Psalms 89:46 Meaning and Explanation
“How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The psalmist cries out, asking how long God will remain hidden and allow His anger to burn.
The Context of Psalms 89:46
The psalmist's anguished prayer, asking when God will end His apparent withdrawal and relent from anger.
What Does Psalms 89:46 Mean?
The shift to direct address and anguished questioning marks the transition from lament to prayer. 'How long' is the classic cry of one in pain asking when relief will come. It is not rebellion but the honest voice of suffering seeking God's response.
God hiding Himself is the worst abandonment—not merely anger but the withdrawal of presence. The psalmist fears that this hiding might be permanent ('for ever'), that God might never return, leaving the king and people in perpetual darkness.
Psalms 89:46 in the Original Language
atsalah (עַצְלָה), related to 'hide' — to conceal, to withdraw presence; expresses abandonment and absence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 89:46
What does Psalms 89:46 mean?
The psalmist cries out, asking how long God will remain hidden and allow His anger to burn.
What is the context of Psalms 89:46?
The psalmist's anguished prayer, asking when God will end His apparent withdrawal and relent from anger.