Psalms 85:3

Authorized King James Version

Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.

Word-by-Word Analysis

אָסַ֥פְתָּ

H622

Thou hast taken away

to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e., remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)

כָל

H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

עֶבְרָתֶ֑ךָ

H5678

all thy wrath

an outburst of passion

הֱ֝שִׁיב֗וֹתָ

H7725

thou hast turned

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

מֵחֲר֥וֹן

H2740

thyself from the fierceness

a burning of anger

אַפֶּֽךָ׃

H639

of thine anger

properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire

Analysis

The worship and praise theme here intersects with the broader canonical witness to God's character and purposes. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of progressive revelation that finds its culmination in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's consistent character and purposes.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of ancient Near Eastern poetry and hymnic literature for worship shapes this text's meaning. Israel's liturgical traditions developed through centuries of temple worship and personal devotion Understanding a worldview centered on covenant relationship between God and His people helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

How does the worship and praise theme in this verse connect to the overarching narrative of Scripture, and what does this reveal about God's character and purposes?
How does this passage contribute to our understanding of the progressive revelation of God's purposes throughout Scripture, and what implications does this have for Christian discipleship?
In what ways does understanding divine revelation in its original context challenge or deepen contemporary Christian thinking about worship and praise?