Psalms 89:38 Meaning and Explanation
“But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A sudden reversal: God has rejected and shown anger toward David's anointed successor.
The Context of Psalms 89:38
The psalm shifts from divine promise to painful present reality, introducing lament and questioning.
What Does Psalms 89:38 Mean?
After the rapturous affirmation of eternal covenant comes a jarring pivot. The anointed one—David's descendant—experiences rejection, abhorrence, and divine wrath. This is the voice of lived reality confronting the earlier promise.
The concrete language—cast off, abhorred, wroth—conveys not metaphorical distance but active divine anger. The psalmist is not speculating but testifying to a current condition that seems to contradict the covenant promises.
Psalms 89:38 in the Original Language
shachat (שָׁחַת), 'cast off' — to reject, to spurn; here God actively rejecting the anointed king.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 89:38
What does Psalms 89:38 mean?
A sudden reversal: God has rejected and shown anger toward David's anointed successor.
What is the context of Psalms 89:38?
The psalm shifts from divine promise to painful present reality, introducing lament and questioning.