Psalm 30:5 Meaning and Explanation
“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Context of Psalm 30:5
Psalm 30 is a song of thanksgiving for deliverance, likely after sickness or grave danger. Verse 5 distills the psalm's hope into a memorable contrast of night and morning.
What Does Psalm 30:5 Mean?
This verse contrasts the brevity of God's displeasure with the abundance of his favor, and the passing of night-time weeping with the arrival of morning joy. It is one of Scripture's clearest words of hope to those in grief: sorrow is real, but it is not the final word. The verse frames pain as temporary and God's favor as enduring.
Two parallel contrasts carry the meaning. First, "his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life": God's correction is brief, but his goodwill sustains a whole life. Second, the unforgettable image: "weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." The night is not denied; weeping is allowed to "endure," sometimes long and dark. Yet morning comes, and with it joy. The Hebrew for "joy" suggests a ringing cry of gladness, the sound of a heart that has come through the dark. This promise does not call grief shallow or quick; it assures that grief has a horizon. For the believer walking through a long night, the verse offers a sturdy hope: the God whose favor is life will bring the morning.
Psalm 30:5 in the Original Language
The Hebrew rinnah ("joy") denotes a ringing cry or shout of gladness, and boqer ("morning") marks the dawn that ends the night of weeping.
Bible Verses Related to Psalm 30:5
“Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;”
- Psalm 30:11
“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
- Psalm 34:18
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”
- Psalm 42:5
How to Apply Psalm 30:5 Today
In a season of grief, hold to the promise that weeping has a horizon; the God whose favor is life will bring morning joy in his time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalm 30:5
What does Psalm 30:5 mean?
This verse contrasts the brevity of God's displeasure with the abundance of his favor, and the passing of night-time weeping with the arrival of morning joy. It is one of Scripture's clearest words of hope to those in grief: sorrow is real, but it is not the final word. The verse frames pain as temporary and God's favor as enduring.
What is the context of Psalm 30:5?
Psalm 30 is a song of thanksgiving for deliverance, likely after sickness or grave danger. Verse 5 distills the psalm's hope into a memorable contrast of night and morning.
How can I apply Psalm 30:5 today?
In a season of grief, hold to the promise that weeping has a horizon; the God whose favor is life will bring morning joy in his time.