Psalm 107 17

Psalm 107:17 kjv

Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

Psalm 107:17 nkjv

Fools, because of their transgression, And because of their iniquities, were afflicted.

Psalm 107:17 niv

Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.

Psalm 107:17 esv

Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;

Psalm 107:17 nlt

Some were fools; they rebelled
and suffered for their sins.

Psalm 107 verses

Psalm 107 17 Meaning

Psalm 107:17 describes a group of people who, through their own rebellious and foolish choices, brought severe affliction upon themselves. It highlights a divine principle of cause and effect: that actions rooted in foolish disregard for God's ways lead to genuine suffering. Their suffering is not arbitrary but a direct consequence of their sin, encompassing both defiant acts (transgression) and inward moral perversion (iniquity). Despite their self-inflicted predicament, the broader Psalm 107 illustrates God's mercy and willingness to deliver them when they cry out to Him.

Psalm 107 17 Context

Psalm 107 is a grand liturgical Psalm of thanksgiving, recounting God's steadfast love (hesed) in delivering people from various forms of distress. The Psalm structures itself around four specific groups of people who experienced dire circumstances, cried out to God, were delivered, and then exhorted to give thanks:

1. Wanderers in the desert, lost and hungry (vv. 4-9).
2. Prisoners bound in iron and darkness (vv. 10-16).
3. Fools who suffered affliction because of their own sin (vv. 17-22). This is where verse 17 is situated. Their trouble is self-inflicted, unlike the other groups whose suffering arises more from circumstances or oppressive forces.
4. Mariners facing terrifying storms at sea (vv. 23-32).

Each section follows a pattern: distress described, crying out to the Lord, God's deliverance, and a concluding call to praise the Lord for His goodness and wonderful works. Psalm 107:17 introduces the specific plight of the third group, whose affliction is a direct consequence of their own moral choices, setting the stage for their desperate cry to God and His merciful response (vv. 18-21). Historically, this pattern can be seen reflected in Israel's cycle of rebellion, suffering (e.g., exile), repentance, and restoration.

Psalm 107 17 Word analysis

• Fools (אֱוִלִים, 'ewilîm): This Hebrew term does not simply mean unintelligent, but rather implies a moral and spiritual foolishness. An 'ewil is someone who rejects divine wisdom and instruction, often stubbornly persisting in wrongdoing and self-destructive behavior. This is not ignorance, but willful rebellion against God's established order. They despise instruction and wisdom, choosing paths contrary to God's law. This state often describes people who deny God's existence or defy His authority (Ps 14:1).
• because of their transgression (מִדֶּרֶךְ פִּשְׁעָם, midděrekְ pishâm):
  • Midděrekְ: "because of the way of," or "through the path of." This signifies a course of life or consistent behavior, not merely an isolated act. It points to a chosen lifestyle.
  • Pishâm (pesha): "transgression, rebellion, revolt." This word denotes a deliberate breaking of covenant or a willful defiance against a superior authority. It's not an accidental stumble, but a calculated turning away or a persistent uprising against what is right and established. It often implies a breaking of trust or a gross violation.
• And because of their iniquities (וּמֵעֲוֹנֹתֵיהֶם, ûmē'ǎwōnōṯêhem):
  • 'ǎwōnōṯêhem ('awon): "iniquities, perversity, guilt, crookedness." This term suggests a twisting or distortion of what is straight or morally right. It speaks to the inner bent toward evil, a moral corruption that results in crooked, perverse actions. It often carries the sense of guilt or punishment that accrues from such twisted behavior.
• were afflicted (יִתְעַנּוּ, yit'annû): "afflicted, humbled, oppressed, made to suffer." This word implies severe physical and/or psychological distress. It can range from humbling experiences to profound suffering, often in the context of divine chastisement or the natural consequences of one's actions. In the context of the next verse (v. 18), it leads to extreme physical weakness, even abhorring food and drawing near to death's gates.

Words-group analysis:

• "Fools... because of their transgression and... iniquities": This phrase meticulously links a specific character flaw (moral foolishness) with two distinct but interconnected forms of sin: active, rebellious acts (pesha) and the deeper, inner corruption or perversity of being ('awon). It underscores that their suffering is fundamentally self-generated, flowing from both their character and their conduct. The repetition of "because of" emphasizes the direct cause-and-effect relationship between their sinful choices and the resulting affliction.

Psalm 107 17 Bonus section

The severe "affliction" described here and further detailed in Psalm 107:18 ("their soul abhorred all manner of food, and they drew near to the gates of death") often points to significant physical illness or a near-death experience, which is seen as a direct outcome of their unrighteous living. This particular scenario highlights the interconnectedness between spiritual choices and physical well-being. This perspective underscores that not all sickness or suffering is arbitrary; some, like those described in 1 Corinthians 11:29-30, are direct judgments or consequences allowed by God in response to persistent or particular sins.

Psalm 107 17 Commentary

Psalm 107:17 concisely delivers a profound theological truth: moral and spiritual foolishness inevitably leads to self-inflicted suffering. These "fools" are not merely ignorant; they are rebellious individuals who stubbornly walk a path contrary to God's wisdom, embodying both outward defiance (transgression) and inward moral depravity (iniquity). The resulting "affliction" is not a random misfortune but a just consequence, demonstrating God's consistent moral order where actions have direct repercussions. This verse acts as a sobering warning that human willfulness and departure from divine statutes sow seeds that yield a harvest of pain and distress. Yet, even in this dire self-made predicament, the Psalm sets the stage for God's ultimate mercy, showing that even those most responsible for their own plight can find deliverance upon crying out to Him (vv. 18-21). It showcases God's compassionate willingness to rescue those caught in the snare of their own sin, transforming self-affliction into an occasion for praising His hesed.