Psalm 89 32

Psalm 89:32 kjv

Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.

Psalm 89:32 nkjv

Then I will punish their transgression with the rod, And their iniquity with stripes.

Psalm 89:32 niv

I will punish their sin with the rod, their iniquity with flogging;

Psalm 89:32 esv

then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes,

Psalm 89:32 nlt

then I will punish their sin with the rod,
and their disobedience with beating.

Psalm 89 verses

Psalm 89 32 Meaning

Psalm 89:32 declares God's steadfast resolve to discipline the descendants of David should they violate His commandments and statutes. It expresses that God, though bound by His eternal covenant of mercy, will nonetheless administer precise and direct judgment upon their rebellion and perversion, employing correction akin to a shepherd's rod and punitive strikes. This demonstrates that God's commitment to the covenant does not negate His righteousness or His demand for obedience.

Psalm 89 32 Context

Psalm 89 is a Maskil, an instructive psalm, traditionally attributed to Ethan the Ezrahite, a wise man from Solomon's time. The psalm begins as a resounding declaration of God's unending covenant faithfulness (ḥesed – steadfast love) and truth to David and his descendants (Ps 89:1-37). It eloquently recounts God's glorious attributes and the unconditional nature of His promise to establish David's throne forever, emphasizing divine immutability (Ps 89:29, 34-37). Psalm 89:32 falls within God's direct revelation of the covenant's terms (Ps 89:30-34). These verses explain that while the covenant itself is eternal and unbreakable by God, human infidelity will not go unpunished. It foreshadows that discipline will indeed occur if David's descendants stray from the Lord's statutes and commandments (Ps 89:30-31). The subsequent verses (Ps 89:38-51) starkly contrast this divine promise with the apparent ruin and defeat suffered by the Davidic line, creating a profound lament that questions God's present faithfulness in the face of perceived abandonment. Historically, this section relates to the warnings given to kings (like Rehoboam) and to the subsequent history of the divided kingdom and the eventual Babylonian exile, where the Davidic throne seemed utterly overthrown.

Psalm 89 32 Word Analysis

• Then (וּפָקַדְתִּי - ū-p̄ā-qaḏ-tî): While then primarily denotes sequence, the Hebrew conjunction וְ (ve, 'and/then') introduces the consequence or outcome of the preceding condition (disobedience). It signifies that this disciplinary action is a direct, deliberate response from God.
• will I visit (פָּקַד - pāqaḏ, here as ū-p̄ā-qaḏ-tî): The verb paqad is rich in meaning. It can mean to "visit," "inspect," "appoint," "muster," "attend to," but in contexts like this, it frequently carries the nuance of "visiting for punishment" or "calling to account." It implies active intervention and judicial accountability. God will not overlook or ignore; He will specifically intervene to hold them accountable.
• their transgression (פֶּשַׁע - peša‘, here as p̄i-šə-‘ām): This term signifies a severe offense. It's often rendered as rebellion, revolt, or willful apostasy. It implies a conscious, defiant breach of a relationship or covenant. It is not merely an error or fault, but an act of outright breaking away from established order and authority, highlighting the gravity of their sin.
• with the rod (שֵׁבֶט - šēḇeṭ, here as biš-baṭ): A common implement with multiple meanings: a staff, a scepter, a tribal rod, and an instrument for punishment. In this context, it unequivocally refers to an instrument of correction or chastisement. It implies forceful, yet potentially guiding and corrective, discipline, much like a shepherd uses his staff to guide or correct the flock, or a parent to discipline a child. It speaks to the sovereign authority of God as the ultimate ruler.
• and their iniquity (עָוֹן - ‘āwōn, here as wa-‘ă-wō-nām): Often translated as iniquity, guilt, or punishment for iniquity. While pesha (transgression) emphasizes the rebellion, ‘awon emphasizes the deviation from what is straight and right, implying twistedness or moral distortion. It speaks to the perversity or culpability of their actions and the consequent guilt incurred.
• with stripes (נֶגַע - nega‘, here as bin-ḡā-‘îm): Nega denotes a stroke, blow, plague, or wound. Here, in the plural (bin-ḡā-‘îm), it clearly refers to blows or physical wounds inflicted as punishment, like scourging. This term signifies direct, painful, and tangible consequences for sin.

Words-Group Analysis

• "will I visit their transgression... and their iniquity": This grouping emphasizes God's judicial nature. He actively investigates and justly addresses specific types of sin: rebellious defiance (pesha) and the moral distortion that constitutes iniquity ('awon). This is not random punishment but a deliberate, targeted response to covenant unfaithfulness.
• "with the rod... with stripes": These instruments define the nature of God's discipline. The "rod" signifies authoritative and forceful correction, perhaps like that used for shepherding or governance. "Stripes" denotes physical or tangible inflictions of suffering. Together, they powerfully convey that the discipline will be real, direct, and painful, designed to bring about repentance and adherence to the covenant. They illustrate the tangible and severe consequences of unfaithfulness.

Psalm 89 32 Bonus section

The seemingly harsh language of Psalm 89:32 must be understood within the broader biblical context of God's redemptive discipline, which is foundational to the Father-son relationship (e.g., Deut 8:5; Prov 3:11-12; Heb 12:5-11). For the original audience, this would have been a stark reminder that even within an eternal covenant, the blessings of that covenant are conditional upon obedience. The Davidic king and his people could not presume upon God's unwavering ḥesed as an excuse for ungodliness. This principle resonated deeply through Israel's history, where suffering and exile were frequently interpreted as God's corrective hand, a fulfillment of warnings like those found in Deuteronomy and Leviticus. While human failure brings the rod, God’s hesed prevents the utter breaking of the covenant (Ps 89:33-34). The ultimate fulfillment of this steadfastness is found in Jesus Christ, the Son of David, whose perfect obedience ensured that the promises of God would stand for all time, ushering in a new covenant not dependent on human performance.

Psalm 89 32 Commentary

Psalm 89:32 stands as a crucial pivot within the psalm, bridging God's unyielding covenant promise (Ps 89:1-37) and the psalmist's agonizing lament over the apparent collapse of the Davidic throne (Ps 89:38-51). This verse emphatically asserts that divine discipline for disobedience is a pre-stipulated element of the Davidic Covenant itself, as articulated in 2 Samuel 7:14. God's faithfulness is not blind tolerance of sin; rather, His character demands a response to rebellion and moral perversion. The terms "transgression" (rebellion) and "iniquity" (perversion, guilt) underscore the gravity of the offenses that would necessitate such strong corrective action. The "rod" and "stripes" are metaphors for decisive, even painful, punitive measures. They serve not to annul the covenant but to reinforce its terms and bring about restoration. God's disciplinary action, though severe, is always paternal and corrective, stemming from His unchangeable love and covenant commitment, ultimately aiming for the welfare of His people.