Psalm 78 49

Psalm 78:49 kjv

He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.

Psalm 78:49 nkjv

He cast on them the fierceness of His anger, Wrath, indignation, and trouble, By sending angels of destruction among them.

Psalm 78:49 niv

He unleashed against them his hot anger, his wrath, indignation and hostility? a band of destroying angels.

Psalm 78:49 esv

He let loose on them his burning anger, wrath, indignation, and distress, a company of destroying angels.

Psalm 78:49 nlt

He loosed on them his fierce anger ?
all his fury, rage, and hostility.
He dispatched against them
a band of destroying angels.

Psalm 78 verses

Psalm 78 49 Meaning

Psalm 78:49 profoundly declares that God unleashed the full measure of His severe displeasure and punishment upon the Egyptians. This wrath, depicted as intense and manifold, was executed through a "company of evil angels," who acted as direct instruments or agents of divine judgment, bringing trouble and distress upon the land. The verse emphasizes God's sovereign control over even destructive forces to accomplish His will and deliver His people.

Psalm 78 49 Context

Psalm 78 is a sweeping historical narrative, serving as a didactic poem. It recounts Israel's history from the Exodus to the establishment of the Davidic covenant, aiming to instruct future generations about God's steadfast faithfulness and Israel's recurrent disobedience. The specific section from which verse 49 is taken (Ps 78:42-51) details the miraculous plagues inflicted upon Egypt before the Exodus. This verse particularizes how the judgments came, highlighting God's direct, active, and severe intervention through supernatural agents against a stubborn and idolatrous Pharaoh and nation. It is part of the larger divine response to the enslavement of Israel and refusal to let God's people go.

Psalm 78 49 Word analysis

• He cast (וַיְשַׁלַּח - vayeshalakh): From the Hebrew root shalach, meaning "to send," "stretch out," or "let loose." Here, it signifies a deliberate, active, and forceful dispatching. God is portrayed as the instigator and executor of these judgments, not merely allowing them.
• upon them (בָּם - bam): Directly indicates the recipients of God's action, namely the Egyptians, as detailed in the preceding verses.
• the fierceness (חֲרוֹן - charon): Derived from a root meaning "to burn" or "glow." In conjunction with "anger," it denotes an intense, burning, and vehement wrath, like a blazing fire.
• of His anger (אַפּוֹ - appo): From aph, literally "nose" or "nostril," which was seen as the seat of anger (the snorting/flaring of nostrils). This term represents deep-seated, passionate indignation.
• wrath (עֶבְרָה - evrah): Suggests an overflowing, unrestrained, or outburst of divine anger. It can convey an "excessive" or "transcendent" display of fury, implying crossing a boundary with punitive force.
• and indignation (וָזָעַם - vaza'am): Implies settled displeasure, a fierce denunciation, or a divine curse. It often signifies God's personal abhorrence of evil and rebellion.
• and trouble (וְצָרָה - vetsarah): This word denotes distress, tribulation, anguish, or severe difficulty. Unlike the preceding terms, it describes the effect or outcome of God's anger—the calamitous consequence for the Egyptians.
• a company (מִשְׁלַחַת - mishlachat): Also from the root shalach (to send). It literally means "a sending," "a mission," or "a delegation." Here, it refers to the dispatched group or agency. It conveys the organized, purposeful nature of the deployment.
• of evil (רָעִים - ra'im): The adjective ra (evil, bad, harmful, calamitous) here describes the function or effect of these angels. They are "calamitous" or "destructive" in their purpose, sent to bring harm and judgment, rather than inherently possessing moral evil (like demons). They act under divine command.
• angels (מַלְאֲכֵי - mal'achey): From malakh, meaning "messenger" or "angel." This term designates the specific spiritual beings or agents deployed by God. In the context of divine judgment, they serve as instruments of His will.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "He cast upon them the fierceness of His anger, wrath, indignation": This formidable series of terms (four Hebrew words: charon 'appo, evrah, za'am) demonstrates a multi-layered, escalating, and comprehensive expression of God's wrath. It is not just one form of anger, but a total unleashing of various aspects of divine fury, signifying God's intense disapproval and determination to judge. This accumulation stresses the severity and completeness of the divine punishment.
• "and trouble": This concluding element of the "anger" cluster is crucial. It clarifies that the wrath described is not abstract, but profoundly impactful, manifesting as concrete suffering and hardship. It bridges the emotional intensity of divine anger with its tangible consequences on those targeted.
• "a company of evil angels": This phrase specifies the how of God's judgment. The "company" (mishlachat) highlights that these agents were not haphazard but a deliberate "sending forth" or a "delegation." The term "evil angels" (malachey ra'im) points to agents whose mission involved bringing "harm," "calamity," or "destruction." These are not autonomous evil spirits opposing God, but divine emissaries empowered by God Himself to inflict the plagues and serve His just purposes, particularly in the context of the Egyptian plagues (cf. the "destroyer" in Exod 12:23). This underlines God's sovereignty over all spiritual forces, even those typically associated with calamity, in the execution of His will.

Psalm 78 49 Bonus section

• Polemic against Egyptian Deities: The dispatch of these agents of wrath against Egypt functions as a potent polemic against the Egyptian pantheon. By depicting Yahweh as the one who directly sends powerful, even destructive, spiritual forces, the psalm undermines the power and authority attributed to the various gods worshipped in Egypt. Each plague, and especially the ultimate one against the firstborn (implied by this verse's placement within the plague narrative), served to demonstrate Yahweh's unparalleled power and unique sovereignty, revealing Him as the only true God capable of commanding such cosmic instruments. The Egyptian gods were impotent to stop the calamity brought by Yahweh's angels.
• Nature of "Evil Angels": It is crucial to understand that mal'achey ra'im (often translated "evil angels") in this context does not refer to fallen, demonic entities acting independently of or in opposition to God. Rather, "evil" (Hebrew: ra') here means "harmful" or "calamitous," indicating their function in carrying out divine judgment. These are divine messengers (angels) whose commission involved bringing harm and trouble upon the Egyptians. They were agents of God's punitive justice, fulfilling His righteous will, much like an executioner fulfilling the decree of a just judge. They serve as a powerful reminder that God uses both benevolent and destructive forces to accomplish His plans.

Psalm 78 49 Commentary

Psalm 78:49 provides profound theological insight into the execution of divine judgment. It underscores God's active involvement in the Exodus plagues, showing that these were not random events but directly willed and supernaturally orchestrated punishments. The multiple terms used for God's anger (fierceness of anger, wrath, indignation) convey a complete and profound divine response to human obstinacy and idolatry, emphasizing His holy character. The revelation of "a company of evil angels" as the direct instruments highlights God's absolute dominion over both visible and invisible realms. These angels were "evil" in the functional sense of bringing about suffering and destruction, serving as agents of calamity under God's righteous command, akin to the destroyer in the Passover account. This demonstrates that all power, including that wielded by spiritual entities, ultimately resides with God and serves His purposes, validating His supreme authority over all nations and deities, especially in opposition to Egyptian polytheism.