Bible Strands
Psalms 99:8
O LORD our God, You answered them. You were a forgiving God to them, yet an avenger of their misdeeds.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses the assembly, recalling God’s historical response to Israel during the wilderness period. The speaker notes this moment follows God’s provision of decrees and statutes through the pillar of cloud.
The words — The Hebrew נֹשֵׂא (No.se') literally means "bearing" or "forgiving," while נֹקֵ֗ם (no.Kem) means "avenging." These terms directly describe God’s simultaneous posture toward the people.
The thread — This balance of mercy and judgment appears in Numbers 20:12, where God’s holiness demands accountability for unbelief, and parallels the covenant faithfulness noted in Psalms 89:33. The pattern reappears in Jeremiah 46:28, where divine destruction is paired with the promise of presence.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to accept that divine response encompasses both pardon and retribution. Worship at God’s holy mountain demands submission to His uncompromised justice.
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 answeredst them, O Lord our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.
Cross-references
- Numbers 20:12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust Me to show My holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”
- Psalms 89:33 But I will not withdraw My loving devotion from him, nor ever betray My faithfulness.
- 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.”
- Ecclesiastes 7:29 Only this have I found: I have discovered that God made mankind upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”
- Numbers 14:20 “I have pardoned them as you requested,” the LORD replied.
- Numbers 20:24 “Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will not enter the land that I have given the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah.
- Deuteronomy 9:19 For I was afraid of the anger and wrath that the LORD had directed against you, enough to destroy you. But the LORD listened to me this time as well.
- Exodus 32:2 So Aaron told them, “Take off the gold earrings that are on your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.”
- Exodus 32:34 Now go, lead the people to the place I described. Behold, My angel shall go before you. But on the day I settle accounts, I will punish them for their sin.”
- Numbers 11:33 But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and the LORD struck them with a severe plague.