Log inSign up

Favor · the best way to learn the Bible

Psalm 85 Bible study: Righteousness and peace have kissed

One Hebrew verb, shuv, runs through Psalm 85 five times: the LORD has turned from his anger (85:3), the people pray "Turn us" (85:4) and "revive us again" (85:6), and the last time it is the people who are not to "turn again to folly" (85:8).

Favor is a Bible study app that explains every chapter as you read: the words behind the words, what most readers miss, and how it all leads to Jesus.

Start your free weekWhat is Favor?

First week free, then $10 a month per person

“Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”
Psalm 85:10 · World English Bible

Try it · Did you catch it?

“Psalm 85 prays "Turn us" in the verse right after it says God has turned from his anger.”

Is that in Psalm 85, or not? Make your call.

What's really going on

"You have", six times, and Psalm 32's two words

In the text

The title reads, "For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah" (85:1), and it says no more than that; Psalm 42's notes list the titles that name the sons of Korah. Then the psalm speaks to the LORD about what he has done, six times in a row: "LORD, you have been favorable to your land. You have restored the fortunes of Jacob" (85:1) (tap favorable, fortunes), "You have forgiven the iniquity of your people. You have covered all their sin" (85:2), "You have taken away all your wrath. You have turned from the fierceness of your anger" (85:3). In Hebrew these are six verbs, each said to you. Here is what almost everyone misses: two of them are the two verbs of Psalm 32:1. "Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is covered" (Psalm 32:1): forgiven is nasa and covered is kasah, and they are Psalm 85:2's forgiven and covered (tap forgiven, covered). Psalm 32 calls blessed the one whose sin is covered; Psalm 85 says the LORD has done it for "your people" (85:2).

Honest questions

Questions people ask about Psalm 85

That was a taste

The rest of Psalm 85 is waiting in Favor

  • Turn, five times
  • Four words meet
  • "Will he be favorable no more?"
  • Heaven and earth, in Isaiah 45:8
  • 7 questions as you read
  • 14 more Hebrew words
  • A short check at the end
  • Your notes, saved as you go
Start your free week

Favor reads the Bible in order, so you'll reach Psalm 85 with everything before it in view. First week free, then $10 a month per person.

The Hebrew word behind it

שׁוּבshuvsay SHOOV

Brown-Driver-Briggs: "turn back, return". Strong's gives it as "often adverbial, again". Psalm 85 has it five times, and the WEB gives it five ways: restored (85:1), turned (85:3), Turn (85:4), again (85:6) and turn again (85:8). The LORD "turned from the fierceness of your anger" (85:3); the people pray, "Turn us, God of our salvation" (85:4); and the psalm ends its asking with "let them not turn again to folly" (85:8). Psalm 80 prays with the same verb, in another form: "Turn us again, God" (Psalm 80:3). The Psalms have it 71 times in Hebrew.

For your group

Psalm 85 Bible study questions

  1. 1The psalm tells God six things he has already done (85:1-3) before it asks him for anything (85:4-7). What has God done for you before that you could remember the next time you ask him for help?
  2. 2"I will hear what God, the LORD, will speak" (85:8). After you've prayed, what helps you stop and listen, and what gets in the way?
  3. 3"Mercy and truth meet together" (85:10). Where do you find it hardest to hold kindness and truth together with someone this week?

Leading a group? In Favor, everyone reads Psalm 85 during the week and answers these questions privately. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together, and you can print the week's sheet.

Start a Bible study
Free quizTake the Psalm 85 quizQuestions with the answers explained, for your group or your familyFree printablePrint this Bible studyOne page: the chapter, the verse, and the questions with room to write

The best way to learn the Bible

Favor opens up every chapter as you read.

Favor is a Bible study app for your phone or computer. It takes you through the Bible one chapter at a time, a few minutes a day, and shows you what's really there: the words behind the words, the moments most people miss, and how the whole story fits together. For you. For everyone.

  • Every chapter explains itself

    As you read, short notes open up what's really going on, the details most readers walk past, and the honest questions people ask.

  • The Hebrew and Greek behind it

    Tap a highlighted word to see the original, how to say it, and what it means, checked against the original-language texts.

  • Every page leads to Jesus

    Watch promises made in Genesis kept in Jesus. Each line lights up on your map as you read.

  • Better together

    Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together.

  1. 1

    Start your free week

    Sign up in a minute with your email.

  2. 2

    Read a few minutes a day

    Each chapter opens itself up as you go. Tap what you're curious about.

  3. 3

    Bring your people, if you like

    Send one link. Everyone reads the same chapter, then meets to talk.

Start your free week

First week free, then $10 a month per person

Questions

What is Favor?

Favor is a Bible study app that explains every chapter as you read: the Hebrew and Greek behind the words, the details most readers miss, and how each part of the Bible leads to Jesus. Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church.

How much does it cost?

Your first week is free. After that it's $10 a month per person, the same for everyone, including groups and churches. There are no tiers and nothing extra to unlock.

Can I read Psalm 85 straight away?

Favor takes the Bible as one story, in order, so you'll reach Psalm 85 with everything that leads up to it in view. Start from Genesis, or meet Jesus first in the Gospels. You can read the text of any chapter in Favor's Look up whenever you like.

Do I need a group?

No. Many people read on their own. If you'd like to read with others, start a Bible study and share one link. Everyone's answers stay private until you meet.

I've never really read the Bible. Is this for me?

Yes. Favor starts where you are and explains as it goes. The questions along the way aren't marked right or wrong: you answer, then see what the text shows.

Which Bible does Favor use?

The World English Bible, a modern, readable translation in the public domain. God's name appears as "the LORD", as in most English Bibles.

Is Favor tied to a church?

No. Favor is non-denominational. Where Christians read a passage differently, it shows the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.

Start with Psalm 85

The best way to learn the Bible. For you. For everyone.

There's a seat for you at the table.

Start your free week

First week free, then $10 a month per person · Log in

All Bible study guides

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Hebrew and Greek words are checked against the original-language texts and public-domain lexicons. What we believe · Favor home