Bible Strands
Psalms 6:1
For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments, according to Sheminith. A Psalm of David. O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger or discipline me in Your wrath.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David speaks to Yahweh as the opening petition of a psalm designated for the choirmaster and stringed instruments. He pleads for restraint during a moment of acute physical and spiritual distress.
The words — The Hebrew phrase אַל תּוֹכִיחֵנִי ('al tochiḥēnî) translates literally to "may not you rebuke me," while בַּחֲמָתְךָ תְיַסְּרֵנִי (baḥamatkā tesaśśērēnî) means "in your wrath you discipline me."
The thread — This identical petition appears in Psalm 38:1, while related concepts of measured discipline without destruction appear in Psalm 118:18 and Jeremiah 10:24.
Why it lands — The text explicitly requests that God withhold corrective rebuke and discipline during his current anger. It asks a reader to distinguish between necessary correction and destructive wrath, seeking preservation rather than exemption from divine authority.
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
To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
Cross-references
- Psalms 38:1 A Psalm of David, for remembrance. O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger or discipline me in Your wrath.
- Psalms 118:18 The LORD disciplined me severely, but He has not given me over to death.
- Jeremiah 10:24 Correct me, O LORD, but only with justice—not in Your anger, or You will bring me to nothing.
- Jeremiah 46:28 And you, My servant Jacob, do not be afraid, declares the LORD, for I am with you. Though I will completely destroy all the nations to which I have banished you, I will not completely destroy you. Yet I will discipline you justly, and will by no means leave you unpunished.”
- 1 Corinthians 11:31 Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment.
- 1 Chronicles 15:21 And Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead the music with lyres according to Sheminith.
- Isaiah 57:16 For I will not accuse you forever, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me—the breath of life I have made.
- Psalms 4:1 For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved my distress; show me grace and hear my prayer.
- Isaiah 54:9 “For to Me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you.
- Psalms 12:1 For the choirmaster. According to Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Help, O LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.