What Does Psalm 130:4 Mean in the King James?
But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Here, forgiveness does not cancel reverence; the release itself makes awe possible.
THE MEANING
Pardon is with you now, even when your failures make standing feel impossible. This mercy awakens awe of God; being released does not make God less worthy of reverence.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the belief that if God releases your guilt, God becomes less worthy of awe.
THE ROOT
הַסְּלִיחָה
haselichah
GROWS FROM
סלח
to forgive, pardon
“forgiveness” in this verse is haselichah. The noun names pardon as something that is with God, not merely a feeling about the past. That release does not end in indifference; in this verse it opens into awe.
ALSO GROWS
salach: to forgive, pardon
סָלַח
The verb names the act held in the noun “forgiveness.”
lisloach: to forgive, pardon
לִסְלֹחַ
Isaiah 55:7 uses this same root when it says God will “abundantly pardon.”
תִּוָּרֵא
tivvare from yare
GROWS FROM
ירא
to fear, revere, stand in awe
“feared” in this verse is tivvare from yare. The word holds fear and reverence together. Forgiveness does not make God casual or distant; mercy itself becomes the ground of awe.
ALSO GROWS
yare: to fear, revere
יָרֵא
The verb preserves the force of fear while allowing the reverence this verse expresses.
yir'ah: fear, awe
יִרְאָה
This noun carries the awe that rises from knowing pardon is with God.
THE PATTERN
Received mercy deepens relationship into reverence, return, and love.
For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.THE THREAD
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.The word translated “pardon” comes from the same Hebrew root, סלח (salach), as “forgiveness” here. Psalm 130 says pardon is with God and awakens awe; Isaiah shows that same pardon meeting the turn toward God.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us