Psalm 99 8

Psalm 99:8 kjv

Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.

Psalm 99:8 nkjv

You answered them, O LORD our God; You were to them God-Who-Forgives, Though You took vengeance on their deeds.

Psalm 99:8 niv

LORD our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds.

Psalm 99:8 esv

O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.

Psalm 99:8 nlt

O LORD our God, you answered them.
You were a forgiving God to them,
but you punished them when they went wrong.

Psalm 99 verses

Psalm 99 8 Meaning

Psalm 99:8 declares the consistent nature of God's relationship with His people, specifically His chosen leaders (referring back to Moses, Aaron, and Samuel). It states that the LORD our God both answers their prayers and extends forgiveness for their sins. However, it equally affirms that God, in His righteousness, enacts just judgment or consequences for their "inventions" or deliberate misdeeds. This verse beautifully portrays God's perfect balance of mercy and justice, demonstrating that forgiveness does not negate the necessity of divine correction or accountability for actions that transgress His holiness or impact His covenant people.

Psalm 99 8 Context

Psalm 99 is a "Royal Psalm" or "Enthronement Psalm," celebrating YHWH's kingship and holy reign over His people and the nations. The entire chapter calls for worship and praises God's greatness, emphasizing His holiness, power, and justice. Verses 1-5 magnify His universal reign and sacred character. Verses 6-8 shift focus to specific examples of His holy rule through faithful leaders within Israel's history—Moses, Aaron, and Samuel—who served as models of prayer and obedience. Verse 8, specifically, highlights God's interaction with these revered figures, affirming that He responded to them in their needs and forgave their sins. Yet, concurrently, He did not overlook their "inventions" or deliberate wrongdoings, imposing just consequences. This serves to demonstrate that even His closest servants are subject to His righteous judgment, upholding His unblemished holiness.

Psalm 99 8 Word analysis

• Thou answeredst them: Hebrew: 'ānîṯā lōw (עָנִיתָ לָהֶם). The verb 'anah (ענה) means to answer, respond, or testify. Here, it denotes God's attentiveness and responsiveness to the prayers and appeals of Moses, Aaron, and Samuel, showing His accessibility and willingness to intervene.
• O LORD our God: Hebrew: YHWH 'ĕlōhênû (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ). "LORD" (YHWH) signifies God's covenant name, emphasizing His personal, unchanging relationship with Israel. "Our God" stresses this specific, intimate covenant bond, reflecting their reliance and worship.
• thou wast a God that forgavest them: Hebrew: 'ēl nōsē' (אֵל נֹשֵׂא). 'Ēl is a general term for God. Nōsē' is a participle of nāśā' (נָשָׂא), meaning "to lift, bear, carry, or take away." When referring to sin, nōsē' 'āwōn means to "bear iniquity" or "forgive sin." The participle implies that forgiveness is an enduring attribute of God, not just a momentary act. It reflects His grace and compassion.
• though thou tookest vengeance: Hebrew: wənoqēm (וְנוֹקֵם). Nôqēm is a participle of nāqam (נָקַם), meaning "to avenge" or "to execute justice." This is divine "vengeance" not in the sense of human malice or spite, but as the just retribution and upholding of righteous order. It speaks of God's perfect justice which actively addresses and rectifies wrong. The participle indicates this is also a continuous aspect of His character, reflecting His holiness and unwavering commitment to moral order.
• of their inventions: Hebrew: 'ălîlôṯām (עֲלִילוֹתָם). This word refers to deeds, actions, or practices. While it can be neutral, when used in contexts of divine judgment, as here, it often carries a negative connotation, referring to wrongdoings, evil deeds, or deliberate acts of transgression. It differentiates from accidental sins and implies actions that were particularly heinous or impactful, requiring corrective justice even in the face of forgiveness. For Moses (hitting the rock) and Aaron (golden calf), their public actions compromised God's holiness.

Psalm 99 8 Bonus section

The poetic structure of Psalm 99:8, using two active participles (nōsē' for forgiving and nôqēm for taking vengeance), powerfully emphasizes that both mercy and justice are continuous, intrinsic, and active attributes of God's nature. This is not a contradiction but a perfect equilibrium of His holiness. It is particularly striking that God demonstrates this unwavering balance of grace and judgment even towards His most revered human instruments, like Moses and Samuel. This provides a template for understanding divine governance, highlighting that all under God's covenant are subject to both His infinite mercy and His impartial justice.

Psalm 99 8 Commentary

Psalm 99:8 is a profound theological statement encapsulating God's complex yet harmonious character. It illustrates that divine forgiveness (grace) does not negate divine justice (law). God hears His servants and mercifully removes the ultimate guilt of their sins, preventing eternal condemnation. However, for specific, public, or defiant misdeeds, particularly those that diminish His holiness or lead others astray, He consistently enacts temporal consequences. This truth offers comfort to the repentant, assuring them of God's pardon, while simultaneously instilling reverence and accountability, reminding even the most devout of God's unyielding standard of righteousness. It shows that true holiness requires God to deal with all sin, even if it is by loving discipline for those He forgives.