Psalm 106 46

Psalm 106:46 kjv

He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.

Psalm 106:46 nkjv

He also made them to be pitied By all those who carried them away captive.

Psalm 106:46 niv

He caused all who held them captive to show them mercy.

Psalm 106:46 esv

He caused them to be pitied by all those who held them captive.

Psalm 106:46 nlt

He even caused their captors
to treat them with kindness.

Psalm 106 verses

Psalm 106 46 Meaning

Psalm 106:46 reveals God's divine intervention on behalf of His covenant people, even during their period of judgment and exile. Despite Israel's repeated unfaithfulness, God, in His compassion, moved the hearts of their captors to show them mercy. This verse highlights God's sovereign power over all human authorities and circumstances, demonstrating that even the disposition of hostile nations towards Israel was ultimately orchestrated by the Almighty God. It is a testament to His enduring faithfulness and covenant love, which extended beyond deserved punishment to encompass restorative grace.

Psalm 106 46 Context

Psalm 106 is a historical psalm, part of Book Four of the Psalms, summarizing the rebellious history of Israel from the Exodus to the Babylonian captivity. It serves as a national confession of sin, recounting the long pattern of Israel's unfaithfulness and God's consistent, yet often chastening, deliverance. Verses 40-45 detail the cycle of God delivering Israel despite their sin, followed by their relapse into idolatry and subsequent judgment. God hands them over to enemies (v. 41) but eventually hears their cries, remembers His covenant (v. 45), and shows compassion. Verse 46 marks a specific outcome of this divine compassion: even while under foreign dominion, the Israelites experienced a softening of their captors' hearts, which led to merciful treatment. This provided a window for eventual restoration, culminating in the cry for gathering them from among the nations in the final verses.

Psalm 106 46 Word analysis

• He also made them: The Hebrew word וַיִּתֵּן (vayyitten), means "and He gave" or "He granted." The immediate subject of this verb is God (referring to "the LORD" from previous verses). This highlights a direct divine action and sovereign control. It's not a natural outcome or a political maneuver by Israel, but God actively making something happen.
• them: Refers to the Israelites, God's people, who were in captivity.
• to be pitied: The Hebrew phrase לְרַחֲמִים (le-rachamim) literally means "for compassions" or "for mercies." Rachamim (רַחֲמִים) is a plural noun signifying profound, deep-seated compassion, often connected to a mother's pity for her child (from the root rechem, "womb"). It describes an internal emotional yearning that leads to compassionate action. Here, it denotes that God caused their captors to feel this profound empathy and show clemency towards them, going beyond simple pity to a powerful sense of benevolence.
• by all those that carried them captives: The Hebrew לִפְנֵי כָּל-שֹׁבֵיהֶם (lifnei kol-shoveihem) means "before the face of all their captors." Shoveihem (שֹׁבֵיהֶם) means "their captors" or "those who took them captive." This emphasizes the comprehensive scope—all their captors, suggesting widespread change of heart, not just a few instances. It means their compassion was evident in the presence of those who enslaved them, underscoring the public and undeniable nature of this divine act.

Words-group analysis:

• "He also made them to be pitied": This phrase directly attributes the change in circumstance to God's initiative. It signifies that divine will superseded the captors' inherent desires or political interests. God injected mercy into what was otherwise a harsh and hostile relationship. This is an act of supernatural influence, a testimony to God's control over human hearts (Prov 21:1).
• "to be pitied by all those that carried them captives": This group of words shows the paradox of divine power. The very ones who had enslaved God's people were supernaturally moved to show them compassion. This highlights that God's power extends even to those outside His covenant, influencing their wills for the benefit of His people. It is a powerful polemic against the pagan belief that conquering nations and their gods had ultimate power. Yahweh demonstrated His supremacy by manipulating the hearts of these very conquerors.

Psalm 106 46 Bonus section

The demonstration of God's power over the hearts of kings and nations (as seen in this verse) is a recurring theme throughout biblical history. This theme would have offered immense hope and encouragement to the exiles, reminding them that their deliverance and restoration were not dependent on human strength or political negotiation, but solely on the omnipotent and merciful will of Yahweh. It highlights a critical aspect of God's character: His redemptive purposes often unfold through unlikely means, even transforming enemies into instruments of His grace. This theological truth serves as an eternal encouragement for believers in any circumstance of oppression or trial, affirming that God holds all power, including over the wills of those who may oppose His people. It implicitly points to the "God of all comfort" who turns suffering into avenues for His glory and for the eventual good of His saints.

Psalm 106 46 Commentary

Psalm 106:46 is a profound declaration of God's covenant faithfulness and sovereign mercy, even in the midst of Israel's sin and suffering. It underscores that God, despite His righteous judgment which led to their captivity, never utterly abandoned His people. Through divine intervention, He orchestrated a softening of hearts among their enemies, transforming animosity into compassion. This act was not earned by Israel's merit, but flowed purely from God's unchanging nature of rachamim (compassion) and His remembrance of His covenant. It showcases God's ultimate control over all human affairs, demonstrating that He can manipulate the will of the mightiest rulers for His purposes and for the well-being of His chosen people, ultimately paving the way for their restoration and fulfilling His long-term redemptive plan.