LORD, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. Selah You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Psalmist doesn't just recall a past rescue; he begins with a strong sense of present divine favor, noting that God "has become gracious" to the land. This implies a preceding period where God was not pleased, framing the return from captivity not as a simple historical event, but as a tangible sign of God turning back to His people after a time of absence or displeasure.
LORD, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. Selah You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm opens with a powerful expression of thanksgiving for God's past faithfulness to Israel, specifically for His favor upon their land and the return from exile. The verses immediately following will delve into the theological reasons for this past deliverance, linking it to the forgiveness of sins, before the psalmist moves to petition for God's renewed favor. This foundational acknowledgment of God's historical redemptive acts sets the stage for prayers seeking present and future blessings.
Have you ever felt like God turned His back on you? This psalm begins with a powerful reminder that even after periods of divine silence, God's favor can return, restoring everything that was lost.
A Time to Weep, A Time to Rejoice
The opening verse of Psalm 85, "LORD, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob," speaks of a profound shift. It implies a previous time when God's favor seemed absent, a period of distress or "captivity." This isn't just about a change in circumstances, but a renewed demonstration of God's pleasure and presence with His people.
We hear "Jacob" in this verse, but it's more than just a historical figure. It represents God's chosen people, wrestling with His plans and their own failings.
The People Who Wrestle
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Calling the people "Jacob" is significant. Jacob, as a patriarch, famously wrestled with God (Genesis 32:22-32) and with his brother Esau. This name carries the weight of human struggle, deception, and eventual reconciliation with God.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God (YHWH) in the Old Testament, representing His faithfulness and self-existence to His people.
ratsah · Hebrew Verb
To show pleasure, grace, or goodwill; it implies God’s unmerited favor or delight in His people.
shebuth · Hebrew Noun
A term denoting a reversal of calamity or captivity, symbolizing God’s act of bringing His people back to a state of blessing or prosperity.
Ya'aqob · Hebrew Proper Noun
Referring to the patriarch and his descendants, symbolizing the covenant people of God chosen for divine blessing.
avon · Hebrew Noun
Moral perversity, guilt, or the crookedness of behavior that violates God's standard, requiring divine pardon.
kasah · Hebrew Verb
The act of Atonement; literally to 'cover over,' signifying the removal of guilt from God’s sight through sacrifice or grace.
chatta'ah · Hebrew Noun
Missing the mark of God's holy standard; moral failure that separates humanity from a holy God.
selah · Hebrew Noun
A liturgical or musical notation, likely meaning 'pause' or 'lift up,' indicating a moment for reflection on the preceding truth.
ebrah · Hebrew Noun
The settled, judicial judgment of God against sin, distinct from mere passion, representing His holiness in action.
aph · Hebrew Noun
Often used to describe God’s intense emotional reaction to sin, signifying the reality of His righteous holiness.
This psalm reflects on God's past faithfulness in restoring His people, particularly after the Babylonian exile. It expresses deep gratitude for the return from captivity and the rebuilding of the Temple, implying that God's favor was withdrawn due to sin but can be regained through His mercy.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Exile
The northern kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of its people. This marks a significant period of divine disfavor and loss of land for a portion of Jacob's descendants.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The southern kingdom of Judah, along with its capital Jerusalem, is conquered by the Babylonian Empire. Many inhabitants are deported, leading to a prolonged period of exile and national crisis.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Conquest of Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, establishing the Persian Empire. This event marks a major shift in regional power and paves the way for Jewish return.
538 BC— this verse
Edict of Cyrus and First Return
Cyrus issues an edict allowing exiled peoples to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples. This allows for the first wave of Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding.
c. 516 BC
Completion of the Second Temple
The rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem is completed under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest. This signifies a partial restoration of worship and national life.
This passage directly speaks to the end of the Babylonian exile, mirroring the 'restored fortunes of Jacob' mentioned in Psalms 85:1 as God's favor turning back captivity.
Nehemiah 1:3Nehemiah's prayer expresses concern over the 'ruins' and 'broken walls' of Jerusalem, showing the aftermath of God's displeasure that the Psalmist in 85:1 is thanking God for turning away from.
Isaiah 40:1-2This prophetic word announces comfort and the end of servitude for Jerusalem, directly aligning with the idea in Psalms 85:1 of God being favorable and bringing back captivity.
Jeremiah 29:10-14This is God's promise to restore the exiles after 70 years, a specific instance of the 'restored fortunes' and 'favor' described in Psalms 85:1.
Luke 4:18Jesus quotes Isaiah, proclaiming a message of liberation for captives, echoing the spiritual sense of 'restored fortunes' that can be applied to God's work of bringing spiritual captivity back.
pulpitPsalms 85:1: "<> LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob."
Verses 1-3. - The thanksgiving. God is thanked for two things especially: (1) for having granted his people forgiveness of their sins (vers. 2, 3); and (2) for having, partially at any rate, removed his chastening hand from them, and given them a return of prosperity (ver. 1). Ver 1. - Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land; or, "thou art become gracious" (Kay, Cheyne) - a prec…
clarkePsalms 85:1: "To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob."
Lord, thou hast been favorable - Literally, Thou hast been well pleased with thy land. Thou hast brought back the captivity - This seems to fix the time of the Psalm to be after the return of the Jews from Babylon.
The Psalmist doesn't just recall a past rescue; he begins with a strong sense of present divine favor, noting that God "has become gracious" to the land. This implies a preceding period where God was not pleased, framing the return from captivity not as a simple historical event, but as a tangible sign of God turning back to His people after a time of absence or displeasure.
This psalm opens with a powerful expression of thanksgiving for God's past faithfulness to Israel, specifically for His favor upon their land and the return from exile. The verses immediately following will delve into the theological reasons for this past deliverance, linking it to the forgiveness of sins, before the psalmist moves to petition for God's renewed favor. This foundational acknowledgment of God's historical redemptive acts sets the stage for prayers seeking present and future blessings.
This psalm opens with a powerful expression of thanksgiving for God's past faithfulness to Israel, specifically for His favor upon their land and the return from exile. The verses immediately following will delve into the theological reasons for this past deliverance, linking it to the forgiveness of sins, before the psalmist moves to petition for God's renewed favor. This foundational acknowledgment of God's historical redemptive acts sets the stage for prayers seeking present and future blessings.
"LORD, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. Selah You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger." — The Psalmist doesn't just recall a past rescue; he begins with a strong sense of present divine favor, noting that God "has become gracious" to the land. This implies a preceding period where God w…
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Last reviewed October 2026