Psalm 105 30

Psalm 105:30 kjv

Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.

Psalm 105:30 nkjv

Their land abounded with frogs, Even in the chambers of their kings.

Psalm 105:30 niv

Their land teemed with frogs, which went up into the bedrooms of their rulers.

Psalm 105:30 esv

Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the chambers of their kings.

Psalm 105:30 nlt

Then frogs overran the land
and even invaded the king's bedrooms.

Psalm 105 verses

Psalm 105 30 Meaning

Psalm 105:30 describes God's potent judgment upon ancient Egypt during the Exodus narrative. Through Moses, the land was overwhelmed with an unbearable multitude of frogs, a divinely orchestrated plague so pervasive that it infiltrated even the most private and exclusive areas – the personal chambers and inner sanctums of Pharaoh and his royal household. This demonstrates God's absolute sovereignty and the inescapable nature of His judgment, which reached even the highest echelons of power.

Psalm 105 30 Context

Psalm 105 is a hymn recounting God's faithful covenant relationship with Israel, beginning with Abraham and continuing through the nation's deliverance from Egypt. It emphasizes God's mighty acts on behalf of His people, reminding them of His reliability. Verse 30 is situated within a broader passage (vv. 27-36) that specifically enumerates the various plagues God brought upon Egypt to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites. This particular verse highlights the second major plague mentioned in the Psalm's recount of the Exodus, showcasing the inescapable nature of divine judgment and its impact even on the most protected and private spaces of the Egyptian elite, underscoring God's ultimate authority over the land and its rulers.

Psalm 105 30 Word analysis

• Their land: Refers specifically to the land of Egypt. The phrase highlights the territorial scope of God's judgment, encompassing the entire domain ruled by Pharaoh.
• swarmed: From the Hebrew verb shāratz (שָׁרַץ), meaning "to swarm, teem, abound, multiply greatly, creep abundantly." This word denotes an uncontrollable, prolific infestation. It echoes the concept of abundance and living creatures, seen elsewhere in Scripture (e.g., Gen 1:20, "Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures"). The use of this term emphasizes the overwhelming and unnatural quantity of frogs that appeared. It implicitly mocks the Egyptian gods associated with fertility and creation by showing how YHWH could pervert the very sources of life into a plague.
• with frogs: Hebrew tzefard'im (צְפַרְדְּעִים). Frogs were a significant nuisance, but also symbolic within Egyptian religion; the goddess Heket was often depicted with a frog head, symbolizing fertility and birth. God's turning something revered into a repulsive infestation serves as a direct polemic, demonstrating His supremacy over Egypt's deities by desecrating their symbols.
• even in the chambers: Hebrew bechadrei (בְּחַדְרֵי) from cheder (חֶדֶר), meaning "a room, inner room, private chamber." This signifies the most intimate, protected, and private spaces. The use of "even" highlights the extremity and pervasiveness of the plague, indicating that no place was sacred or immune from God's reach.
• of their kings: Hebrew mal'cheyhem (מַלְכֵיהֶם) meaning "their kings," plural, though referring primarily to Pharaoh (as the supreme king) and perhaps implicitly encompassing the royal family, nobles, or other rulers in positions of power who benefited from or contributed to the oppression. This detail emphasizes that God's judgment was comprehensive, not sparing those in positions of ultimate authority, publicly humiliating their inability to control even their own personal space.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• Their land swarmed with frogs: This phrase emphasizes the overwhelming and widespread nature of the plague. It describes a deluge of amphibians covering the entire geography of Egypt, symbolizing that no part of the nation was untouched by divine judgment. It underscores God's control over all of creation.
• even in the chambers of their kings: This crucial phrase highlights the unique depth and invasive quality of this particular plague. It's not just a public nuisance but a personal, inescapable invasion. The privacy and supposed sanctity of royal chambers – where security was highest and privilege most exercised – were breached, exposing Pharaoh's helplessness and demonstrating that God's power extended beyond the common populace to directly confront the source of Israel's oppression in his most secure personal spaces. It further illustrates the humiliation inflicted upon Egyptian authority and pagan worship.

Psalm 105 30 Bonus section

The plague of frogs, by invading the most intimate spaces, was particularly designed to strip away Pharaoh's dignity and demonstrate his utter lack of control even within his own private domain. This contrasts sharply with earthly rulers' usual expectations of security and exclusivity. The precise timing and the "coming up" of the frogs from the Nile, Egypt's lifeblood, turning a source of life into a source of torment, was a clear demonstration that YHWH, not the Egyptian gods of the Nile or fertility like Hapi or Heket, was the true orchestrator of life and death, blessing and curse. This served a broader purpose, teaching Israel and all generations that God performs His wonders not just in vast displays of power, but also by humbling the proud in unexpected ways, even within the confines of their private kingdoms.

Psalm 105 30 Commentary

Psalm 105:30 concisely illustrates the absolute power and unwavering justice of the Almighty God in delivering His people from bondage. The plague of frogs was not merely a natural phenomenon but a meticulously targeted divine judgment, invading every aspect of Egyptian life, from public spaces to the most guarded and personal chambers of Pharaoh himself. This complete penetration of Egyptian life by a repulsive, uncontrollable multitude underscored Pharaoh's impotence and the futility of his gods against YHWH. It served as a stark demonstration of God's sovereignty over creation, His precise and escalating judgment on those who defy Him, and His meticulous care for His covenant people, leading to their ultimate redemption.