Psalms 69:24 — Word Study
WLCשְׁפָךְ־ עֲלֵיהֶ֥ם זַעְמֶ֑ךָ וַחֲר֥וֹן אַ֝פְּךָ֗ יַשִּׂיגֵֽם׃
BSAto darkenchâshak eyeʻayin Providerrâʼâh loinmôthen continuallytâmîyd to slipmâʻad
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| שְׁפָךְ־ | pour out | Verb, Qal, imperative second person masculine singular |
| עֲלֵיהֶ֥ם | on them | Preposition, suffix |
| זַעְמֶ֑ךָ | indignation your | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| וַחֲר֥וֹן | and [the] burning of | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct |
| אַ֝פְּךָ֗ | anger your | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| יַשִּׂיגֵֽם׃ | may it overtake them | Verb hiphil imperfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Pour out Your wrath upon them, and let Your burning anger overtake them. |
| KJV | Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them. |
| ASV | Pour out thine indignation upon them, And let the fierceness of thine anger overtake them. |
| YLT | Pour upon them Thine indignation, And the fierceness of Thine anger doth seize them. |
| WEB | Pour out your indignation on them. Let the fierceness of your anger overtake them. |
| BBE | Let your curse come on them; let the heat of your wrath overtake them. |
The translations agree on the overall meaning and structure of the verse.
The structure of the verse features a main clause followed by several subordinate phrases that clarify the action and its implications.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbחָשַׁךְ
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 69:24
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Call for Divine Wrathgenerated
Psalm 69:24 is part of a lament where the psalmist expresses deep anguish over the enemies of God. The preceding verses highlight a plea for justice and retribution, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation faced by the psalmist. This psalm reflects the emotional turmoil and the desire for divine intervention against oppressors, as seen in other passages such as Psalm 79:6.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 79:6 | Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge You, on the kingdoms that refuse to call on Your name, |
| 2 | Leviticus 26:14–46 | If, however, you fail to obey Me and to carry out all these commandments, |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 28:15–68 | If, however, you do not obey the LORD your God by carefully following all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: |
| 4 | Deuteronomy 29:18–28 | Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our God to go and worship the gods of those nations. Make sure there is no root among you that bears such poisonous and bitter fruit, |
| 5 | Deuteronomy 31:17 | On that day My anger will burn against them, and I will abandon them and hide My face from them, so that they will be consumed, and many troubles and afflictions will befall them. On that day they will say, ‘Have not these disasters come upon us because our God is no longer with us?’ |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 14 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שְׁפָךְ, she.fokh-generated
The verb שָׁפַךְ (shaphak) means to pour out or spill, often used in contexts involving liquids or emotions. It conveys a strong action of shedding, whether it be blood or heartfelt cries. The imperative form here indicates a direct command, emphasizing the urgency of the psalmist's request for God to act decisively.
This word is rich in connotation, suggesting not just a physical pouring but also an outpouring of emotions such as anger or grief. The context of this verse indicates a desire for God's wrath to be unleashed against those who oppose Him, reflecting the psalmist's deep sense of injustice.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is presented in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses pour out for שְׁפָךְ and burning anger for וַחֲר֥וֹן.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb שְׁפָךְ governs the verse, with two clauses following: the first expresses the action of pouring out wrath, and the second describes the desired effect of that wrath overtaking the enemies. The structure emphasizes the psalmist's urgent plea for divine action.
The prepositional phrase עֲלֵיהֶ֥ם specifies the target of the wrath, while the noun phrases זַעְמֶ֑ךָ and אַ֝פְּךָ֗ indicate the nature of God's anger, creating a clear and forceful appeal.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שְׁפָךְ as σκοτισθήτωσαν, which suggests a focus on darkness or blindness rather than a direct pouring out. This choice reflects an interpretation that emphasizes the consequences of God's wrath rather than the act itself.
The use of βλέπειν for זַעְמֶ֑ךָ indicates a shift towards a visual or perceptual aspect of God's anger, which may imply a broader understanding of how divine displeasure manifests.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 69:24 expresses a deep desire for God's fierce anger to be directed at those who oppose Him. The psalmist asks God to pour out His wrath and let it overtake them, reflecting a serious call for justice against enemies.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The psalmist is asking God to unleash His anger against those who are causing suffering and injustice, seeking divine retribution.
Pouring out signifies a complete and overwhelming action, emphasizing the intensity of God's anger and the seriousness of the situation.
This verse reflects a common theme in the Psalms where the psalmist calls upon God to act against wrongdoing and to uphold justice.
The psalmist's plea shows the importance of seeking God's intervention in times of distress and the desire for divine justice against evil.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what situations have I felt the need to call upon God for justice?
- How do I understand the concept of God's anger in relation to His love?
- What does it mean for me to pour out my heart to God in prayer?
- How can I reconcile feelings of anger with my faith in God's justice?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentary on this verse highlights its significance in understanding divine justice and the consequences of sin, as noted by Augustine of Hippo.
"Let the eyes of them be darkened, that they see not, and the back of them always bow down" [Psalms 69:24]. This is a consequence.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 69 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 69:24 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BiblePour out thine indignation upon them,.... Not a few drops of it only, but a flood of it, sweeping away and bearing down all before it; which was done when wrath came upon them to the uttermost, in
Read John Gill on Psalms 69 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryPour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 69 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleIn such other ways and judgments as thou shalt think fit.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 69 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 69:24 Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.Ver. 24. Pour out thine indignation upon them] By indignation, saith Basil, we are to understand speedy vengeance; by wrath, durable. This is befallen the nation of the Jews to the utmost, 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16, or to the end, as some render it.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 69 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges24. Cp. Psalms 79:6; Jeremiah 10:25. and let &c.] R.V., and let the fierceness of thine anger overtake them.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 69 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BiblePour out thine indignation upon them - That is, Punish them for their sins; or, do justice to them. And let thy wrathful anger - literally, “the burning of thy wrath;” glow of anger; burning wrath.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 69 →The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Pour out Your wrath upon them, and let Your burning anger overtake them.
Pour out your indignation on them. Let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.
Pour out Your wrath upon them, and let Your burning anger overtake them.
Pour out your judgment on them! May your raging anger overtake them!
Tyndale line
Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.
Pour out thine indignation upon them, And let the fierceness of thine anger overtake them.
Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let the fierceness of thine anger overtake them.
Pour out thy indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.
Powre out thine anger vpon them, and let thy wrathfull displeasure take them.
Strictly literal
Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let the fierceness of thine anger take hold of them.
Pour upon them Thine indignation, And the fierceness of Thine anger doth seize them.
Pour Your indignation on them, || And the fierceness of Your anger seizes them.
(69:25) Pour out over them thy indignation, and let the heat of thy anger overtake them.
Pour out your indignation on them, and let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.
Simplified
Pour out your judgment on them; chase them down in your fierce anger.
Let your curse come on them; let the heat of your wrath overtake them.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text presents the verse as שְׁפָךְ־ עֲלֵיהֶ֥ם זַעְמֶ֑ךָ וַחֲר֥וֹן אַ֝פְּךָ֗ יַשִּׂיגֵֽם׃, which aligns closely with the Septuagint, where five out of six words match. This indicates a strong consistency between the two texts, highlighting the enduring nature of this plea for divine wrath.
שְׁפָךְ־ עֲלֵיהֶ֥ם זַעְמֶ֑ךָ וַחֲר֥וֹן אַ֝פְּךָ֗ יַשִּׂיגֵֽם׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 69:24
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
שָׁפַךְ (shaphak) is a Hebrew verb meaning to pour out or spill. It encompasses a range of actions, including pouring liquids, shedding blood, and even expressing emotions like anger. The word can also imply figurative uses, such as expending life or resources. Various forms of the verb exist, indicating different nuances, such as being poured out or pouring oneself out.
שָׁפַךְ 113 vb. pour out, pour
Qal
lit.
fig.
Niph. be poured out
Pu. be poured out
Hithp. my soul pours itself out upon me
base
H8210 שָׁפַךְ pour out, pour
8210 shaphak shaw-fak'
a primitive root; to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid
metal; or even a solid, i.e. to mound up); also (figuratively)
to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc.); intensively,
to sprawl out:--cast (up), gush out, pour (out), shed(-der,
out), slip.
שָׁפַךְ (sha.phakh) — to pour: pour.
: pour
1) to pour, pour out, spill
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pour, pour out
1a2) to shed (blood)
1a3) to pour out (anger or heart) (fig)
1b) (Niphal) to be poured out, be shed
1c) (Pual) to be poured out, be shed
1d) (Hithpael)
1d1) to be poured out
1d2) to pour out oneself
שָׁפַךְ (sha.phakh) — to pour: kill.
: kill/shed(blood/life)
1) to pour, pour out, spill
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pour, pour out
1a2) to shed (blood)
1a3) to pour out (anger or heart) (fig)
1b) (Niphal) to be poured out, be shed
1c) (Pual) to be poured out, be shed
1d) (Hithpael)
1d1) to be poured out
1d2) to pour out oneself
שָׁפַךְ (sha.phakh) — to pour: build siege mound.
: build_siege_mound
1) to pour, pour out, spill
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pour, pour out
1a2) to shed (blood)
1a3) to pour out (anger or heart) (fig)
1b) (Niphal) to be poured out, be shed
1c) (Pual) to be poured out, be shed
HVqv2ms — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singularHVqv2ms
The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
עַל, עָ֑ל
subst. height
As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed
—
of clothing, etc., which any one wears
With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears
. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
5921 `al al
properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the
singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a
particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always
in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great
variety of applications (as follow):--above, according
to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because
of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both
and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in
(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,
through(-out), to, touching, X with.
see HEBREW for 05920
עַל (al) — upon.
prep
1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards
1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)
1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)
1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)
1e) over (of suspension or extension)
1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)
1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)
1h) to (as a dative)
[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.
conj
HR/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3mp
זַ֫עַם (za`am) refers to indignation or anger, particularly in the context of God's displeasure with sin. It is derived from the root word for frothing at the mouth, emphasizing a strong emotional response. The entries consistently highlight its use to convey fury and rage.
זַ֫עַם n.m. indignation
base
H2195 זַ֫עַם indignation
2195 za`am zah'-am
from 2194; strictly froth at the mouth, i.e. (figuratively)
fury (especially of God's displeasure with sin):--angry,
indignation, rage.
see HEBREW for 02194
זַ֫עַם (za.am) — indignation.
anger, indignation
HNcmsc/Sp2ms — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp2ms
חָרוֹן (charown) refers to a burning anger or fierce wrath, primarily associated with God's displeasure. It is derived from the root meaning 'to burn' and is consistently used to denote intense emotional states of anger. The term captures the severity of divine fury, emphasizing its potency in contexts of judgment.
חָרוֹן n.m. (burning of) anger
base
H2740 חָרוֹן (burning of) anger
2740 charown khaw-rone'
or (shortened) charon {khaw-rone'}; from 2734; a burning of
anger:--sore displeasure, fierce(-ness), fury, (fierce)
wrath(-ful).
see HEBREW for 02734
חָרוֹן (cha.ron) — burning anger.
1) anger, heat, burning (of anger)
1a) always used of God's anger
HC/Ncmsc — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular constructHC/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
The Hebrew word אַף (aph) primarily means nostril or nose, but it also refers to the face and is often associated with anger. It can denote a person's countenance or expressions of ire. The entries highlight its connection to rapid breathing in passionate states, indicating its use in contexts of anger or wrath.
אַף 277 n.m. nostril, nose, face, anger
nostril, as organ of breathing
Dn. face
mostly anger
base
H639 אַף nostril, nose, face, anger
639 'aph af
from 599; properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and
occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in
passion) ire:--anger(-gry), + before, countenance, face, +
forebearing, forehead, + (long-)suffering, nose, nostril,
snout, X worthy, wrath.
see HEBREW for 0599
אַף (aph) — face: anger.
: anger
1) nostril, nose, face
2) anger
אַף (aph) — face: nose.
: nose
1) nostril, nose, face
2) anger
אַף (aph) — face.
: face
1) nostril, nose, face
2) anger
HNcmsc/Sp2ms — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp2ms
נָשַׂג (nasag) is a Hebrew verb primarily found in the Hiphil form, meaning to reach or overtake. It encompasses a range of meanings including the ability to attain or secure something, as well as the literal act of reaching or taking hold. The entries consistently highlight its figurative use, indicating sufficiency or capability.
[נָשַׂג] vb. only Hiph. reach, overtake
Hiph.
overtake
reach, attain
cause to reach, bring, put
fig. one’s hand has reached, i.e. one is able, or has enough
base
H5381 נָשַׂג only Hiph. reach, overtake
5381 nasag naw-sag'
a primitive root; to reach (literally or
figuratively):--ability, be able, attain (unto), (be able to,
can) get, lay at, put, reach, remove, wax rich, X surely,
(over-)take (hold of, on, upon).
נָשַׂג (na.sag) — to overtake.
1) to reach, overtake, take hold upon
1a) (Hiphil)
1a1) to overtake
1a2) to reach, attain to, cause to reach
1a3) to be able to secure, reach, have enough
HVhi3ms/Sp3mp — Verb hiphil imperfect third person masculine singular · suffixHVhi3ms/Sp3mp