Psalm 106 44

Psalm 106:44 kjv

Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:

Psalm 106:44 nkjv

Nevertheless He regarded their affliction, When He heard their cry;

Psalm 106:44 niv

Yet he took note of their distress when he heard their cry;

Psalm 106:44 esv

Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry.

Psalm 106:44 nlt

Even so, he pitied them in their distress
and listened to their cries.

Psalm 106 verses

Psalm 106 44 Meaning

Psalm 106:44 asserts God's compassionate nature, revealing that despite Israel's persistent unfaithfulness and the judgments they incurred, He still took notice of their desperate situation when they cried out for help. This verse highlights a pivotal moment where divine justice gives way to divine mercy, activated by His people's sincere distress and their plea for deliverance.

Psalm 106 44 Context

Psalm 106 is a confessional Psalm recounting Israel's history of rebellion and God's consistent faithfulness. It follows a detailed recounting of their transgressions from the Exodus to their time in the Promised Land and eventual exile. The verses immediately preceding Psalm 106:44 (vv. 40-43) describe God's punitive actions, where He gave His people into the hands of their enemies, causing them severe distress as a consequence of their sin. This distress was intended to humble them. However, even in their humbled state, the people often rebelled further. Verse 44 marks a shift, indicating that despite this recurring pattern of sin and judgment, God's inherent compassion prevailed. The Psalm reflects the cyclical history experienced during the period of the Judges, where Israel would sin, face oppression, cry out, and God would deliver them, only for the cycle to repeat. The verse lays the groundwork for the closing prayer for restoration (vv. 47-48).

Psalm 106 44 Word analysis

• Nevertheless (וַיַּרְא - wayyar' / Lit. "And He saw" - the adversative sense comes from context): This term signifies a sharp contrast to the preceding narrative of Israel's persistent unfaithfulness and God's just judgment. While the Hebrew word primarily means "and He saw" (from the root ra'ah, "to see"), its placement here implies a transition against what would logically follow based on Israel's behavior. It highlights that God's action of compassion is not an expected outcome based on human merit, but rather an expression of His divine character that transcends human deserving.
• He regarded / He looked upon (וַיַּרְא - wayyar' / from רָאָה - ra’ah): More than a mere glance, this implies attentive observation, compassionate discernment, and active consideration. It suggests God taking full cognizance of their situation, deeply understanding their plight, and weighing their suffering in the scales of His divine mercy. It is seeing with an empathetic eye.
• their distress (בַּצַּר לָהֶם - baṣṣar lāhem / Lit. "in the narrowness to them"): The Hebrew word tzar (צַר) denotes a state of narrowness, confinement, trouble, anguish, or tribulation. It speaks of a deep and severe affliction, not merely inconvenience, but overwhelming pressure and difficulty, leaving them without room to maneuver. It represents a state of acute misery caused by their adversaries or circumstances.
• when He heard (בְּשָׁמְעוֹ - bəšomʿô / Lit. "in His hearing"): Derived from shama', meaning "to hear, listen, pay attention, understand, obey." This signifies God's active reception and processing of their desperate sound. It is not just the passive perception of noise, but an intentional act of listening with a view to responding.
• their cry (רִנָּתָם - rinnāṯām / from רִנָּה - rinnah): This term refers to a loud cry or shout, often one of lament, despair, or an urgent plea for help. It's a vocal expression of profound distress, appealing directly to God from their deepest anguish. It contrasts with a shout of joy; here, it signifies a desperate, humble, and urgent petition from a people with no other recourse.

Words-group Analysis

• "Nevertheless He regarded their distress": This phrase encapsulates the unexpected grace of God. Despite the deserved consequences of Israel's unfaithfulness, God actively turned His attention towards their suffering, not towards their past sins. It shows His gaze is fixed on their present affliction, allowing His compassion to be stirred. This highlights His patience and enduring lovingkindness that transcends their repeated covenant breaches.
• "when He heard their cry": This clause establishes the catalyst for God's merciful intervention. While God is inherently compassionate, Israel's cry of distress serves as their turning point, an act of humble submission and desperate reliance on Him. It reveals the dynamic interplay in their covenant relationship: God's mercy is activated when His people, humbled by suffering, turn to Him in earnest appeal. This "cry" indicates a shift from rebellion to desperate acknowledgment of His sovereignty and a plea for rescue.

Psalm 106 44 Bonus section

• This verse underpins the theological truth that God's love and mercy are fundamental aspects of His character (Exo 34:6-7), not merely conditional responses to perfect obedience.
• The pattern described (sin, judgment, distress, cry, deliverance) is a recurrent theme throughout the Old Testament, particularly visible in the Book of Judges, and forms a key understanding of God's redemptive dealings with His chosen people.
• It teaches the power of humble supplication and acknowledgment of need. Though Israel did not initially deserve help, their cry expressed their helplessness and need for their Deliverer.
• This principle foreshadows the New Covenant, where despite humanity's inability to fully keep the law, God provides salvation through Christ, demonstrating His mercy while upholding His justice.
• The verse serves as a crucial bridge within Psalm 106, moving from a lament over historical apostasy to a hopeful prayer for contemporary deliverance (vv. 47-48), grounded in God's historical compassion.

Psalm 106 44 Commentary

Psalm 106:44 stands as a profound testament to the enduring mercy of God amidst human brokenness. After detailing a repetitive cycle of Israel's unfaithfulness, idolatry, and subsequent divine judgment, this verse pivotally reveals God's compassionate nature. Even though His people repeatedly provoked Him, inciting His righteous anger that led to their suffering, His responsiveness to their desperate pleas superseded His justice. This demonstrates that God's heart of mercy is not extinguished by human sin, but is awakened when His creation cries out from a place of genuine distress. It signifies that even in moments of severe affliction, there is a path back to divine favor, not because of human merit, but due to God's inherent kindness and His covenant promise. This verse thus provides hope, illustrating that no matter how deep the fall or severe the consequences, the pathway of sincere lament and desperate appeal can move the heart of the Almighty to deliver.