Psalms 30:4-5

4 Sing praises to the LORD, O you 1his saints, and 2give thanks to his holy name.[a]
5 3For his anger is but for a moment, and 4his favor is for a lifetime.[b] 5Weeping may tarry for the night, but 6joy comes with the morning.

Images for Psalms 30:4-5

Psalms 30:4-5 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 30

\\<>\\. This is the first time that a psalm is called a song; some psalms are called by one name, some by another, and some by both, as here; and some are called hymns: to which distinction of them the apostle refers in Eph 5:19. A psalm was sung upon musical instruments, a song with the voice; it may be this psalm was sung both ways: the occasion of it was the dedication of David's house: the Targum interprets it of the house of the sanctuary, the temple; and so most of the Jewish commentators {i}; which might be called his house, because it was his intention to build it; his heart was set upon it, he provided materials for it, and gave his son Solomon the form of it, and a charge to build it; and, as is thought, composed this psalm to be sung, and which was sung by the Levites at the dedication of it: others, as Aben Ezra, are of opinion it was his own dwelling house, made of cedar, which he dedicated according to the law of Moses, with sacrifices and offerings, prayer and thanksgiving, \2Sa 5:11 7:2 De 20:5\; so Apollinarius calls it a new house David built; but since there is nothing in the whole psalm that agrees with the dedication, either of the temple, or of David's own private house, it seems better, with other interpreters, to understand it of the purging of David's house from the wickedness and incest of his son Absalom, upon his return to it, when the rebellion raised by him was extinguished; which might be reckoned a new dedication of it; see 2Sa 20:3; and to a deliverance from such troubles this psalm well agrees. Theodoret interprets it of the restoration of the human nature by Christ, through his resurrection from the dead. {i} Jarchi, Kimchi, & Abdendana.

Cross References 6

  • 1. Psalms 50:5
  • 2. Psalms 97:12; [1 Chronicles 16:4]
  • 3. [Psalms 103:9; Job 33:26; Isaiah 26:20; Isaiah 54:7, 8]
  • 4. Psalms 63:3
  • 5. [2 Corinthians 4:17, 18]
  • 6. Psalms 126:5(Heb.)

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Hebrew to the memorial of his holiness (see Exodus 3:15)
  • [b]. Or and in his favor is life
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.