Psalm 107:26 kjv
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psalm 107:26 nkjv
They mount up to the heavens, They go down again to the depths; Their soul melts because of trouble.
Psalm 107:26 niv
They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away.
Psalm 107:26 esv
They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight;
Psalm 107:26 nlt
Their ships were tossed to the heavens
and plunged again to the depths;
the sailors cringed in terror.
Psalm 107 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 107:23-25 | Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters; they see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. For He commands and raises the stormy wind... | Immediate context describing the mariners and the storm God causes. |
| Jon 1:4-5 | But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea... the ship was about to break up... every man cried to his god. | God's sovereignty over storms and human fear at sea. |
| Matt 8:24-27 | And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea... He rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. | Jesus' divine authority over nature, calming a storm. |
| Mk 4:37-41 | And a great windstorm arose... And He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” | Jesus demonstrates control, paralleling God's power in Psa 107. |
| Lk 8:23-25 | And there came down a storm of wind on the lake... And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” | A direct New Testament echo of the overwhelming distress in a storm. |
| Job 38:8-11 | Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb... “Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed.” | God's ultimate control over the sea and its boundaries. |
| Psa 29:3-4 | The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord is over many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful... | God's supreme power illustrated through thunder and water. |
| Psa 69:1-2 | Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters... | Metaphorical deep waters representing overwhelming distress and feeling of drowning. |
| Psa 42:7 | Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. | A similar poetic expression of being overwhelmed by crashing waves and despair. |
| Psa 77:16 | When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were in anguish; the deep trembled. | God's presence causing fear even in the elements, affirming His power over water. |
| Psa 93:3-4 | The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty! | Affirmation of God's power as supreme over even the mightiest waves. |
| Josh 2:9 | ...for the terror of you has fallen upon us, and all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. | Use of "fainthearted" or "melt" (often from same root) to describe utter loss of courage. |
| Exod 15:15 | Then the chiefs of Edom were dismayed; trembling seized the leaders of Moab; all the inhabitants of Canaan melted away. | "Melted away" conveying fear, demoralization, loss of strength. |
| Psa 31:9-10 | Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. For my life is spent with sorrow... | Expression of internal and physical weakness due to overwhelming trouble. |
| Psa 119:28 | My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to Your word! | Direct correlation of "soul melts" with sorrow and need for divine strength. |
| Lam 3:49-50 | My eyes flow with rivers of tears, without ceasing, till the Lord looks down and sees from heaven. | Emotive description of overwhelming despair and helplessness. |
| 2 Cor 1:8-10 | For we would not have you uninformed, brothers, about the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. | Paul's experience of extreme distress and despair, akin to a melting soul. |
| Isa 43:2 | When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you... | God's promise of presence and protection in overwhelming situations. |
| Nah 1:3-4 | The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet... He rebukes the sea and makes it dry... | God's sovereign power over storms, winds, and the sea. |
| Rev 13:1 | And I saw a beast rising out of the sea... | The "sea" or "deep" in biblical literature can also represent chaos, rebellion, and sources of evil. |
Psalm 107 verses
Psalm 107 26 Meaning
Psalm 107:26 vividly depicts the terrifying plight of sailors caught in a severe tempest. It illustrates their experience of being violently tossed between the crests of towering waves that seem to reach the very heavens and the deep troughs that plunge them into the abyss. Amidst this chaotic natural upheaval, their vitality and courage completely dissolve; their inner strength and spirit melt away due to the overwhelming distress and immediate threat of death. This verse underscores the extreme human helplessness when confronted by the immense, uncontrollable forces of nature, leading to utter despair.
Psalm 107 26 Context
Psalm 107 is a powerful psalm of thanksgiving, specifically designed to extol the steadfast love and faithfulness of the Lord. It follows a recurring structural pattern of distress, supplication, deliverance, and thanksgiving, illustrating God's redemptive power through various human predicaments. Verse 26 belongs to the fourth illustrative section (vv. 23-32), which focuses on those who "go down to the sea in ships." This section vividly portrays the peril faced by mariners. It precedes their cry for help to the Lord (v. 28) and His subsequent miraculous intervention (v. 29) to calm the storm, leading to their profound gratitude (v. 30-31). The broader context of Psalm 107 reminds the readers that no matter the type or depth of trouble—whether wandering, imprisonment, sickness due to sin, or the terror of a storm—God is the ultimate Deliverer, deserving of all praise. Historically, sea travel was a formidable challenge, especially for a predominantly land-based culture like Israel, which viewed the sea with a mix of wonder and apprehension. Violent storms in the Mediterranean or the Sea of Galilee were common and often resulted in shipwrecks, making the depiction in this verse relatable and terrifying for the original audience, highlighting the absolute dependence on divine intervention.
Psalm 107 26 Word analysis
- They (וַיַּעֲלוּ֙, wa·ya‘ălû): Refers to the mariners introduced in the preceding verses (107:23). It marks the continuation of their terrifying ordeal.
- mount up (עָלָה, ‘ālâ): Hebrew for "to go up," "ascend," or "rise." Here, it literally describes being lifted high by monstrous waves. The imagery evokes a feeling of being hurled skyward, powerless against the water's force.
- to the heavens (שָׁמַיִם, šā·ma·yim): Hebrew for "sky" or "heavens." This is hyperbole, emphasizing the immense height of the waves, making the horizon disappear and leaving only the churning sea and sky. It suggests a perceived cosmic disturbance.
- they go down (יָרְד֥וּ, yā·rə·ḏū): Hebrew for "to descend" or "go down." This word starkly contrasts "mount up," highlighting the rapid, violent descent into the troughs of the waves, creating an acute sense of disorientation and dread.
- again (שָׁמָ֑יִם...שָׁפָ֑ל) / to the depths (תְּהֹמוֹת, tə·hō·mō·wṯ): "Depths" here is tehomot, the plural of tehom, which means "deep," "abyss," or "oceanic deep." This word is significant; it often refers to the primordial waters of creation (Gen 1:2) or the watery chaos that threatens to swallow one whole. It emphasizes not just deep water, but a return to an uncontrolled, existential abyss of chaos and imminent demise.
- their soul (נַפְשָׁם, nap̄·šām): Hebrew nephesh. While often translated as "soul," nephesh in the Old Testament also signifies one's very being, life, vital essence, or person. Here, it speaks to their innermost core, their strength, courage, and will to live. It's not just a feeling, but a deep physical and psychological exhaustion.
- melteth (תִּמּ֥וֹג, tim·mōḡ): Hebrew mug, meaning "to melt," "dissolve," or "be demoralized." This powerful verb signifies a complete loss of firmness, strength, and courage, as if their inner resilience has completely liquified. It speaks of utter despair and collapse.
- because of trouble (בְּרָעָֽה, bə·rā·‘āh): Hebrew ra'ah, meaning "evil," "calamity," "distress," "misfortune." This specifies the immediate cause of their melting souls: the dire, overwhelming, and evil nature of the storm's intensity. It is not just inconvenience, but true calamity.
- "They mount up to the heavens; they go down again to the depths": This phrase dramatically illustrates the extreme vertical motion and violent oscillations within the storm. It evokes a rollercoaster of terror, where perceived salvation (rising to the sky) is immediately followed by perceived doom (plunging into the deep). It reflects both the physical reality and the psychological torment of being out of control.
- "their soul melteth because of trouble": This powerful culmination explains the effect of the extreme physical experience. It moves from external peril to internal dissolution. The "melting soul" conveys not just fear, but a comprehensive giving up of all hope, a draining of vital strength and resolve in the face of insurmountable danger. It paints a picture of ultimate human helplessness, preparing the stage for their desperate cry to God.
Psalm 107 26 Bonus section
The imagery of "heavens" and "depths" (tehomot) may subtly allude to cosmic order and chaos. The tehom (deep) in Gen 1:2 represented primeval chaos before God brought order to creation. Here, the storm temporarily reverts the world into a state of tehomot, indicating a temporary return to an unordered, threatening abyss. This heightened sense of a world returning to chaos deepens the mariners' terror. Furthermore, Psalm 107 employs a structured four-fold "woe-deliverance-thanksgiving" pattern. This verse (107:26) is the pinnacle of "woe" for the mariners, showcasing their peak distress, just before they turn to God in their desperate need. This extreme description amplifies God's subsequent glory in delivering them from such a state.
Psalm 107 26 Commentary
Psalm 107:26 is a masterful poetic portrayal of absolute distress. It plunges the reader into the heart of a violent maritime storm, emphasizing the human vulnerability when faced with the untamed power of creation. The sailors' experience of being violently flung between "heavens" and "depths" is not merely physical; it is an assault on their entire being, culminating in the "melting" of their very soul. This "melting" describes a complete erosion of courage, strength, and hope, a visceral sensation of spiritual and emotional dissolution under the extreme pressure of impending doom. This intense state of despair serves a critical narrative purpose in Psalm 107. It establishes the depth of human helplessness and prepares the ground for the miraculous deliverance by God, who, when cried out to, transforms chaotic fury into peaceful calm (Ps 107:28-30). It underscores that human extremity is God's opportunity to demonstrate His steadfast love and sovereign control over all things, including the most fearsome elements of nature. The verse effectively transitions from external torment to internal breakdown, setting the scene for a desperate appeal to a higher power.
Example: Imagine facing a life-altering diagnosis that makes your future suddenly uncertain; that overwhelming dread can feel like your hopes and plans melting away. Or enduring an unexpected, devastating financial collapse that makes your security dissolve, causing deep fear. In these moments, like the sailors, our inner strength can fail.