Psalm 105 28

Psalm 105:28 kjv

He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.

Psalm 105:28 nkjv

He sent darkness, and made it dark; And they did not rebel against His word.

Psalm 105:28 niv

He sent darkness and made the land dark? for had they not rebelled against his words?

Psalm 105:28 esv

He sent darkness, and made the land dark; they did not rebel against his words.

Psalm 105:28 nlt

The LORD blanketed Egypt in darkness,
for they had defied his commands to let his people go.

Psalm 105 verses

Psalm 105 28 Meaning

Psalm 105:28 describes the ninth plague sent by God upon Egypt, a deep and tangible darkness. The verse emphasizes God's sovereign control over creation as He powerfully afflicted the land. Crucially, it highlights that His chosen messengers, Moses and Aaron, remained unwavering and fully obedient to His commands throughout this challenging time, contrasting sharply with the consistent rebellion of Pharaoh and the Egyptians.

Psalm 105 28 Context

Psalm 105 is a historical psalm, recounting God's covenant faithfulness and mighty acts towards Israel from Abraham through the Exodus and into the Promised Land. It aims to instill praise and trust in God among His people by recalling His unfailing goodness. The verses immediately preceding Psalm 105:28 introduce Moses and Aaron as God's chosen servants, dispatched to Egypt (Ps 105:26), and state their mission to perform His signs and wonders (Ps 105:27). The overall narrative in Psalm 105 is selective, highlighting God's faithfulness and Israel's deliverance, contrasting with Psalms like 78 or 106 that often dwell on Israel's rebellion. Verse 28 focuses on the plague of darkness, specifically God's power and the obedience of His human agents in the face of Pharaoh's hardened heart. Historically, this occurs as the penultimate plague against Egypt, a direct confrontation with the polytheistic Egyptian pantheon, especially Ra, the sun god. By causing absolute darkness, YHWH directly attacked one of their most prominent deities, asserting His supremacy.

Psalm 105 28 Word analysis

• He: (Hebrew: הוּא, hu) Refers directly to YHWH, God of Israel. It emphasizes God's active, divine agency and initiative in orchestrating the plagues.
• sent: (Hebrew: שָׁלַח, shalach) A verb signifying purposeful dispatch or sending forth. It denotes that the darkness was not a natural phenomenon but a deliberate divine act.
• darkness: (Hebrew: חֹשֶׁךְ, choshek) Describes an oppressive, tangible, and profound lack of light, as detailed in Exodus 10:21-23. It wasn't merely dimness but a palpable gloom. This darkness served as a direct judgment on Egypt, particularly challenging their sun god, Ra.
• and made it dark: (Hebrew: וַיַּחֲשִׁךְ, vayyachashikh) This is a Hiphil (causative) form of the verb "to be dark." It intensifies the action, meaning God "caused it to be completely dark" or "made it darken intensely." It reinforces His active role in controlling the very essence of light.
• and they: (Implicit in the Hebrew verb's conjugation) This pronoun is the source of scholarly debate, but in the Masoretic Text (MT) tradition and context of Psalm 105, "they" refers to Moses and Aaron (Ps 105:26). Their faithful obedience contrasts sharply with others.
• rebelled not: (Hebrew: מָרָה לֹא, lo marah) The verb marah signifies to be rebellious, disobedient, or to defy authority. Coupled with "lo" (not), it strongly asserts that Moses and Aaron did not show any defiance or insubordination to God's command during this intense period of the plagues. This underscores their integrity and faithfulness as God's chosen instruments. (Note: The Septuagint (LXX) offers a different reading, interpreting it as "they embittered" or "they vexed" His word, typically referring to the Egyptians, or even later actions of Moses and Aaron. However, the MT reading aligning with the faithful actions of Moses and Aaron during the plagues best fits Psalm 105's celebratory theme of God's covenant and His servants' obedience during the Exodus).
• against his word: (Hebrew: אֶת דְּבָרוֹ, et d'varo) Refers to God's divine instructions, commands, or decrees. Moses and Aaron fully implemented all that God commanded concerning the plagues and the deliverance of Israel, without hesitation or deviation in the period highlighted by Psalm 105.

Words-group analysis:

• "He sent darkness, and made it dark": This phrase underscores God's absolute sovereignty and power over creation. He is not merely observing but actively sending and intensifying the plague of darkness as a judgment, a clear demonstration of His superiority over all false deities, particularly the Egyptian sun-god Ra. It's a statement of divine power and targeted polemic against polytheistic beliefs.
• "and they rebelled not against his word": This crucial assertion speaks volumes about the faithfulness of Moses and Aaron during a critical stage of the Exodus. While elsewhere Moses himself or the Israelites are noted for rebellion, Psalm 105 chooses to highlight Moses and Aaron's steadfast obedience throughout the plagues. This serves to exemplify the faithful instrument in God's hands and God's success through chosen, obedient servants. It underscores the importance of human responsiveness to divine commands even amidst severe divine judgment.

Psalm 105 28 Bonus section

The seemingly unusual phrase "they rebelled not against his word" concerning Moses and Aaron in the context of the Egyptian plagues (while the Egyptians were clearly rebellious) emphasizes a specific point in Psalm 105. Unlike other psalms (e.g., Psalm 78, 95, 106) that frequently highlight Israel's general rebellion in the wilderness (including Moses' specific failure at Meribah, Num 20), Psalm 105 focuses almost exclusively on God's unwavering faithfulness and the success of His plans through His obedient servants during the Exodus period itself. Therefore, highlighting Moses and Aaron's non-rebellion during the intense plagues serves as a vital counter-point and strengthens the narrative of divine power executed through committed instruments, even as the larger nation would later struggle with obedience. It paints a picture of faithful leadership perfectly aligned with God's redemptive work at this crucial stage.

Psalm 105 28 Commentary

Psalm 105:28 encapsulates God's absolute sovereignty in judgment and the unwavering fidelity of His chosen servants. God, not happenstance, brought a profound, almost tangible darkness upon Egypt, directly challenging the dominion of their false gods. This specific plague, a cosmic assault on their central deity Ra, highlighted the impotence of idols before the might of YHWH. Crucially, the verse shifts focus from the plague itself to the agents of God's will: Moses and Aaron. By stating "they rebelled not against his word," the psalmist commends their steadfast obedience throughout this terrifying and stressful period. This sets them apart as faithful instruments, unyielding in their execution of divine commands, demonstrating the prerequisite for effective service: submission to the Master's voice. The verse, within the grand narrative of Psalm 105, contributes to the overarching theme of God's faithfulness to His covenant people through His powerful works and the ready service of His obedient instruments. It reminds believers that true service to God stems from unreserved adherence to His declared will.