Psalm 106 41

Psalm 106:41 kjv

And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.

Psalm 106:41 nkjv

And He gave them into the hand of the Gentiles, And those who hated them ruled over them.

Psalm 106:41 niv

He gave them into the hands of the nations, and their foes ruled over them.

Psalm 106:41 esv

he gave them into the hand of the nations, so that those who hated them ruled over them.

Psalm 106:41 nlt

He handed them over to pagan nations,
and they were ruled by those who hated them.

Psalm 106 verses

Psalm 106 41 Meaning

This verse states that because of Israel's persistent disobedience, the Almighty delivered them into the hands of surrounding nations, their enemies, who then dominated and oppressed them. It signifies a divine act of judgment where the Creator uses foreign powers as instruments of discipline against His unfaithful people, highlighting the severe consequences of violating His covenant.

Psalm 106 41 Context

Psalm 106 is a confessional psalm recounting Israel's tumultuous history of unfaithfulness to God, spanning from the Exodus through the wilderness wanderings, their settlement in the Promised Land, and their subsequent periods of rebellion and foreign oppression. It details a repeating cycle of Israel's sin, God's just judgment (often through external subjugation), their repentance, and His merciful deliverance. Verse 41 directly follows descriptions of Israel's spiritual adultery with foreign gods, their lack of discernment, and the worship of idols, even sacrificing their own children (verses 35-39). This specific verse summarizes a recurrent outcome of their idolatry and disobedience: God's sovereign act of delivering them to the power of their enemies, notably during the period of the Judges, and leading up to the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles. It underscores the consistent theme throughout the Old Testament: blessing for obedience and curses for disobedience, often manifesting as subjugation to nations.

Psalm 106 41 Word analysis

• He gave them:
  • He: Refers to the Lord, Yahweh, the God of Israel. It emphasizes divine agency and intentional action. God is the active agent in Israel's plight, not just a passive observer.
  • gave (Hebrew: nathan - נָתַן): Implies a deliberate bestowal, a handover. It signifies God's sovereign decision to deliver His people, indicating His just judgment rather than their enemies' inherent power. This act is judicial.
  • them: Refers to the Israelites, specifically those who had rebelled and practiced idolatry, as recounted in the preceding verses of Psalm 106.
• into the hand of the nations:
  • hand (Hebrew: yadh - יַד): Represents power, control, authority, and possession. To be "in the hand of" means to be under the complete domination and disposal of another.
  • the nations (Hebrew: goyim - גּוֹיִם): Refers to the Gentile peoples surrounding Israel (e.g., Philistines, Ammonites, Moabites, Assyrians, Babylonians). These were often polytheistic and hostile, serving as instruments of God's wrath and discipline against His own covenant people when they strayed. This choice of word highlights God's authority over all peoples, even using those who do not know Him to accomplish His will.
• and those who hated them:
  • hated them (Hebrew: sone'ehem - שֹׂנְאֵיהֶם): Not merely indifferent nations, but those explicitly antagonistic and hostile towards Israel. This deepens the severity of their punishment; they were given over to those who bore animosity and ill will towards them. This intensified their suffering, as these rulers delighted in their subjugation.
• ruled over them:
  • ruled over (Hebrew: radah - רָדָה): Signifies exercising dominion, subduing, or treading down. It implies harsh, oppressive, and sovereign control, a state of being subjected to external mastery. This term is often used for kingship or dominance, and here it tragically indicates Israel's loss of autonomy and submission to foreign powers they were meant to either drive out or be a light to.
  • them: Again, the Israelites, emphasizing their state of subjugation.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "He gave them into the hand of the nations": This phrase clearly establishes divine orchestration of judgment. God is the sovereign agent who deliberately delivers His chosen people to external forces. This is a covenant curse consequence for unfaithfulness. The imagery of being "in the hand" denotes complete lack of control and utter subjugation.
• "and those who hated them ruled over them": This part highlights the nature of the rule: it was not benevolent or merely administrative, but oppressive and born out of animosity. The ruling power consisted of actual enemies who desired Israel's subjugation. The verb "ruled over" underscores the severity of their lost sovereignty and the dominance imposed upon them. This served as a stark, lived consequence of their rebellion, illustrating that when God is forsaken, His people fall under the cruel reign of hostile powers.

Psalm 106 41 Bonus section

The tragic irony embedded in this verse is that Israel, chosen by God to be a sovereign nation and a priestly kingdom, destined to have dominion, found themselves instead dominated by the very "nations" from whom they were to remain distinct. This reversal of roles served as a sharp reminder of their failure to uphold their covenant obligations and God's just response. The historical fulfillment of this principle is extensively detailed throughout the book of Judges and the prophetic warnings regarding the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles, where foreign powers, such as the Philistines, Midianites, or Babylonians, effectively extinguished Israelite self-rule for periods. It underlines the consistent biblical teaching that breaking fellowship with God leads to loss of protection and self-mastery, putting one under the power of adversarial forces.

Psalm 106 41 Commentary

Psalm 106:41 encapsulates a recurrent and painful consequence of Israel's persistent spiritual unfaithfulness: divine judgment manifesting as subjugation by their enemies. This verse underscores God's absolute sovereignty, demonstrating His ability to use even pagan nations, His people's historical adversaries, as instruments of discipline. It's a stark reminder that while God is merciful and long-suffering, disobedience, especially covenant-breaking idolatry, will inevitably lead to severe consequences. The verse powerfully illustrates the principle that abandoning the Living God leaves His people vulnerable to those they were meant to overcome or influence. This cycle of sin leading to oppression served as a profound object lesson, designed to bring Israel to repentance and renewed devotion. For believers, it is a timeless warning against spiritual complacency and a testament to the fact that genuine freedom and peace are found only in continued obedience and faithfulness to the Almighty.