Psalms 78:49
He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.
Original Language Analysis
יְשַׁלַּח
He cast
H7971
יְשַׁלַּח
He cast
Strong's:
H7971
Word #:
1 of 10
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
אַפּ֗וֹ
of his anger
H639
אַפּ֗וֹ
of his anger
Strong's:
H639
Word #:
4 of 10
properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
וָזַ֣עַם
and indignation
H2195
וָזַ֣עַם
and indignation
Strong's:
H2195
Word #:
6 of 10
strictly froth at the mouth, i.e., (figuratively) fury (especially of god's displeasure with sin)
מִ֝שְׁלַ֗חַת
by sending
H4917
מִ֝שְׁלַ֗חַת
by sending
Strong's:
H4917
Word #:
8 of 10
a mission, i.e., (abstractly and favorable) release, or (concretely and unfavorable) an army
Cross References
Psalms 11:6Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.Exodus 15:7And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.Exodus 12:13And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.2 Samuel 24:16And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern peoples attributed disasters to angry deities. Asaph confirms this worldview but identifies Yahweh as the true God whose wrath is righteous, not capricious. His anger has moral grounds—Egypt's enslaving His firstborn son, Israel (Exodus 4:22-23).
Questions for Reflection
- How does understanding God's wrath as righteous response to evil differ from pagan concepts of divine anger?
- What should the reality of God's "fierceness of anger" produce in believers who have been spared through Christ?
- How do the plagues reveal both God's justice and His patience (giving Pharaoh multiple opportunities to repent)?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them. This verse interprets the plagues theologically, not just as natural disasters but expressions of divine fury. Four terms escalate: ḥărôn ʾappô (חֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ, "fierceness of anger")—burning nostrils; ʿeḇrâ (עֶבְרָה, "wrath")—overflowing fury; zaʿam (זַעַם, "indignation")—denunciation; ṣārâ (צָרָה, "trouble")—distress.
Malʾăḵê rāʿîm (מַלְאֲכֵי רָעִים, "evil angels") has sparked debate: angels of evil/harm, or evil as in calamity? Most likely angels executing judgment, called "evil" from the recipients' perspective—like the destroying angel of Passover (Exodus 12:23) or the angel who struck Assyria (2 Kings 19:35). They're God's agents of wrath, not independent evil beings.
This verse reveals that behind natural phenomena stood divine intention. The plagues weren't random but calibrated expressions of God's holy anger against idolatry and oppression. They foreshadow final judgment when God's full wrath is poured out (Revelation 15-16), making Calvary's wrath-absorption all the more stunning.