Psalms 79:5
How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?
Original Language Analysis
עַד
H5704
עַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
1 of 9
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
מָ֣ה
H4100
מָ֣ה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
2 of 9
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
יְ֭הוָה
How long LORD
H3068
יְ֭הוָה
How long LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 9
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
לָנֶ֑צַח
for ever
H5331
לָנֶ֑צַח
for ever
Strong's:
H5331
Word #:
5 of 9
properly, a goal, i.e., the bright object at a distance travelled towards; hence (figuratively), splendor, or (subjectively) truthfulness, or (objecti
Cross References
Psalms 89:46How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?Psalms 85:5Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?Psalms 74:1O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?Deuteronomy 29:20The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.Zephaniah 3:8Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.Psalms 80:4O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?Ezekiel 36:5Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey.
Historical Context
The Babylonian exile lasted 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11-12), a period that tested Israel's faith in covenant promises. "How long?" voiced the exilic community's agony while awaiting restoration. The question of divine anger's duration is central to exilic literature (Lamentations, Daniel, Ezekiel). The concept of measured judgment—severe but not endless—sustained hope that God would eventually restore His people for His name's sake.
Questions for Reflection
- How can believers today distinguish between faithful questioning of God (like this psalm) and unfaithful accusation of God?
- What does God's 'jealousy' for His name reveal about His motivation to act on behalf of His suffering people?
- How should Christians pray during prolonged seasons of suffering when God seems silent and deliverance seems delayed indefinitely?
Analysis & Commentary
How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire? The desperate question "How long?" (ad-mah, עַד־מָה) appears throughout the Psalter, expressing anguish over apparently endless suffering. This is the lament's crucial pivot: from describing atrocity to demanding divine response. The psalmist addresses Yahweh directly by covenant name, asserting the relationship despite appearances of abandonment. The question challenges God to act consistently with His covenant character.
"Wilt thou be angry for ever?" acknowledges that judgment is deserved (the psalm will confess Israel's sin in verse 8), but questions whether the punishment exceeds covenant boundaries. The Hebrew netsach (נֶצַח, "for ever") can mean "perpetually" or "to completion." The question isn't rhetorical but genuine: Will divine anger continue indefinitely, or is there a limit after which mercy returns? This reflects Lamentations 3:31-32: "The Lord will not cast off for ever: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion."
"Thy jealousy burn like fire" uses qin'ah (קִנְאָה), divine jealousy/zeal that refuses to share glory with another. Fire imagery represents both God's holy wrath against covenant violation and His passionate commitment to His own name. The question implicitly asks: If Your jealousy burns for Your reputation, why allow nations to mock You through Israel's defeat? The theology is sophisticated: God's jealousy should motivate Him to vindicate both Himself and His people.