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Before Maariv, we say the pasuk "Vhu rachum yichaper avon..." (Psalms 78:38). Why?

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Because sinners are lashed between minchah and maariv, and they say "Vehu Rachum" during the lashing (as per Makkot 22b), so the chazan also announces "Vehu Rachum" (Sefer HaManhig). Alternatively, because there is no korban tamid which maariv represents, but the tamid is supposed to atone, so we say "Vehu Rachum" instead (Pardes in the name of R' Eliezer HaGadol).

Source: Tur OC 237, Taamei HaMinhagim 239-240

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Your citation, itself, is a treasure because it references a library of many works by those before us. Thank you. – NewAlexandria Aug 27 '12 at 1:33
@NewAlexandria, welcome to Mi Yodeya. I hope you stick around and enjoy the site. And, yes, hebrewbooks.org has proven a valuable resource for this site: you'll see it linked to quite often. – msh210♦ Aug 27 '12 at 2:50
so why do we say it at times that the beis din wouldn't be administering lashes such as motzei shabbos. According to your alternate answer why is it not said to represent the morning korban tamid as well? – not-vram Nov 5 '12 at 4:54
@vram I heard that the souls are brought back to gehinom when the congregation says "VeHu Rachum" (no source) – b a Nov 5 '12 at 5:23
up vote 4 down vote

Sidur Rashi 425 - since they used to give Malkus to the sinners between Mincha and Maariv, therefore immediately after that we say Vhu Rachum to request Slicha & Mechila. It was said three times since there are 13 words in the Posuk. 3 x 13 = 39 the amount of Malkus.

Minhagei Yeshurin 31 - against the 3 angels (Malachei Chabala) that take care of Geheinom. Mashchis, Af, & Cheima. Vlo Yashchis is against Mashchis. Vhirba Lhoshiv Apo is against Af. Kol Chamoso is against Cheima.

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up vote 0 down vote

We want to repel all the evil forces. There are represented in that Pasuk.

Source:HaRav Meir Eliyahu Shelit"a

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There is a mystical reason for this because that pasuk is associated with warding off malicious spiritual entities. Nighttime is more propitious for these forces. We do not want them to to intercede or cause damage to our prayer so we begin the evening prayer with this verse to keep those forces in abeyance. Source: Zohar II 135b.

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Do you have a source for this answer? – msh210♦ Aug 27 '12 at 16:12
source is Zohar II 135b – user1668 Aug 27 '12 at 19:50
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I meant, can you edit it into the answer. But I'll do it this time (since I'm here already). – msh210♦ Aug 27 '12 at 22:00
Is the Zohar commenting on this particular minhag, or just talking about reciting that pasuk at night in general? – Double AA♦ Aug 27 '12 at 23:42
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@DoubleAA I'm not sure where you get the understanding that it existed as a minhag in the times of the tanaaim. The first documented inclusion of it during prayer is from the Machzor Vitri. The mention in the Zohar (assuming that dates it back to the tanaaic period) does not indicate that it was a widespread minhag – user1668 Aug 29 '12 at 18:17
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