The Meaning of Psalms 79:5 Explained

Psalms 79:5

KJV: How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?

YLT: Till when, O Jehovah? art Thou angry for ever? Thy jealousy doth burn as fire.

Darby: How long, O Jehovah? wilt thou be angry for ever? Shall thy jealousy burn like fire?

ASV: How long, O Jehovah? wilt thou be angry for ever? Shall thy jealousy burn like fire?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

How long, LORD?  wilt thou be angry  for ever?  shall thy jealousy  burn  like fire? 

What does Psalms 79:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 79:1-13 - "help Us, O God Of Our Salvation"
It was the period of the Chaldean invasion. This cry of horror went forth from the heart of the Chosen People, who had looked upon the sacred shrine as inviolable. They could not believe that the tide of invasion could break in upon Jerusalem, or that the Holy City should be defiled by the profane feet of the heathen. This psalm should be compared with the book of Lamentations. We there find the same horror, the same anguish, the same sense of surprise, the same hatred of the foe, the same cry to God.
Does it seem as if God were angry with you? Have the heathen forced their way into the inner shrine and city of your heart? Are you brought very low and near unto death? Then begin to inquire whether some sin may not have alienated God from you. Confess it and put it away. Turn to God with a free and glad faith. Ask that His mercies may prevent (literally, "go before") and His help succor you, for His Name's sake. The sighing of the captive and the greatness of God power, Psalms 79:11, are in close affinity; and when you are delivered, remember your vows, and show forth His praise to all within your reach. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 79

1  The psalmist complains of the desolation of Jerusalem
8  He prays for deliverance
13  and promises thankfulness

What do the individual words in Psalms 79:5 mean?

How long when Yahweh will You be angry forever will burn like fire Your jealousy
עַד־ מָ֣ה ؟ יְ֭הוָה תֶּאֱנַ֣ף ؟ לָנֶ֑צַח תִּבְעַ֥ר כְּמוֹ־ אֵ֝֗שׁ ؟ קִנְאָתֶֽךָ

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.
תֶּאֱנַ֣ף  will  You  be  angry 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָנַף  
Sense: to be angry, to be displeased, to breathe hard.
؟ לָנֶ֑צַח  forever 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נֵצַח  
Sense: eminence, perpetuity, strength, victory, enduring, everlastingness.
תִּבְעַ֥ר  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.
אֵ֝֗שׁ  fire 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
؟ קִנְאָתֶֽךָ  Your  jealousy 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: קִנְאָה  
Sense: ardour, zeal, jealousy.