Psalms 78:50

He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;

He made {H6424}{H8762)} a way {H5410} to his anger {H639}; he spared {H2820}{H8804)} not their soul {H5315} from death {H4194}, but gave {H5462} their life {H2416} over {H5462}{H8689)} to the pestilence {H1698};

to clear a path for his wrath. He did not spare them from death, but gave them over to the plague,

He cleared a path for His anger; He did not spare them from death but delivered their lives to the plague.

He made a path for his anger; He spared not their soul from death, But gave their life over to the pestilence,

Commentary

Psalm 78:50 describes a stark aspect of God's judgment, specifically His deliberate action in allowing devastating consequences to unfold against those who defied Him. The verse is part of a longer historical psalm recounting Israel's history of rebellion and God's consistent faithfulness, often contrasted with His judgment upon their enemies or upon them for their disobedience.

Context

Psalm 78 is a didactic psalm, meaning it is intended to teach. It recounts the history of God's dealings with Israel from the Exodus through the establishment of the Davidic monarchy, highlighting God's mighty acts and Israel's repeated failures and forgetfulness. Verses 43-51 specifically detail the plagues God inflicted upon Egypt, serving as a powerful reminder of His power and justice. Verse 50 directly refers to God's judgment against the Egyptians, emphasizing that He cleared the way for His wrath to be fully expressed, allowing death by plague to sweep through the land. This serves as a cautionary tale for future generations of Israel, urging them to learn from past mistakes and remain faithful.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Wrath: The phrase "He made a way to his anger" powerfully conveys God's deliberate and sovereign act in unleashing His holy wrath. It implies that nothing could stand in the way of His just retribution against hardened hearts.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The verse underscores that defiance against God, as seen in Pharaoh's refusal to let Israel go, brings severe and deadly consequences. God "spared not their soul from death," indicating the ultimate cost of rebellion.
  • God's Sovereignty over Life and Death: God is depicted as the ultimate arbiter of life and death, having the power to "give their life over to the pestilence." This theme is consistent throughout Scripture, reminding us that God is the author of life and has authority over its end (1 Samuel 2:6).
  • Pestilence as a Divine Instrument: "Pestilence" (Hebrew: deber) refers to a widespread plague or epidemic, a common form of divine judgment in the Old Testament, often mentioned alongside famine and war (Jeremiah 14:12).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "He made a way to his anger" is a vivid anthropomorphism, portraying God as actively clearing a path for His righteous indignation to proceed unimpeded. It emphasizes the intentionality behind the divine judgment, not a sudden outburst, but a deliberate act in response to persistent sin. The term "pestilence" (deber) often carries the connotation of a divinely sent plague, distinct from natural disease in its severity and purpose.

Reflection and Application

This verse serves as a sober reminder of God's justice and the serious nature of sin. While God is merciful and long-suffering, He is also perfectly just and will not allow rebellion to go unpunished indefinitely. For us today, Psalm 78:50 encourages:

  • Reverence for God's Holiness: It compels us to recognize God's absolute authority and power, fostering a healthy fear and respect for His character.
  • Understanding Consequences: It illustrates that actions have consequences, both in history and in our personal lives. Persistent disobedience can lead to severe outcomes.
  • Appreciation for Grace: By understanding the depth of God's judgment, we can more profoundly appreciate His immense grace and mercy shown through Christ, who bore the wrath we deserved (Romans 5:8).

The historical accounts in Psalms 78, including this verse, are not just narratives of the past but timeless lessons about God's character and humanity's need for repentance and reliance on Him.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 7:4 (4 votes)

    And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.

  • Romans 8:32 (3 votes)

    He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

  • Ezekiel 8:18 (3 votes)

    Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, [yet] will I not hear them.

  • 2 Peter 2:4 (3 votes)

    For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down to hell, and delivered [them] into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

  • 2 Peter 2:5 (3 votes)

    And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth [person], a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

  • Ezekiel 9:10 (3 votes)

    And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, [but] I will recompense their way upon their head.

  • Ezekiel 5:11 (2 votes)

    Wherefore, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish [thee]; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity.