Psalm 89 38

Psalm 89:38 kjv

But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.

Psalm 89:38 nkjv

But You have cast off and abhorred, You have been furious with Your anointed.

Psalm 89:38 niv

But you have rejected, you have spurned, you have been very angry with your anointed one.

Psalm 89:38 esv

But now you have cast off and rejected; you are full of wrath against your anointed.

Psalm 89:38 nlt

But now you have rejected him and cast him off.
You are angry with your anointed king.

Psalm 89 verses

Psalm 89 38 Meaning

Psalm 89:38 is a lament that marks a dramatic shift in the psalm's tone. After extolling God’s eternal covenant with David and His faithfulness, the psalmist now expresses the harsh reality: God is perceived as having cast off, rejected, and dealt fiercely with His chosen king, the "anointed one." This verse encapsulates the psalmist’s profound anguish and confusion over the seeming abrogation of God’s unbreakable promises to David’s lineage, given the dire state of the monarchy, likely after a military defeat or during the exile. It vocalizes the paradox between God's perfect covenant faithfulness and the distressing, observable human condition.

Psalm 89 38 Context

Psalm 89 is a majestic lament psalm divided into two major sections. The first part (vv. 1-37) is a resounding affirmation of God’s covenant faithfulness, especially His eternal and unconditional covenant with David, as revealed in 2 Samuel 7. It speaks of God's power, justice, and the unwavering nature of His promises to establish David's throne forever. The psalmist celebrates YHWH as sovereign, mighty, and true to His word.Verse 38 dramatically shifts the tone, opening the second section (vv. 38-51). Here, the psalmist faces the jarring reality of Israel’s historical predicament: the Davidic monarchy is seemingly defunct, suffering defeat, exile, and disgrace (likely referring to a historical event such as the Babylonian conquest and the dethroning of Zedekiah or even events after the return from exile). This abrupt turn expresses the deep theological tension felt by the psalmist: How can God's eternal, unchangeable covenant be reconciled with the present, bleak situation of His "anointed one" and His people? This verse expresses a human cry of perceived abandonment, not necessarily a theological assertion that God has broken His word, but rather a bitter complaint born of suffering. The "anointed one" (מְשִׁיחֶךָ, meshikhekha) in this context specifically refers to the reigning king of David's lineage, who was anointed with oil, but also foreshadows the ultimate Anointed One, the Messiah.

Psalm 89 38 Word analysis

• But you (וְאַתָּה - ve'attah): This opening signifies a stark contrast. The "But" (ve) functions as a strong disjunction from the preceding verses (especially vv. 30-37) which emphasized God's unchanging faithfulness and covenant. It dramatically highlights the chasm between divine promise and perceived human experience. "You" explicitly addresses God, directly lodging the complaint.
• have cast off (זָנַחְתָּ - zanachta): Derived from the Hebrew root zanach (זָנַח), meaning "to reject," "to abandon," "to cast off," or "to forsake." It implies a decisive and thorough rejection. This is a very strong word used often in Scripture to describe God’s rejection of sinful Israel or His Holy presence abandoning a place (e.g., Jer 7:29, Ps 44:9). Its usage here underscores the psalmist's feeling of complete abandonment by God.
• and rejected / and dealt foully (וַתִּתְנַבֵּל - vattitnabel): From the root naval (נבל), which means "to be vile," "to deal foully/wickedly," "to disgrace," or "to be contemptible." The Hithpael stem (self-reflexive/intensive) used here intensifies the action, suggesting that God has truly disgraced or brought contempt upon His own, or acted in a way that seemed disgraceful. It goes beyond simple rejection; it implies an active shaming or a letting oneself become despicable. Some translations render it as "disgraced," indicating God has acted in a way that caused disgrace to the king or the nation, or has treated the king disgracefully.
• you have been full of wrath (הִתְמַרְמַרְתָּ - hitmarmarta): From the root marar (מרר), meaning "to be bitter," "to be fierce," or "to provoke to anger." The Hithpael stem again emphasizes intensity – "to embitter oneself," or "to show intense bitterness/wrath." It denotes a deep-seated, boiling anger or indignation that God is perceived to have against His anointed. It’s not just passing anger but a deep, almost bitter indignation.
• against your anointed (עַל מְשִׁיחֶךָ - al meshikhekha): The Hebrew word mashiach (מָשִׁיחַ) means "anointed one." In the Old Testament, it primarily refers to kings (like David, Saul), high priests, and sometimes prophets, who were ritually consecrated with oil. Here, it refers specifically to the reigning Davidic king whose defeat or predicament prompted this lament. It emphasizes the paradox: how could God be "full of wrath" against one whom He Himself has consecrated and bound by eternal covenant? This title mashiach is deeply significant as it anticipates the ultimate Anointed One, Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodies the eternal covenant of David.

Psalm 89 38 Bonus section

The psalmist's daring challenge to God in this verse is not an assertion of theological truth about God's nature, but rather a passionate expression of human agony and bewilderment. Such "argument with God" is a common feature in the laments of the Psalms (e.g., Ps 22, Ps 44), demonstrating a profound level of intimate relationship and trust even in despair. The inclusion of such stark human complaint within the inspired text testifies to the Bible's honesty about the struggle of faith in the face of suffering and apparent divine silence. It highlights the biblical understanding that God desires genuine prayer, even when it’s filled with anguish and difficult questions. This verse also implicitly warns against presuming human understanding of God’s actions to be the ultimate reality, reminding that His ways are higher than ours, even when we cannot reconcile them with present circumstances.

Psalm 89 38 Commentary

Psalm 89:38 encapsulates the profound spiritual crisis faced by the psalmist and, by extension, God’s people. It expresses the raw, honest human experience of apparent divine abandonment and wrath, directly contradicting the robust affirmations of God’s covenant faithfulness detailed just verses before. The language is sharp and accusatory: "cast off," "rejected," and "full of wrath" – strong terms chosen to convey utter devastation and betrayal of expectation. The lament arises from observing a disjunction between God’s eternal promises (specifically the Davidic Covenant, assuring an unending dynasty) and the tragic historical reality, where the Davidic king has suffered catastrophic defeat and humiliation. This perceived divine action against "His anointed" challenged the very foundation of their faith and understanding of God's character. Yet, paradoxically, this lament itself is an act of faith, bringing the most agonizing doubts directly to God, rather than turning away. It models how believers can cry out in distress when God's promises seem unfulfilled in their present circumstances, trusting that He still hears and cares. This psalm ultimately points beyond the historical failure of the Davidic kings to the perfect fulfillment of the covenant in the ultimate "Anointed One," Jesus Christ, whose rejection, wrath-bearing, and resurrection guarantee God's promises are truly eternal.