contradict His love and mercy; rather, it is an essential expression of His perfect holiness and unwavering justice, making His love and mercy all the more profound. Divine wrath is not an uncontrolled outburst of emotion or a capricious act, but a righteous and settled opposition to all that is evil, unholy, and contrary to His character. Because God is love ([1 John 4:8](/1_john/4-8 "1 John 4:8 - God Is Love")) and perfectly good, He must necessarily be against sin, which is antithetical to His nature and destructive to His creation. His wrath is a demonstration of His commitment to upholding His own perfect standards and is always just. The Bible consistently presents God as simultaneously loving and just, merciful and holy. It is precisely because of His great love that He provided a way for humanity to escape His righteous wrath through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, thereby demonstrating His mercy while upholding His justice ([Romans 3:25-26](/romans/3-25-26 "Romans 3:25-26 - God's Righteousness Displayed Through Christ")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 90:7, with its stark portrayal of humanity consumed by divine anger and troubled by wrath, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. While the psalm highlights the righteous judgment of God against human sin and rebellion, the New Testament reveals the astonishing truth that God's just wrath, due to human transgression, was fully absorbed and propitiated by Christ on the cross. The "consuming anger" and "troubling wrath" that humanity justly deserved were poured out upon the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), who "knew no sin" but "became sin for us" ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")), bearing the full weight of divine judgment in our place. Through His perfect, atoning sacrifice, Christ satisfied God's righteous demands, turning away the wrath that would otherwise consume us ([Romans 5:9](/romans/5-9 "Romans 5:9 - Saved from Wrath Through Him")). Thus, the terrifying reality of divine judgment described in Psalms 90:7 becomes the essential backdrop against which the glorious mercy, boundless love, and salvific power of Christ shine most brightly, offering eternal life and peace to all who believe, freeing them from the condemnation of God's wrath and granting them access to His unmerited favor ([John 3:36](/john/3-36 "John 3:36 - He Who Believes Has Eternal 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 39:11

When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man [is] vanity. Selah.

Hebrews 3:17

But with whom was he grieved forty years? [was it] not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

Hebrews 4:2

For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it].

Numbers 17:12

And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.

Numbers 17:13

Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?

Psalms 59:13

Consume [them] in wrath, consume [them], that they [may] not [be]: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.

Exodus 14:24

And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,