Psalms 85:4

Authorized King James Version

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Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.

Original Language Analysis

שׁ֭וּבֵנוּ Turn H7725
שׁ֭וּבֵנוּ Turn
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 1 of 6
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
אֱלֹהֵ֣י us O God H430
אֱלֹהֵ֣י us O God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 2 of 6
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
יִשְׁעֵ֑נוּ of our salvation H3468
יִשְׁעֵ֑נוּ of our salvation
Strong's: H3468
Word #: 3 of 6
liberty, deliverance, prosperity
וְהָפֵ֖ר toward us to cease H6565
וְהָפֵ֖ר toward us to cease
Strong's: H6565
Word #: 4 of 6
to break up (usually figuratively), i.e., to violate, frustrate
כַּֽעַסְךָ֣ and cause thine anger H3708
כַּֽעַסְךָ֣ and cause thine anger
Strong's: H3708
Word #: 5 of 6
vexation
עִמָּֽנוּ׃ H5973
עִמָּֽנוּ׃
Strong's: H5973
Word #: 6 of 6
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then

Analysis & Commentary

Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. The psalm shifts from recounting past mercy (vv. 1-3) to urgent present petition (vv. 4-7). The imperative shuv (שׁוּב, "turn us") is causative—"cause us to turn, bring us back, restore us." This prayer recognizes human inability to turn ourselves and God's necessary initiative in restoration. Without divine action enabling repentance, we remain in rebellion. This theology anticipates Jeremiah 31:18 ("Turn thou me, and I shall be turned") and Lamentations 5:21 ("Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned").

"O God of our salvation" (Elohei yish'enu, אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׁעֵנוּ) addresses God by His saving character. Yesha (יֵשַׁע) means deliverance, victory, salvation. By invoking God as "God of our salvation," the psalmist appeals to established pattern—God IS savior; salvation is His nature. The appeal assumes: since You ARE the God who saves, act according to Your character by saving us now.

"And cause thine anger toward us to cease" (vehapher ka'asekha immanu, וְהָפֵר כַּעַסְךָ עִמָּנוּ) requests termination of divine displeasure. Hapher (הָפֵר) means "break, annul, frustrate, make cease"—cause to stop operating. Ka'as (כַּעַס) is vexation, anger, provocation. The phrase "with us" (immanu, עִמָּנוּ) acknowledges that anger is justified—we provoked it through sin. The prayer doesn't claim innocence but pleads for mercy despite guilt.

Historical Context

This verse reflects the tension post-exilic Jews experienced. Physically they had returned to the land (starting 538 BC under Cyrus's decree), but spiritually they sensed incomplete restoration. The second temple, completed in 515 BC, lacked the Shekinah glory that filled Solomon's temple (Ezekiel 10:18-19, Haggai 2:3). Foreign powers still dominated—Persia, then Greece, then Rome. Economic hardship plagued the community (Haggai 1:6, 9). Spiritual compromise crept in through intermarriage with pagans (Ezra 9-10, Nehemiah 13). The people were back in the land but not fully experiencing covenant blessings promised for obedience. This prompted prayers like Psalm 85: "You've forgiven us before—do it again! Turn us back to You completely." The historical context shows that geographic restoration doesn't automatically equal spiritual revival.

Questions for Reflection