Bible Strands
Psalms 59:5
O LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, rouse Yourself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to the wicked traitors. Selah
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses Yahweh directly, invoking His covenant identity as the God of Israel and commander of heavenly armies. He makes this plea at a moment of sudden, unprovoked assault by hostile forces.
The words — הָקִיצָ/ה (ha.Ki.tza/h) literally means "awake!" or "rouse yourself!" and לִ/פְקֹ֥ד (li/f.Kod) carries the literal sense "to punish" or "to visit for judgment."
The thread — This appeal for divine intervention against hostile nations echoes the judgment motif in Psalms 9:15 and Psalms 55:15, while the title "LORD God of Hosts" recurs in Psalms 84:8.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that God's attention must be directed toward wickedness, and it requires the reader to trust that divine justice operates independently of human merit or timing.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Thou therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
Cross-references
- Psalms 9:15 The nations have fallen into a pit of their making; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.
- Psalms 55:15 Let death seize them by surprise; let them go down to Sheol alive, for evil is with them in their homes.
- Psalms 84:8 O LORD God of Hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah
- Genesis 33:20 There he set up an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
- Exodus 3:15 God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.
- Exodus 20:5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
- Psalms 7:12 If one does not repent, God will sharpen His sword; He has bent and strung His bow.
- Psalms 54:3 For strangers rise up against me, and ruthless men seek my life—men with no regard for God. Selah
- Psalms 80:4 O LORD God of Hosts, how long will Your anger smolder against the prayers of Your people?
- Isaiah 1:10 Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah!