Psalm 106 35

Psalm 106:35 kjv

But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.

Psalm 106:35 nkjv

But they mingled with the Gentiles And learned their works;

Psalm 106:35 niv

but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs.

Psalm 106:35 esv

but they mixed with the nations and learned to do as they did.

Psalm 106:35 nlt

Instead, they mingled among the pagans
and adopted their evil customs.

Psalm 106 verses

Psalm 106 35 Meaning

Psalm 106:35 details Israel's failure to adhere to God's commands of separation from the Canaanite nations. Instead of driving them out as instructed, the Israelites deliberately intermingled with these peoples, adopting their pagan practices and customs. This verse signifies a critical step in their spiritual downfall, where social integration led to religious and moral contamination, directly violating their covenant with the Lord.

Psalm 106 35 Context

Psalm 106 is a penitential psalm that reviews the history of Israel's rebellions against God's faithfulness from the Exodus to their own time. It confesses Israel's sins and cries out for divine mercy. Verse 35 is part of a section (v.34-43) detailing Israel's failures during and after the conquest of Canaan, particularly their disobedience to God's command to utterly destroy the indigenous inhabitants and their idols. The psalm records a recurring pattern: God delivers Israel, they rebel by turning to foreign ways, suffer oppression, cry out, God saves them, and the cycle repeats. Verse 35 directly follows the statement that they "did not destroy the peoples," explaining the critical consequence of that failure: they immersed themselves in the very culture God forbade them to associate with, which then led to deeper spiritual apostasy, including idol worship and even child sacrifice (v.36-38).

Psalm 106 35 Word analysis

• But (וַ, wa): This Hebrew conjunction introduces a stark contrast or consequence. It marks a decisive shift from what Israel should have done (destroy the nations as commanded) to what they actually did, highlighting their disobedience and its adverse effects.
• mingled (וַיִּתְעָֽרְבוּ, wa-yiṯʿārᵉvū): Derived from the root עָרַב (ʿarav), meaning "to mix," "to mingle." The verb form used here (Hithpael imperfect with waw consecutive) denotes a reciprocal or reflexive action. It implies that the Israelites actively and deliberately mixed themselves among the nations. It wasn't merely a passive coexistence but an intentional participation in the social, cultural, and perhaps even religious fabric of the pagan societies, violating God's specific instruction for separation.
• among the nations (בַגּוֹיִם, ba-gōyīm): גּוֹיִם (goyim) is the plural of גּוֹי (goy), referring to the non-Israelite peoples. In a covenant context, it often carries a negative connotation, referring to those who are outside of God's covenant, practices, and worship. Their distinct ways were antithetical to Yahweh's holiness and commandments. God had clearly delineated Israel from these goyim by covenant and law, making this mingling an act of rebellion against their identity as God's chosen, holy people.
• and learned (וַֽיִּלְמְדוּ, wa-yilməḏū): From the root לָמַד (lamad), "to learn" or "to teach." This implies active acquisition of knowledge and customs. It’s not accidental exposure but a process of deliberate adoption. They didn't just observe; they absorbed. This indicates a willing engagement and embrace of the foreign way of life, demonstrating a preference for pagan culture over divine law.
• their works (מַעֲשֵׂיהֶֽם, maʿaśêhem): Plural of מַעֲשֶׂה (maʿaśeh), meaning "deed," "work," "practice," or "action." In this context, "works" encompasses the entirety of the nations' practices, including their religious rituals (idolatry, sacrifice), social customs (including ethical depravities condemned by God's law), and moral standards that were contrary to Israel's divine calling. This term signifies the complete assimilation of pagan lifestyles and religious expressions.

• Words-group Analysis: "mingled among the nations": This phrase highlights Israel's direct disobedience to God's repeated commands for distinct separation (Dt 7:1-6). It signifies the erosion of their unique identity as God's people and the violation of the boundary God had established to protect their spiritual purity and exclusive worship of Him. This act of mixing was the foundational sin that opened the door to spiritual compromise.
"and learned their works": This indicates the inevitable consequence of mingling. Mere physical proximity escalated to spiritual assimilation. The "works" include not only external practices like idolatry but also the underlying worldview and moral framework. This represents a deeper betrayal, as Israel's mind and actions became conformed to the very world from which God had redeemed them and called them to be distinct. It shows a progression from external interaction to internal transformation and defilement.

Psalm 106 35 Bonus section

This verse encapsulates a recurring spiritual principle highlighted throughout the biblical narrative: the crucial importance of holiness and separation for God's covenant people. From Abraham being called out of Ur to Israel being commanded to separate from the nations, to the New Testament call for believers not to be conformed to this world (Rom 12:2), the pattern is consistent. Israel's failure here was not merely a military or demographic issue, but a profound theological and spiritual crisis. Their intermingling eroded their distinct identity, blurring the lines between Yahweh worship and pagan idolatry, leading to syncretism, which was an abomination to God. This historical failure in Psalm 106:35 serves as a powerful historical object lesson for all generations concerning the dangers of cultural conformity and the necessity of preserving a unique, consecrated identity dedicated to God alone. It demonstrates that the initial compromise (not dispossessing the nations) directly paved the way for subsequent and greater spiritual infidelity (mingling and learning their abominable practices).

Psalm 106 35 Commentary

Psalm 106:35 powerfully condenses Israel's historical trajectory of disobedience, particularly during the era of the Judges. It underscores the critical point where God's covenant people, having failed to obey the command to dispossess the wicked inhabitants of Canaan, subsequently plunged into deep spiritual apostasy. Their choice to "mingle" was not benign; it was a deliberate breach of the covenant, fueled by a desire to live like the surrounding cultures rather than remaining distinct for their holy God. This led them to "learn their works," signifying a dangerous progression from social integration to active absorption of pagan ideologies, religious rituals (including idolatry, child sacrifice, and other abominable practices detailed in the following verses), and immoral lifestyles. The verse acts as a solemn warning that a lack of separation inevitably leads to assimilation, ultimately compromising one's faith and incurring divine judgment. For believers today, it reiterates the perennial truth: active engagement with practices and philosophies contrary to divine principles leads to spiritual corruption.