Psalms 78:50
He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;
Original Language Analysis
יְפַלֵּ֥ס
He made
H6424
יְפַלֵּ֥ס
He made
Strong's:
H6424
Word #:
1 of 10
properly, to roll flat, i.e., prepare (a road); also to revolve, i.e., weigh (mentally)
לְאַ֫פּ֥וֹ
to his anger
H639
לְאַ֫פּ֥וֹ
to his anger
Strong's:
H639
Word #:
3 of 10
properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
לֹא
H3808
לֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
4 of 10
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
חָשַׂ֣ךְ
he spared
H2820
חָשַׂ֣ךְ
he spared
Strong's:
H2820
Word #:
5 of 10
to restrain or (reflexive) refrain; by implication, to refuse, spare, preserve; to observe
מִמָּ֣וֶת
from death
H4194
מִמָּ֣וֶת
from death
Strong's:
H4194
Word #:
6 of 10
death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin
נַפְשָׁ֑ם
not their soul
H5315
נַפְשָׁ֑ם
not their soul
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
7 of 10
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
וְ֝חַיָּתָ֗ם
their life
H2416
וְ֝חַיָּתָ֗ם
their life
Strong's:
H2416
Word #:
8 of 10
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
Cross References
Romans 8:32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?Ezekiel 7:4And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Historical Context
This likely refers to the livestock plague (Exodus 9:1-7) and possibly disease affecting Egyptians during the boils plague (Exodus 9:8-12). The cumulative effect was mounting death toll, preparing Egypt for the final plague—death of the firstborn.
Questions for Reflection
- What does God "making a way for His anger" teach about His sovereignty over judgment?
- How should the reality of God not sparing souls from death affect evangelistic urgency?
- In what sense does God "give people over" to their chosen path, and what does this reveal about His judgment?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence. Pālas (פָּלַס, "made a way") means to level a path or prepare a road—God cleared the way for His anger to reach its target without obstruction. His wrath wasn't impulsive but directed, purposeful, like a highway constructed to its destination.
"Spared not their soul from death" uses nep̄eš (נֶפֶשׁ, "soul")—the whole living being. Dāḇer (דֶּבֶר, "pestilence") refers to plague or epidemic, possibly anthrax or similar livestock disease that spread to humans. God didn't prevent death but deliberately handed them over to it—judicial language of abandonment to consequences.
This verse explains divine mechanics: God's anger doesn't randomly destroy but precisely targets. He "makes a way" for judgment like an engineer designing demolition. It's terrifying yet reveals God's sovereignty—nothing happens accidentally, and His wrath accomplishes its full purpose without collateral mercy for the unrepentant.