Psalms107
English Standard Version
Tap any underlined word for the original Hebrew or Greek.
1 Oh to the Lord, for he is , for his endures !
2 Let the of the Lord so, whom he has from
3 and in from the , from the and from the , from the and from the .
4 Some in , no to a to in;
5 and , their within them.
6 Then they to the Lord in their , and he them from their .
7 He by a till they a to .
8 Let them the Lord for his , for his to the of !
9 For he the , and the he with .
10 Some in and in the , in and in ,
11 for they had against the of , and the of the .
12 So he bowed their with ; they , with none to .
13 Then they to the Lord in their , and he them from their .
14 He brought them of and the , and their .
15 Let them the Lord for his , for his to the of !
16 For he the of and cuts in the of .
17 Some were their , and because of their ;
18 any kind of , and they drew to the of .
19 Then they to the Lord in their , and he them from their .
20 He out his and them, and them from their .
21 Let them the Lord for his , for his to the of !
22 And let them of , and of his in songs of !
23 Some to the in , on the ;
24 they the of the Lord, his in the .
25 For he and the , which the of the sea.
26 They to ; they to the ; their away in their evil ;
27 they and like men and were at their ’ .
28 Then they to the Lord in their , and he delivered them their .
29 He the be , and the of the sea were .
30 Then they were that the waters were , and he them to their .
31 Let them the Lord for his , for his to the of !
32 Let them him in the of the , and him in the of the .
33 He into a , of into ,
34 a into a , because of the of its .
35 He a into of , a into of .
36 And there he lets the , and they a to ;
37 they and and a .
38 By his they , and he not let their .
39 When they are and through , , and ,
40 he on and makes them in ;
41 but he the out of and their like .
42 The it and are , and all .
43 Whoever is , let him these things; let them the of the Lord.
Study
Psalms 107Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 107. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: God's providential care of the children of men in distresses, in banishment, and dispersion. (1–9). In captivity. (10–16). In sickness. (17–22). Danger at sea. (23–32). God's hand is to be seen by his own people. (33–43).
vv1-9
In these verses there is reference to the deliverance from Egypt, and perhaps that from Babylon: but the circumstances of travellers in those countries are also noted. It is scarcely possible to conceive the horrors suffered by the hapless traveller, when crossing the trackless sands, exposed to the burning rays of the sum. The words describe their case whom the Lord has redeemed from the bondage of Satan; who pass through the world as a dangerous and dreary wilderness, often ready to faint through troubles, fears, and temptations. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, after God, and communion with him, shall be filled with the goodness of his house, both in grace and glory.
vv10-16
This description of prisoners and captives intimates that they are desolate and sorrowful. In the eastern prisons the captives were and are treated with much severity. Afflicting providences must be improved as humbling providences; and we lose the benefit, if our hearts are unhumbled and unbroken under them. This is a shadow of the sinner's deliverance from a far worse confinement. The awakened sinner discovers his guilt and misery. Having struggled in vain for deliverance, he finds there is no help for him but in the mercy and grace of God. His sin is forgiven by a merciful God, and his pardon is accompanied by deliverance from the power of sin and Satan, and by the sanctifying and comforting influences of God the Holy Spirit.
vv17-22
If we knew no sin, we should know no sickness. Sinners are fools. They hurt their bodily health by intemperance, and endanger their lives by indulging their appetites. This their way is their folly. The weakness of the body is the effect of sickness. It is by the power and mercy of God that we are recovered from sickness, and it is our duty to be thankful. All Christ's miraculous cures were emblems of his healing diseases of the soul. It is also to be applied to the spiritual cures which the Spirit of grace works. He sends his word, and heals souls; convinces, converts them, makes them holy, and all by the word. Even in common cases of recovery from sickness, God in his providence speaks, and it is done; by his word and Spirit the soul is restored to health and holiness.
Key Words
יָדָה: physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the hands)
טוֹב: good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)
חֵסֵד: kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty
עוֹלָם: properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always
גָּאַל: to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow, etc.)
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
קָבַץ: to grasp, i.e. collect
אֶרֶץ: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
מִזְרָח: sunrise, i.e. the east
מַעֲרָב: the west (as a region of the evening sun)
Cross References
Psalms 107Identical introductory liturgical call to praise God for His everlasting mercy and goodness.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Isaianic language of the 'redeemed of the Lord' returning along the holy highway.
Supported by JFB
Prophetic parallel of breaking the gates of brass and cutting the bars of iron.
Supported by JFB
Jesus calming the physical storm mirrors Yahweh's authority over the sea shown here.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The Zechariah benediction echoes sitting in darkness and the shadow of death.
Supported by JFB
Urges sacrificing the sacrifices of thanksgiving, matching the psalm's liturgical instructions.
Supported by JFB
Direct verbal parallel regarding God making leaders wander in a pathless wilderness.
Supported by JFB
Concludes with the same wisdom formula: the wise observing and understanding Yahweh's ways.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Mary's Magnificat echoes God satisfying the longing and filling the hungry with good.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Saviour's light dawning on those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Matches the description of a sick man abhorring food and drawing near to death.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Sovereign reversal raising the needy from affliction and multiplying families like a flock.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Hannah's song parallel of setting the poor on high and raising the needy.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Theological fulfillment where all iniquity stops her mouth before the righteous judgment.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Miraculous transformation of dry wilderness rock into standing water and water springs.
Supported by Matthew Poole