The LORD’s reaction to his people’s lack of faith is described. It is not certain whether verse 21b a fire was kindled is to be taken literally of a consuming fire or is a figure for God’s fierce anger. Numbers 11.10 has “the anger of the LORD blazed hotly,” and it may well be that in verse 21b fire is synonymous with anger in verse 21c (so Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). But Numbers 11.1-3 speaks of the fire of the LORD destroying parts of the camp. The psalmist may have intended the meaning to be ambiguous, so that both anger and real fire are referred to by the combined figures. If the receptor language cannot duplicate this effect, it is better to select either one meaning or the other for clarity.

Jacob in verse 21b and Israel in verse 21c are two ways of speaking of the Hebrews. Good News Translation replaces both proper nouns with “his people” and “them” in order to avoid the repetition.

It was their lack of confidence, of trust, that roused God’s anger (verse 22); they had to have proof that he would keep his promise. In verse 22b his saving power translates the noun “deliverance, salvation” (see comments on 3.8).

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .