Psalms 130:4

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 130:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But there is forgiveness with thee, That thou mayest be feared.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But there is forgiveness with thee, That thou mayest be feared.
Psalms 130:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 130

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
4But there is forgiveness with thee, That thou mayest be feared.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But [there is] forgiveness with thee, etc.] And with God only; not with angels, nor any of the sons of men; and which flows from his grace and mercy, through the blood of his Son. It appears to be with him by his promise of it in covenant; by appointing his Son to shed his blood for it, and exalting him as a Saviour to give it; by proclaiming it in the Gospel; and by the numerous instances of it, both under the Old and under the New Testament. Or, there is “a propitiation with thee”; as the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions render it: God had found out Christ to be the propitiatory sacrifice for sin, and the ransom of his people; and set him forth in his purposes and decrees for that…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“But there is forgiveness with thee - The Septuagint renders this ἱλασμός hilasmos, propitiation, reconciliation; the Latin Vulgate “propitiatio,” propitiation. The Hebrew word means “pardon.” The idea is, that sin may be forgiven; or, that God is a Being who does pardon sin, and that this is the only ground of hope. When we come before God, the ground of our hope is not that we can justify ourselves; not that we can prove we have not sinned; not that we can explain our sins away; not that we can offer an apology for them; it is only in a frank and full confession, and in a hope that God will forgive them. He who does not come in this manner can have no hope of acceptance with God. That…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Forgiveness - Thou art able and ready to forgive repenting sinners. Feared - Not with a slavish, but with a childlike fear. This mercy of thine is the foundation of all religion, without which men would desperately proceed in their impious courses. Psalms 130:5”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“130:4-6 The good news comes in God’s readiness to forgive sinners. His grace encourages people to fear him and hope in him.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“But there: Psa 25:11, Psa 86:5, Psa 103:2, Psa 103:3; Exo 34:5-7; Isa 1:18, Isa 55:7; Jer 31:34; Dan 9:9; Mic 7:18-20; Rom 8:1; Co2 5:19; Eph 1:7; Col 1:14 that thou mayest: Psa 2:11, Psa 2:12; Kg1 8:39, Kg1 8:40; Jer 33:8, Jer 33:9; Hos 3:5; Act 9:31; Ti2 2:19; Heb 12:24-28 Psalms 130:5”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification