Psalms 37:8
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
Original Language Analysis
הֶ֣רֶף
Cease
H7503
הֶ֣רֶף
Cease
Strong's:
H7503
Word #:
1 of 8
to slacken (in many applications, literal or figurative)
מֵ֭אַף
from anger
H639
מֵ֭אַף
from anger
Strong's:
H639
Word #:
2 of 8
properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
אַל
H408
אַל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
5 of 8
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תִּ֝תְחַ֗ר
fret
H2734
תִּ֝תְחַ֗ר
fret
Strong's:
H2734
Word #:
6 of 8
to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy
Cross References
Proverbs 14:29He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.Proverbs 16:32He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.Ephesians 4:31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:Ephesians 4:26Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:Colossians 3:8But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.Job 5:2For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.Jonah 4:1But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.Job 18:4He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?Jonah 4:9And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.
Historical Context
Honor-shame culture made retaliation expected and even required. David's counsel to release anger rather than avenge wrong challenged cultural norms, pointing toward Christ's teaching on enemy love.
Questions for Reflection
- How does your anger over injustice risk leading you into sin?
- What practices help you process righteous anger without sinful expression?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The progression—'cease from anger, forsake wrath, fret not'—addresses emotional responses to injustice. Each verb intensifies: cease (Hebrew 'raphah,' let go, release), forsake (Hebrew 'azab,' abandon, leave behind). The warning that fretting leads 'to do evil' reveals anger's dangerous trajectory—righteous indignation can morph into sinful action, making us like those we oppose. James 1:20 confirms: 'the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.' Self-controlled response to injustice testifies to God's sovereignty.