Psalm 107 3

Psalm 107:3 kjv

And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

Psalm 107:3 nkjv

And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south.

Psalm 107:3 niv

those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.

Psalm 107:3 esv

and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

Psalm 107:3 nlt

For he has gathered the exiles from many lands,
from east and west,
from north and south.

Psalm 107 verses

Psalm 107 3 Meaning

Psalm 107:3 powerfully declares God's comprehensive act of gathering His people from every conceivable direction across the earth. It portrays the divine restoration of those who were dispersed due to various forms of distress or disobedience, underscoring the universal scope of God's redemptive power and His steadfast covenant faithfulness in reuniting His scattered flock. This verse is a testament to God's ability to redeem and reconstitute His people, irrespective of how far they have wandered or been cast out.

Psalm 107 3 Context

Psalm 107 is a prominent thanksgiving psalm that follows a cyclical structure, highlighting God's enduring lovingkindness (Hebrew: hesed) through various situations of human distress and divine deliverance. The psalm opens with a call to give thanks to the Lord, for He is good and His hesed endures forever (v. 1). Verse 2 then urges "the redeemed of the Lord" to declare His redemptive work. Verse 3 directly follows this by specifying the nature of this redemption: a vast, universal gathering. This particular verse points to the historical experience of Israel's dispersion, notably during the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles, where God's covenant people were scattered among foreign nations as a consequence of their disobedience. The subsequent miraculous return from these exiles serves as a profound historical precedent for the truth proclaimed in verse 3, illustrating God's active intervention to bring His people back from the farthest corners of the world. It sets the stage for the psalm's recounting of God's rescues from wandering in the wilderness, imprisonment, illness, and storm, each concluding with a renewed call to praise Him.

Psalm 107 3 Word analysis

• And gathered: The Hebrew verb qabats (קבץ), used here, denotes to collect, assemble, or bring together that which has been dispersed. Its passive or niph'al form (which means "they were gathered" or "He gathered them" as God is the implicit subject) emphasizes that this gathering is not a result of human effort but an active, deliberate, and sovereign work of God. It implies a transition from a state of scattering, often associated with judgment or loss, to one of restoration, unity, and flourishing by divine grace. This term underscores God's absolute power to reverse seemingly insurmountable circumstances and His faithfulness in covenant promises.

• them: Refers directly to "the redeemed of the Lord" (Ps 107:2). This identifies the beneficiaries of God's redemptive work as His chosen people, those whom He has delivered from various forms of bondage, including historical exiles and subsequent dispersions. It signifies God's specific care for His covenant people.

• out of the lands: The Hebrew plural ʼārets (ארץ), translated as "lands" or "countries," refers to the various foreign territories, nations, or regions where God's people were dispersed. This highlights the widespread nature of their scattering, extending beyond their homeland into a multitude of unfamiliar gentile territories. It emphasizes the extensive geographical scope of their predicament and, by contrast, the limitless reach of God's power to restore them from anywhere.

• from the east, and from the west: These are specific cardinal directions, signifying two opposing points on the horizon. "East" (mizrach - מִזְרַח) would typically refer to lands like Babylon, Persia, and Assyria, significant places of exile. "West" (ma'arav - מַעֲרָב) would denote regions toward the Mediterranean Sea or beyond.

• from the north, and from the south: These complete the enumeration of cardinal directions. "North" (tsafon - צָפוֹן) often represented threats or places of dispersion from regions like Syria or even parts of Europe. "South" (darom - דרום, though yam sometimes implies "west" when it means "sea," the overall context here means south, or teiman for south-west), signifies areas below Judah.

• from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south: This grouping constitutes a powerful literary device known as a merism. By naming opposite ends (east and west) and then the other two main points (north and south), the psalmist conveys the totality and comprehensiveness of God's gathering. It means "from everywhere" – no place of dispersion is outside of God's ability or willingness to gather His people. This emphasizes the unbounded nature of God's redemptive reach, assuring His people that even from the most distant or obscure locations, He will find and bring them home.

Psalm 107 3 Bonus section

• The emphasis on "gathered" rather than "they returned" highlights divine initiative; it is God who performs the action, not merely the people themselves deciding to come back. This aligns with a biblical theology where God is the primary mover in redemption.
• This verse counters ancient worldviews where deity influence might be limited by geographical boundaries or specific ethnic groups. The God of Israel is declared sovereign over all lands and directions, able to gather His people from any domain.
• While initially referring to the physical return of Israel from exile, the principle of divine gathering extends to the spiritual ingathering of believers from every nation, tongue, people, and tribe into the church through Christ, fulfilling the expansive scope suggested by the four cardinal directions.
• The experience of dispersion and subsequent gathering is a motif throughout biblical history, serving as a reminder that God's hesed triumphs over judgment, leading to restoration and renewal of the covenant community.

Psalm 107 3 Commentary

Psalm 107:3 succinctly encapsulates a core theme of biblical redemption: God's unfailing commitment to gather His dispersed people. This verse is not merely a geographical description but a theological declaration of God's sovereignty over history and nations. It underscores that scattering, often a consequence of disobedience, is never beyond God's power to reverse through His mercy and faithfulness. The comprehensive nature of the gathering—"from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south"—affirms that God's reach is limitless and His concern for His covenant people is absolute. It is a powerful affirmation that those whom the Lord redeems will not remain lost but will be supernaturally brought together, demonstrating His unique power and unwavering love in the face of human suffering and scattering.