Psalms 50:3
Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
Original Language Analysis
אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ
Our God
H430
אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ
Our God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
2 of 10
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
וְֽאַל
H408
וְֽאַל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
3 of 10
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
יֶ֫חֱרַ֥שׁ
and shall not keep silence
H2790
יֶ֫חֱרַ֥שׁ
and shall not keep silence
Strong's:
H2790
Word #:
4 of 10
to scratch, i.e., (by implication) to engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to fabricate (of any material); figuratively, to devise (in a bad
לְפָנָ֥יו
before
H6440
לְפָנָ֥יו
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
6 of 10
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
וּ֝סְבִיבָ֗יו
round about
H5439
וּ֝סְבִיבָ֗יו
round about
Strong's:
H5439
Word #:
8 of 10
(as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around
Cross References
Daniel 7:10A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.Leviticus 10:2And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.Numbers 16:35And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.Matthew 3:12Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Historical Context
The imagery recalls Mount Sinai (Exodus 19) where God descended in fire, cloud, and earthquake. Similar theophanic elements appear in prophetic visions of divine coming (Habakkuk 3; Nahum 1).
Questions for Reflection
- What does it mean that God 'shall not keep silence'?
- How do fire and storm indicate God's presence and judgment?
Analysis & Commentary
The coming God: 'Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.' Unlike idols that are silent, Yahweh speaks and acts. Fire and storm are theophany elements from Sinai, indicating divine presence in judgment.