The Meaning of Psalms 30:5 Explained

Psalms 30:5

KJV: For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

YLT: For -- a moment is in His anger, Life is in His good-will, At even remaineth weeping, and at morn singing.

Darby: For a moment is passed in his anger, a life in his favour; at even weeping cometh for the night, and at morn there is rejoicing.

ASV: For his anger is but for a moment; His favor is for a life-time: Weeping may tarry for the night, But joy cometh in the morning.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For his anger  [endureth but] a moment;  in his favour  [is] life:  weeping  may endure  for a night,  but joy  [cometh] in the morning. 

What does Psalms 30:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 30:1-12 - "joy Cometh In The Morning"
This psalm dates from 2 Samuel 5:11. What a contrast between Adullam's cave and the house of cedar! When God has lifted us up in mercy, we should lift Him up in song.
Apparently David had been passing through a time of sickness or intense sorrow, and now he could not be thankful enough for God's redeeming mercy. When shall we realize that God both forgives sin and redeems us from its eternal consequences! Weeping is here personified; she is only a lodger, who tarries for the brief Eastern night, and then, veiled, glides out of the house at daybreak. With the first ray of light Joy comes to abide, and we hear His hearty salutation in the vestibule.
We need more of the joy of the Lord. The first touch of pain makes us cry, Psalms 30:8; but we are slow to put on and wear the girdle and the garments of gladness. Be of good cheer, sad friend; God will yet turn "the shadow of death into the morning!" [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 30

1  David praises God for his deliverance
4  He exhorts others to praise him by example of God's dealings with him

What do the individual words in Psalms 30:5 mean?

For a moment His anger [is but for] [for] life His favor [is] for a night may endure Weeping but in the morning joy [comes]
כִּ֤י רֶ֨גַע ׀ בְּאַפּוֹ֮ חַיִּ֪ים בִּרְצ֫וֹנ֥וֹ בָּ֭עֶרֶב יָלִ֥ין בֶּ֗כִי וְלַבֹּ֥קֶר רִנָּֽה

רֶ֨גַע ׀  a  moment 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֶגַע  
Sense: a moment adv.
בְּאַפּוֹ֮  His  anger  [is  but  for] 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אַף 
Sense: nostril, nose, face.
חַיִּ֪ים  [for]  life 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
בִּרְצ֫וֹנ֥וֹ  His  favor  [is] 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רָצֹון  
Sense: pleasure, delight, favour, goodwill, acceptance, will.
בָּ֭עֶרֶב  for  a  night 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֶרֶב  
Sense: evening, night, sunset.
יָלִ֥ין  may  endure 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לוּן 
Sense: to lodge, stop over, pass the night, abide.
בֶּ֗כִי  Weeping 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בְּכִי  
Sense: a weeping, weeping.
וְלַבֹּ֥קֶר  but  in  the  morning 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֹּקֶר 
Sense: morning, break of day.
רִנָּֽה  joy  [comes] 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: רִנָּה  
Sense: ringing cry.