Psalms 89:32 — Word Study
WLCוּפָקַדְתִּ֣י בְשֵׁ֣בֶט פִּשְׁעָ֑ם וּבִנְגָעִ֥ים עֲוֹנָֽם׃
BSAifʼim statutechuqqâh to borechâlal [visit, punish, send punishment on] commandmentmitsvâh notlôʼ to keepshâmar
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וּפָקַדְתִּ֣י | and I will punish | Verb, Qal, sequential perfect first person common singular |
| בְשֵׁ֣בֶט | with a rod | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| פִּשְׁעָ֑ם | transgression their | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| וּבִנְגָעִ֥ים | and with plagues | Conjunction, preposition, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| עֲוֹנָֽם׃ | iniquity their | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | I will attend to their transgression with the rod, and to their iniquity with stripes. |
| KJV | Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. |
| ASV | Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, And their iniquity with stripes. |
| YLT | I have looked after with a rod their transgression, And with strokes their iniquity, |
| WEB | then I will punish their sin with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. |
| BBE | Then I will send punishment on them for their sin; my rod will be the reward of their evil-doing. |
The translations part company on the implications of פָּקַדְתִּי — see How Translations Differ.
The verse contains two main clauses, each detailing God's response to specific sins, structured to emphasize the dual nature of punishment.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
verbאִם
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 89:32
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 — God's Promise of Disciplinegenerated
Psalm 89:32 is part of a larger discourse where God outlines the consequences for His people's disobedience. He emphasizes that if they violate His statutes, He will respond with discipline. This passage highlights the balance between God's justice and His unwavering love, as seen in the following verses where He assures His commitment to His covenant despite their failings.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 32:34 | Now go, lead the people to the place I described. Behold, My angel shall go before you. But on the day I settle accounts, I will punish them for their sin.” |
| 2 | 2 Samuel 7:14 | I will be his Father, and he will be My son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. |
| 3 | 1 Kings 11:6–14 | So Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD; unlike his father David, he did not follow the LORD completely. |
| 4 | Proverbs 3:11–12 | My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke; |
| 5 | Amos 3:2 | “Only you have I known from all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — פָּקַדְתִּי, u.fa.kad.Tigenerated
The verb פָּקַד (paqad) means to visit or oversee, carrying a range of implications from oversight to punishment. It is used here in the first person singular perfect form, indicating a definitive action by God regarding the people's sins.
In this context, it signifies God's intention to address their transgressions directly. The use of this verb underscores the seriousness of their actions and God's role as both overseer and judge.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree on the meaning of פָּקַדְתִּי, consistently rendering it as 'I will punish' or similar phrases.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb פָּקַדְתִּי, I will punish, governs the entire verse. It is followed by two prepositional phrases detailing how the punishment will be administered: with the rod and with plagues.
The structure emphasizes the actions God will take in response to specific behaviors, highlighting the consequences of transgression and iniquity.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates פָּקַדְתִּי with the Greek word ἐὰν, suggesting a conditional aspect that may imply a deeper interpretation of God's discipline as contingent on the people's actions.
This choice indicates a broader understanding of the relationship between divine authority and human behavior, emphasizing accountability.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 89:32 tells us that God will punish His people for their sins and wrongdoing. He uses the imagery of a rod and plagues to illustrate the seriousness of their actions and the consequences they will face for disobedience.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The phrase indicates a form of discipline, suggesting that God will correct His people firmly, akin to a parent disciplining a child.
While it speaks of punishment, it also reflects God's commitment to His covenant, showing that discipline is part of His care for His people.
These terms highlight the seriousness of sin, indicating a deliberate turning away from God's commands and the resulting guilt.
These terms illustrate different aspects of God's discipline, with 'rod' symbolizing direct correction and 'plagues' representing broader consequences of sin.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced God's discipline in my life?
- How can understanding God's punishment help me appreciate His love and commitment?
- What steps can I take to avoid transgressions and iniquities in my own life?
- How can I support others who are facing the consequences of their actions?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 89:32 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThen will I visit their transgression with the rod,.... That is, of men; as in 2 Samuel 7:14, the Lord making use of men to chastise his people by, as he did of the neighbouring nations of the Jews,
Read John Gill on Psalms 89 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThen thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 89 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 89:32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.Ver. 32. Then will I visit their transgression with the rod] The sins of the saints are transgressions, yea, they are treacheries, and shall be visited with the rod; yea, with the rod of men, 2 Samuel 7:14, of weak, sickly, frail men, as the word there signifieth, that have but weak hands, and can give no hard blows; such shall rather see God’ s care than feel his power in their sufferings. Only they shall see that he will not pass by their sins without a sensible check.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 89 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(30-33) An elaboration of 2 Samuel 7:14-15, and evidently made with a purpose. The poet acknowledges the sin of Israel in past times, but also regards the sufferings of the exile as having been the punishment foretold by them. Hence the sin has been expiated, and the perplexity arises why Israel is still afflicted.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 89 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges32. The rod … stripes] From 2 Samuel 7:14, where the fuller phrases the rod of men … the stripes of the children of men seem to mean correction such as even human parents know they must administer. The paternal relation involves the duty of chastisement (Proverbs 23:13 f.; Hebrews 12:9 f.).
Read Cambridge on Psalms 89 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThen will I visit their transgression with the rod - They shall be punished, though my mercy shall not be wholly taken from them.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 89 →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
I will attend to their transgression with the rod, and to their iniquity with stripes.
then I will punish their sin with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
I will attend to their transgression with the rod, and to their iniquity with stripes.
I will punish their rebellion by beating them with a club, their sin by inflicting them with bruises.
Tyndale line
Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, And their iniquity with stripes.
Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
Then will I visite their transgression with the rod, and their iniquitie with strokes.
Strictly literal
Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
I have looked after with a rod their transgression, And with strokes their iniquity,
I have looked after their transgression with a rod, || And their iniquity with strokes,
(89:33) Then will I visit with the rod their transgressions, and with plagues their iniquity.
then will I punish their rebellion with a rod and their iniquity with blows.
Simplified
I will punish their rebellion by beating them with a rod, and their sin by lashing them with a whip.
Then I will send punishment on them for their sin; my rod will be the reward of their evil-doing.
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 and the Septuagint largely agree on the wording of this verse, with four out of five words matching. The differences in word order and articles in the Septuagint reflect its unique syntactical structure rather than a variation in meaning.
וּפָקַדְתִּ֣י בְשֵׁ֣בֶט פִּשְׁעָ֑ם וּבִנְגָעִ֥ים עֲוֹנָֽם׃
4 of the 5 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 89:32
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.
פָּקַד (paqad) is a Hebrew verb that encompasses a range of meanings including to attend to, visit, muster, appoint, and punish. It can imply oversight or care, as well as the act of seeking or lacking something. The word can also be used in various grammatical forms, indicating actions such as being appointed or being visited upon. The plural form פְּקוּדִים refers to musterings or expenses.
פָּקַד 303 vb. attend to, visit, muster, appoint
Qal
pay attention to, observe (with care, practical interest)
attend to, in act, see to
seek (with interest, desire)
seek in vain, need, miss, lack
specif. visit, c. acc., for different purposes
c. עַל pers., visit upon
pass in review, muster (nearly = number), c. acc.
appoint
Niph.
be (sought, i.e. needed) missed, lacking
be visited (graciously)
be visited upon, עַל pers.
be appointed
Pi. (intens.) muster a host
Pu. be passed in review; be caused to miss, deprived
Hithp. be mustered
Hothp. id.
Hiph.
c. acc. pers. set (over), make overseer
c. acc. rei (implic.)
commit, entrust
deposit
Hoph.
be visited in punishment
be deposited
be made overseer
base
[פְּקוּדִים] n.pl.[m.] abstr. musterings, i.e. expenses;—cstr. Ex 38:21
ref
H6485a פָּקַד attend to, visit, muster, appoint .. . . pay attention to, observe (with care, practical interest)
. attend to, in act, see to
. seek (with interest, desire)
. seek in vain, need, miss, lack
. specif. visit, c. acc., for different purposes
. c. עַל pers., visit upon
. pass in review, muster (nearly = number), c. acc.
. appoint
. . be (sought, i.e. needed) missed, lacking
. be visited (graciously)
. be visited upon, עַל pers.
. be appointed
. (intens.) muster a host
. be passed in review; be caused to miss, deprived
. be mustered
. id.
. . c. acc. pers. set (over), make overseer
. c. acc. rei (implic.) . commit, entrust
. deposit
. . be visited in punishment
. be deposited
. be made overseer
H6485b פְּקוּדִים n. pl. [m.] abstr. musterings, i.e. expenses
6485 paqad paw-kad'
a primitive root; to visit (with friendly or hostile intent);
by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss,
deposit, etc.:--appoint, X at all, avenge, bestow, (appoint
to have the, give a) charge, commit, count, deliver to keep,
be empty, enjoin, go see, hurt, do judgment, lack, lay up,
look, make, X by any means, miss, number, officer, (make)
overseer, have (the) oversight, punish, reckon, (call to)
remember(-brance), set (over), sum, X surely, visit, want.
פָּקַד (pa.qad) — to reckon: list.
: list/count
1) to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pay attention to, observe
1a2) to attend to
1a3) to seek, look about for
1a4) to seek in vain, need, miss, lack
1a5) to visit
1a6) to visit upon, punish
1a7) to pass in review, muster, number
1a8) to appoint, assign, lay upon as a charge, deposit
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be sought, be needed, be missed, be lacking
1b2) to be visited
1b3) to be visited upon
1b4) to be appointed
1b5) to be watched over
1c) (Piel) to muster, call up
1d) (Pual) to be passed in review, be caused to miss, be called, be called to account
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to set over, make overseer, appoint an overseer
1e2) to commit, entrust, commit for care, deposit
1f) (Hophal)
1f1) to be visited
1f2) to be deposited
1f3) to be made overseer, be entrusted
1g) (Hithpael) numbered
Hc/Vqq1cs — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect first person common singularHc/Vqq1cs
שֵׁ֫בֶט (shebet) refers to both a physical object and a social group. It can mean a rod, staff, or sceptre, often associated with authority or punishment, as well as a tribe or clan. The word is built from a root likely meaning to branch off, indicating both literal and figurative uses.
שֵׁ֫בֶט 189 n.m. 1. rod, staff, club, sceptre. 2. tribe
base
H7626 שֵׁ֫בֶט 1. rod, staff, club, sceptre. 2. tribe
7626 shebet shay'-bet
from an unused root probably meaning to branch off; a scion,
i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting,
ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan:--X
correction, dart, rod, sceptre, staff, tribe.
שֵׁ֫בֶט (she.vet) — tribe: staff.
: staff
1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe
1a) rod, staff
1b) shaft (of spear, dart)
1c) club (of shepherd's implement)
1d) truncheon, sceptre (mark of authority)
1e) clan, tribe
שֵׁ֫בֶט (she.vet) — tribe.
: tribe
1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe
1a) rod, staff
1b) shaft (of spear, dart)
1c) club (of shepherd's implement)
1d) truncheon, sceptre (mark of authority)
1e) clan, tribe
שֵׁ֫בֶט (she.vet) — tribe: javelin.
: javelin
1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe
1a) rod, staff
1b) shaft (of spear, dart)
1c) club (of shepherd's implement)
1d) truncheon, sceptre (mark of authority)
1e) clan, tribe
שֵׁ֫בֶט (she.vet) — tribe: ruler.
: ruler
1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe
1a) rod, staff
1b) shaft (of spear, dart)
1c) club (of shepherd's implement)
HR/Ncmsa — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
(maqqel, maTTeh, shebheT; rhabdos): Little distinction can be drawn between the Hebrew words used for "rod" and "staff." Maqqel is the word used in Ge 30:37 ff for the twigs of poplar put by Jacob before his sheep, and in Jer 1:11 of the "rod of an almond-tree." MaTTeh is used of a rod in the hand, as the "rods" of Moses and of Aaron (Ex 4:2 ff; 7:9 , etc.). ShebheT is used, but sometimes also maTTeh, of the rod used for correction (Ex 21:20; 2Sa 7:14; Pr 10:13; 13:24; Isa 10:5, etc.). In
פֶּ֫שַׁע (pesha`) means transgression and is derived from a root that implies revolt, whether national, moral, or religious. It encompasses various forms of wrongdoing, including offenses against individuals, nations, and God, as well as the associated guilt and punishment. The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
פֶּ֫שַׁע n.m. transgression
base
H6588 פֶּ֫שַׁע transgression
6588 pesha` peh'-shah
from 6586; a revolt (national, moral or
religious):--rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass.
see HEBREW for 06586
פֶּ֫שַׁע (pe.sah) — transgression.
1) transgression, rebellion
1a1) transgression (against individuals)
1a2) transgression (nation against nation)
1a3) transgression (against God)
1a3a) in general
1a3b) as recognised by sinner
1a3c) as God deals with it
1a3d) as God forgives
1a4) guilt of transgression
1a5) punishment for transgression
1a6) offering for transgression
HNcmsc/Sp3mp — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3mp
נֶ֫גַע (nega`) refers to a stroke or plague, often associated with disease or a mark, particularly in the context of leprosy. It is built from the root meaning 'to strike' and encompasses various forms of affliction, including wounds and spots. The term captures both literal and metaphorical implications of injury or illness.
נֶ֫גַע 78 n.m. stroke, plague, mark, plague-spot
base
H5061 נֶ֫גַע stroke, plague, mark, plague-spot
5061 nega` neh'-gah
from 5060; a blow (figuratively, infliction); also (by
implication) a spot (concretely, a leprous person or
dress):--plague, sore, stricken, stripe, stroke, wound.
see HEBREW for 05060
נֶ֫גַע (ne.ga) — plague.
1) stroke, plague, disease, mark, plague spot
1a) stroke, wound
1b) stroke (metaphorical of disease)
1c) mark (of leprosy)
HC/R/Ncmpa — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine plural absoluteHC/R/Ncmpa
עָוֹן (avon) refers to iniquity, guilt, or the punishment associated with iniquity. It encompasses concepts of moral evil, such as perversity and depravity, and includes the consequences or punishment for these actions. The term appears in contexts like 2 Kings 7:9 and Psalm 51:5, highlighting its significance in discussions of sin and guilt.
עָוֹן n.m. iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity
base
H5771 עָוֹן iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity
5771 `avon aw-vone'
or oavown (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 (7)) {aw-vone'}; from
5753; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil:--fault, iniquity,
mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin.
see HEBREW for 07
see HEBREW for 05753
עָוֺן (a.van) — iniquity: crime.
: crime
1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity
1a) iniquity
1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)
1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity
עָוֺן (a.van) — iniquity: guilt.
: guilt
1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity
1a) iniquity
1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)
1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity
עָוֺן (a.van) — iniquity: punishment.
: punishment
1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity
1a) iniquity
1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)
1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity
HNcmsc/Sp3mp — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3mp