Psalm 106 15

Psalm 106:15 kjv

And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

Psalm 106:15 nkjv

And He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul.

Psalm 106:15 niv

So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease among them.

Psalm 106:15 esv

he gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them.

Psalm 106:15 nlt

So he gave them what they asked for,
but he sent a plague along with it.

Psalm 106 verses

Psalm 106 15 Meaning

Psalm 106:15 states that God granted the Israelites their demanding request for flesh, but this apparent fulfillment resulted in a profound spiritual emptiness and a wasting away of their inner life, rather than satisfaction or blessing. It illustrates a divine judgment where desires born of rebellious craving are fulfilled, but their attainment brings detrimental spiritual consequences.

Psalm 106 15 Context

Psalm 106 is a confessional psalm, part of the fifth book of Psalms, recounting the history of Israel's disobedience and God's enduring faithfulness despite their persistent rebellion. It serves as a national confession of sin and a prayer for restoration. Verse 15 specifically recalls the event at Kibroth-hattaavah ("graves of craving" or "graves of greed") described in Numbers 11. After being miraculously sustained by manna, the Israelites grew weary and lusted for meat, longing for the "flesh pots" of Egypt. This demanding and ungrateful cry reflected a deep spiritual discontent and a lack of trust in God's provision. Despite their sin, God sovereignly granted their physical demand for quails, but His "giving" was accompanied by a judgment of "leanness into their soul," culminating in a plague that struck down many who craved the meat. The verse therefore encapsulates a crucial theological truth about divine judgment and the consequences of sinful desires.

Psalm 106 15 Word analysis

• So he gave them (וַיִּתֵּן לָהֶם֙ - vayyitën lähém): The verb וַיִּתֵּן (natan, to give) is a waw consecutive imperfect, indicating an immediate and consequential action. It signifies God's direct and purposeful action of handing over. This was not a passive allowing but an active giving, albeit one that carried divine judgment.

• their request (שֶּֽׁאֱלָתָ֔ם - she'ëlähtähm): Derived from the root שָׁאַל (sha'al), meaning "to ask, inquire, demand, borrow." While sha'al can be neutral, in this context (Numbers 11:4-6), their "request" was characterized by intense craving, murmuring, and rebellion against God's manna. It was a self-centered, demanding petition fueled by the flesh (ta'avah, craving).

• but sent (וַיְשַׁלַּ֥ח - vayishaHah): Another waw consecutive imperfect from שָׁלַח (shalach), meaning "to send forth, let go, extend." This also indicates a direct, active sending on God's part. God intentionally dispatched the consequence.

• leanness (רָז֨וֹן - razôn): This noun signifies "leanness, wasting, emaciation, spiritual debility." It literally refers to a physical wasting away (e.g., Isa 10:16), but here it's specifically directed at the "soul," indicating a spiritual malady. It implies a lack of nourishment, spiritual strength, and inner vitality.

• into their soul (בְּנַפְשָֽׁם׃ - b'naphshäm): The Hebrew word נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh) broadly refers to the "soul, life, inner being, self, person, appetite." It's not just a reference to a spiritual component, but the entire animating life force or essential self. Therefore, the "leanness" affected the very core of their being, their vitality, their spiritual and emotional health, signifying a deep internal void and lack of true satisfaction.

• Words-Group Analysis:

  • "he gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul": This phrase forms a sharp literary contrast and a profound theological statement. It juxtaposes an outwardly satisfied desire with an inwardly destructive consequence. The parallelism highlights the irony: receiving exactly what one clamors for, only to find it detrimental. It reveals that God's allowing a desire to be fulfilled can, at times, be a severe form of judgment, as it exposes the vanity and destructiveness of sinful cravings and reveals how obtaining worldly desires apart from God's blessing leads to spiritual depletion.

Psalm 106 15 Bonus section

The "leanness into their soul" (razôn b'naphshäm) signifies that judgment from God does not always manifest as immediate punishment or withholding of blessings, but can sometimes come as the very fulfillment of misguided desires, allowing the inherent spiritual void of such desires to become tragically clear. This is a profound form of divine irony. God doesn't necessarily prevent all bad outcomes that people earnestly pursue; sometimes He gives them what they want so they may see the true cost of their rebellious hearts. This paradox highlights the severity of desiring something God has not willed, showing that apparent abundance or satisfied desire, when outside God's perfect plan, can actually lead to profound internal poverty. This type of "punishment" serves not just as a consequence but also as a teaching moment for future generations, underscoring the spiritual danger of self-willed prayer.

Psalm 106 15 Commentary

Psalm 106:15 is a potent summary of a pivotal moment in Israel's wilderness journey, offering timeless spiritual insights. It illustrates God's complex interaction with human will, especially when that will is steeped in discontent and rebellion. While it may appear paradoxical that God grants a sinful request, this "giving" is revealed not as an act of blessing, but of judgment. The Israelites' demand for meat, arising from a lack of faith in God's daily manna and a yearning for what they left behind in Egypt, represented a spiritual rejection of divine wisdom and provision.

The immediate gratification of their physical craving brought spiritual "leanness" to their soul. This was not merely physical sickness (though a plague followed); it was an inner wasting, an emotional and spiritual emaciation. They filled their bellies, but emptied their spirits. The quails, meant for nourishment, became instruments of judgment, demonstrating that true sustenance comes not from carnal indulgence but from alignment with God's will and reliance on His word.

This verse serves as a sober warning: Be careful what you wish for. God, in His sovereign wisdom, sometimes permits self-destructive desires to be fulfilled to expose their true nature and consequences. It's a reminder that genuine prosperity is measured not by the abundance of physical possessions or the fulfillment of carnal appetites, but by the richness of one's relationship with God. When God "gives over" a person or people to their own desires (as seen in Romans 1), it is often a final step in His judgment, allowing the inherent sinfulness of their desires to become fully apparent through their destructive fruit.

Practical examples:

• A person passionately pursues wealth through unethical means and attains it, only to find their relationships fractured and their inner life empty.
• Someone relentlessly chases popularity and social acceptance, achieving it but realizing it offers no true peace or satisfaction.
• A believer insists on a particular life path contrary to scriptural wisdom, seemingly succeeds, but experiences a progressive weakening of faith and joy.