The Meaning of Psalms 89:46 Explained

Psalms 89:46

KJV: How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?

YLT: Till when, O Jehovah, art Thou hidden? For ever doth Thy fury burn as fire?

Darby: How long, Jehovah, wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy fury burn like fire?

ASV: How long, O Jehovah? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? How long'shall thy wrath burn like fire?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

How long, LORD?  wilt thou hide  thyself for ever?  shall thy wrath  burn  like fire? 

What does Psalms 89:46 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 89:38-52 - "a Consuming Fire"
Here the psalmist falls into expostulation and lament. Whether he alludes to the time when Jerusalem was taken by Shishak in the days of Rehoboam, 1 Kings 14:25-26, or when the youthful prince Jehoiachin was deposed by Nebuchadnezzar, 2 Kings 24:10-16, it is impossible to say; but it seemed as if God's faithfulness had failed. The psalmist dwells sorrowfully upon the contrast between God's ancient Covenant and the sad reality. The family that had been promised perpetual duration and dominion had lost its luster and had become like a dying lamp.
Then the psalmist betakes himself to prayer, and bases his argument upon the brevity of the age. There is but a little while during which God has the opportunity of manifesting His love and truth. Literally the words are, "Remember-what a transitoriness!" Psalms 89:47. In the last three verses another plea is presented-that dishonor will accrue to God if He does not arrest the continuance of disaster. The insults and reproaches that are hurled against the servants are really directed against their God; therefore He is entreated, in vindicating them, to vindicate Himself.
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Chapter Summary: Psalms 89

1  The psalmist praises God for his covenant
5  For his wonderful power
15  For the care of his church
19  For his favor to the kingdom of David
38  Then complaining of contrary events
46  He expostulates, prays, and blesses God

What do the individual words in Psalms 89:46 mean?

How long when Yahweh will You hide Yourself forever will burn like fire Your wrath
עַד־ מָ֣ה ؟ יְ֭הוָה תִּסָּתֵ֣ר ؟ לָנֶ֑צַח תִּבְעַ֖ר כְּמוֹ־ אֵ֣שׁ ؟ חֲמָתֶֽךָ

עַד־  How  long 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
؟ יְ֭הוָה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
תִּסָּתֵ֣ר  will  You  hide  Yourself 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: סָתַר  
Sense: to hide, conceal.
؟ לָנֶ֑צַח  forever 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נֵצַח  
Sense: eminence, perpetuity, strength, victory, enduring, everlastingness.
תִּבְעַ֖ר  will  burn 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: בָּעַר 
Sense: to burn, consume, kindle, be kindled.
כְּמוֹ־  like 
Parse: Preposition
Root: כְּמֹו  
Sense: like, as, the like of which conj.
אֵ֣שׁ  fire 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
؟ חֲמָתֶֽךָ  Your  wrath 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: חֵמָא 
Sense: heat, rage, hot displeasure, indignation, anger, wrath, poison, bottles.