Psalm 106 42

Psalm 106:42 kjv

Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.

Psalm 106:42 nkjv

Their enemies also oppressed them, And they were brought into subjection under their hand.

Psalm 106:42 niv

Their enemies oppressed them and subjected them to their power.

Psalm 106:42 esv

Their enemies oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their power.

Psalm 106:42 nlt

Their enemies crushed them
and brought them under their cruel power.

Psalm 106 verses

Psalm 106 42 Meaning

Psalm 106:42 describes the dire consequence of Israel's recurring sin and rebellion against God. As a form of divine discipline, their foreign adversaries were permitted or empowered by God to dominate and subdue them. This verse signifies the painful reality of subjugation and loss of freedom, directly linking their distress to their spiritual disobedience, emphasizing that their state of being "bent down" or "brought low" was at the hands of those God allowed to rise against them.

Psalm 106 42 Context

Psalm 106 is a confessional psalm recounting Israel's long history of rebellion against God, from their miraculous deliverance out of Egypt through their wilderness wanderings, the conquest of Canaan, and the period of the Judges, all the way to the exile. It details God's consistent faithfulness and patience contrasted with Israel's chronic faithlessness and idolatry. Verse 42 falls within a section (vv. 34-46) that describes Israel's adopting the abominable practices of the Canaanite nations, engaging in child sacrifice, and provoking God's wrath through idolatry. This profound disobedience leads directly to divine judgment in the form of foreign oppression. The verse precisely explains how God allowed their sin to impact them — by surrendering them to their enemies' control, thereby fulfilling the covenant curses promised for disobedience. It vividly sets the stage for the Israelites' eventual cries for mercy and God's compassionate response in subsequent verses (43-46), continuing the cycle of sin, punishment, and divine deliverance.

Psalm 106 42 Word analysis

• "Their enemies" (צָרֵיהֶם - tzarehem): From tzar, meaning "adversary," "foe," "troubler." These are the specific nations or peoples who continually harassed, afflicted, and waged war against Israel throughout their history, frequently serving as direct instruments of God's disciplinary hand. The term conveys the weight of a constant, oppressive threat against God's covenant people.

• "also oppressed them" (וַיַּכּוּם - vayyakkum): From the root naka (נכה), meaning "to strike," "smite," "defeat," or "injure." In this context, it signifies more than a mere physical strike; it implies a sustained campaign of military defeat, economic hardship, and systemic affliction leading to political domination. It highlights the active role of these foreign powers in bringing about Israel's distress and emphasizes the ongoing nature of this disciplinary measure.

• "and they were brought into subjection" (וַיִּכָּפְתוּ - vayikkâfetū): From the root kâphaph (כָּפַף), meaning "to bend down," "bow," "be humbled," or "subdued." It describes a state of profound, involuntary servitude or deep humiliation, where their independence, sovereignty, and autonomy as a nation are entirely lost. This term powerfully conveys the reality of being crushed and rendered helpless under an external, dominating power, physically and spiritually reflecting their internal state of being estranged from God.

• "under their hand" (תַּחַת יָדָם - tachath yâdâm): Tachath means "under" or "beneath." Yâdâm (from yad) means "their hand," which in biblical idiom often represents power, authority, control, or might. This phrase highlights the complete and absolute dominion the enemies exerted over Israel. It emphatically signifies that Israel's dire predicament and lack of freedom were a direct result of the enemies' pervasive exercise of power and authority over them, which God, in His sovereign judgment, allowed or orchestrated.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Their enemies also oppressed them": This initial phrase unequivocally identifies the agents of affliction (enemies) and the direct action (oppression), pinpointing the external force acting upon Israel. The "also" subtly suggests that this was not an isolated incident but a recurring pattern throughout their history, illustrating the relentless nature of the consequences that arose from their chronic unfaithfulness. It points to a clear divine cause-and-effect relationship, where Israel's abandonment of God led to the empowerment of their adversaries.
  • "and they were brought into subjection under their hand": This second clause describes the ultimate effect of the oppression – complete subjugation, humiliation, and a crushing loss of autonomy. The powerful imagery of being "bent down" and specifically "under their hand" evokes a strong sense of helplessness, bondage, and complete domination. It starkly contrasts with God's "strong hand" that delivered them from Egypt, underscoring the severe reversal of fortune for God's liberated people, who, due to their rebellion against their divine Liberator, found themselves enslaved again, albeit to different masters. This phrasing profoundly communicates their complete vulnerability and lack of escape from the imposed dominion.

Psalm 106 42 Bonus section

The repeated cycle of sin, oppression, and deliverance detailed throughout Psalm 106 and the books of Judges, Kings, and Chronicles serves as a powerful theological narrative, illustrating God's consistent moral government over His people. The specific Hebrew words chosen in verse 42—vayyakkum ("struck" or "oppressed") and vayikkâfetū ("bent down" or "subdued")—emphasize the deep physical, emotional, and national burden of such subjugation, highlighting that disobedience carries tangible and often excruciatingly painful consequences. This historical account functions as a powerful warning and instruction (1 Cor 10:6, 11) for all generations of believers regarding the severity of straying from the Lord's path and the absolute necessity of living under His sovereign and benevolent hand, rather than allowing any other power or sinful desire to hold dominion over us. This verse demonstrates that God's people's experience of oppression by others is ultimately under His control, either permitted or ordained by Him as a disciplinary measure, pointing always towards the need for repentance and reliance on His mercy.

Psalm 106 42 Commentary

Psalm 106:42 encapsulates a profound theological truth regarding God's just governance of His covenant people. It is not merely a historical observation but a divine explanation: Israel's suffering under hostile nations was a direct consequence and divine orchestration of their persistent sin. This verse serves as a sober reminder that divine judgment for chronic disobedience manifests as subjugation to earthly powers, emphasizing the immediate and tangible impact of spiritual rebellion. The 'hand' of the enemy, symbolizing their controlling power, symbolically replaces the protecting 'hand' of God when His people willfully turn away from Him. Yet, even in this judgment, God's ultimate purpose is redemptive, aiming to bring His people to repentance so that His compassionate hand might again deliver them, a recurring theme beautifully expanded upon in subsequent verses of this very psalm (vv. 43-46).

• Examples:
  • An individual consistently ignoring God's word and indulging in unconfessed sin may experience an increasing lack of spiritual freedom, finding themselves "oppressed" by habits or circumstances that limit their capacity for good, and becoming "subject" to the very patterns of their unrighteous choices.
  • A Christian community or local church that drifts from its core biblical calling and adopts worldly philosophies may gradually find itself "brought into subjection" to societal pressures, losing its distinct identity and transformative power, demonstrating the direct consequences of compromising faith.