Psalm 106 40

Psalm 106:40 kjv

Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.

Psalm 106:40 nkjv

Therefore the wrath of the LORD was kindled against His people, So that He abhorred His own inheritance.

Psalm 106:40 niv

Therefore the LORD was angry with his people and abhorred his inheritance.

Psalm 106:40 esv

Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people, and he abhorred his heritage;

Psalm 106:40 nlt

That is why the LORD's anger burned against his people,
and he abhorred his own special possession.

Psalm 106 verses

Psalm 106 40 Meaning

Psalm 106:40 articulates the profound and severe consequence of Israel's repeated and egregious sin, particularly their idolatry and moral defilement, as depicted in the preceding verses. The verse declares that because of their persistent rebellion and spiritual infidelity, the righteous anger of Yahweh, the covenant Lord, was intensely ignited against His own chosen people. This divine wrath led Him to actively detest or loathe His people, whom He had previously cherished as His unique inheritance and possession. This "abhorrence" signifies a withdrawal of His protective presence and favor, paving the way for the disciplinary hardships that befell them, thereby illustrating the holiness of God which cannot tolerate persistent iniquity within His covenant community.

Psalm 106 40 Context

Psalm 106:40 stands as a somber culmination within a larger narrative of Israel's persistent unfaithfulness and God's corresponding judgment. The preceding verses (34-39) meticulously detail Israel's grievous sins committed upon entering the promised land: failing to drive out the idolatrous nations, adopting their detestable practices, engaging in child sacrifice to demons, shedding innocent blood, and defiling the land through their works. Verse 40 directly follows this indictment, establishing a clear cause-and-effect relationship, marked by the term "therefore." Historically, the psalm reflects on a cycle spanning from the Exodus to the period of the Judges, and implicitly anticipates later exilic periods, where Israel's covenant breaking led to foreign oppression and divine withdrawal of favor. It depicts the sacred covenant relationship fractured by human disobedience, necessitating divine intervention through punitive judgment, demonstrating that even a chosen people are not immune to the righteous wrath of a holy God when they despise His covenant and holy commands.

Psalm 106 40 Word analysis

• Therefore (וַיִּחַר - vayyiḥar): Lit. "and it burned" or "and it became hot." This opening word signals a direct causal link between Israel's heinous sins described immediately before and God's severe reaction. It denotes an immediate and strong onset of divine judgment, functioning as a pivot point in the narrative.
• the anger (אַף - 'aph): Derived from the word for "nose" or "nostril," it metaphorically signifies wrath, specifically the heated breath or snorting of one in fierce indignation. This is not capricious human rage, but the righteous indignation of God in response to the profound violation of His holy character and covenant. It emphasizes the consuming nature of His just displeasure.
• of the Lord (יְהֹוָה - Yahweh): This is God's personal, covenant name. Its use here underscores the intimate, deeply relational nature of the offense. It was their own faithful, covenant-making God whom they provoked and whose trust they betrayed, intensifying the tragedy of His necessary response.
• was kindled: Implied in the verb vayyiḥar itself, meaning "to burn hot" or "be inflamed." This conveys the intensity and just inception of God's wrath, indicating a divine flame of holiness reacting against defilement.
• against his people (בְּעַמּוֹ - bəʿammô): This phrase profoundly accentuates the painful reality that God's wrath was directed at those He had uniquely chosen, delivered, and loved. It highlights the depth of their spiritual apostasy, as the objects of His specific care became the recipients of His specific judgment.
• so that he abhorred (וַיִּתְעַב - vayyitʿēv): From the verb taʿav, meaning "to loathe," "detest," or "to be an abomination." This is an extremely strong word in Hebrew, frequently used to describe what is utterly repugnant to God (e.g., idolatry, child sacrifice, sexual immorality). Applied to His own people, it expresses His deep revulsion and repulsion at their behavior, signaling a withdrawal of His intimate presence and protective favor. This "abhorrence" is not of their intrinsic being as His chosen, but of their profound unfaithfulness, leading to disciplinary actions.
• his own inheritance (נַחֲלָתוֹ - naḥălātô): Israel, referred to as God's special portion, treasured possession, or allotted heritage (cf. Deut 32:9). For God to abhor His own "inheritance" powerfully conveys the extent of their sin and His grief over their betrayal. It reflects the paradox that His deepest love, when rejected, leads to the most severe but just expressions of disciplinary withdrawal.

• "Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled": This clause sets the scene for divine judgment as an immediate and just consequence of human sin. It asserts God's active, personal, and intense involvement in the affairs of His people, not as an impersonal force but as a living, reacting deity whose holiness demands a response to evil.
• "against his people, so that he abhorred his own inheritance": This powerful pairing underscores the tragedy of the broken covenant. The target of God's anger and detestation is not a foreign enemy, but "His people," "His own inheritance"—those whom He had called into an intimate, unique relationship. The repetition of "his own" emphasizes the personal affront and the profound divine sorrow mixed with righteous indignation. This also conveys the idea that their unfaithfulness made them an object of abhorrence in their actions, resulting in God's temporary removal of His benevolent presence.

Psalm 106 40 Bonus section

The concept of God "abhorring" His own people or inheritance is profoundly anthropopathic language, conveying the depth of His emotional and moral response to their profound betrayal. This is not a cold, logical withdrawal, but a "grieved" loathing that stems from a violated intimacy, akin to a deeply wounded parent or spouse (cf. Hosea 1-3; Jer 3:6-10). It demonstrates that God's covenant with Israel, while enduring, did not shield them from the consequences of their disobedience; instead, their favored status made their transgressions even more egregious in the divine eyes. The suffering and defeat Israel subsequently experienced were not arbitrary but were direct results of this divine "abhorrence"—God withdrawing His hand of protection and letting the natural and just consequences of their actions play out. This highlights the vital balance in Scripture between God's unwavering love and His equally unwavering justice.

Psalm 106 40 Commentary

Psalm 106:40 succinctly encapsulates a core principle of divine-human interaction: God's holiness necessitates a decisive response to covenant unfaithfulness, even from His chosen people. Following the detailed enumeration of Israel's gross idolatry and child sacrifice, the "therefore" marks an unavoidable turning point. The "kindled anger" and subsequent "abhorrence" signify God's righteous judgment—not capricious fury, but a holy indignation stemming from the purity of His being. When Israel, designated as His special "inheritance," adopted abominable practices, they effectively became an abomination in His sight in their conduct, violating the very nature of their unique relationship. This divine abhorrence translated into God allowing disciplinary consequences, such as foreign oppression, to come upon them, allowing them to experience the bitter fruits of their sin. Though severe, this divine discipline functions not as ultimate rejection but as a profound means of correction and restoration for those who have forsaken Him, driving home the reality that privilege comes with profound responsibility. It is a divine pedagogy, where the pain of their choices leads them to turn back to the Lord who disciplines those He loves.