Psalms 90:11 Meaning and Explanation
“Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Who truly comprehends the devastating power of God's wrath, which is proportional to the fear He commands?
The Context of Psalms 90:11
The psalmist emphasizes that God's wrath is beyond human comprehension.
What Does Psalms 90:11 Mean?
The question 'Who knoweth' acknowledges that God's wrath is beyond human understanding. We cannot calculate its power, predict its duration, or escape its reach. The wrath is 'according to thy fear'—measured by the reverence God rightfully commands. Just as His majesty is beyond measure, so His anger against sin is absolute and complete.
The rhetorical question invites the answer: no one fully knows. We see the effects—our mortality, our suffering—but the source remains mysterious. Yet the psalmist's point is not that we should remain ignorant but that we should cease attempting to minimize what we cannot grasp and instead bend toward reconciliation.
Psalms 90:11 in the Original Language
'power of thine anger' (עֹז אַפְּךָ, oz apecha) — literally 'strength of Your nose/wrath,' a Hebraic expression for intense anger.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 90:11
What does Psalms 90:11 mean?
Who truly comprehends the devastating power of God's wrath, which is proportional to the fear He commands?
What is the context of Psalms 90:11?
The psalmist emphasizes that God's wrath is beyond human comprehension.