Psalm 107:35 kjv
He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.
Psalm 107:35 nkjv
He turns a wilderness into pools of water, And dry land into watersprings.
Psalm 107:35 niv
He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs;
Psalm 107:35 esv
He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water.
Psalm 107:35 nlt
But he also turns deserts into pools of water,
the dry land into springs of water.
Psalm 107 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 17:6 | "Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink." | God provides water from rock in desert |
| Num 20:11 | "Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly..." | God provides water in desert |
| Deut 8:15 | "...who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water; who brought you water out of the flinty rock..." | God's provision in the wilderness |
| Isa 35:6-7 | "For waters will break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water..." | Prophecy of transformation and abundant water |
| Isa 41:18 | "I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water." | Divine promise to make desert fertile |
| Isa 43:19-20 | "I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert... For I give waters in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people..." | God's transformative act for His people |
| Isa 51:3 | "For the Lord comforts Zion; He comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the Lord..." | God's restoration likened to Eden |
| Isa 55:13 | "Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress, instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the Lord, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." | Natural world transformed as a sign of God |
| Ezek 47:1-12 | Describes a river flowing from the temple, bringing life and fruitfulness to desolate lands and making the Dead Sea fresh. | Spiritual and physical restoration via God's presence |
| Joel 3:18 | "And in that day a fountain shall flow from the house of the Lord..." | Future blessings, life-giving water |
| Jer 2:13 | "For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water." | Contrasts false sources with God as living water |
| Zech 14:8 | "On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem..." | Messianic promise of abundant life |
| John 4:10-14 | Jesus offers "living water," satisfying eternal thirst and becoming a spring within the believer. | Jesus as the source of eternal, living water |
| John 7:37-38 | Jesus proclaims, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink... out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." | Jesus' invitation to spiritual refreshment |
| Rev 21:6 | "...I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts." | God provides the water of life in new creation |
| Rev 22:1 | "Then he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb." | Source of life in the New Jerusalem |
| Job 5:11 | "He sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety." | God's power to reverse conditions of the oppressed |
| 1 Sam 2:7-8 | "The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up... For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s..." | God's sovereignty over fortune and status |
| Ps 78:15-16 | "He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as from the great deep. He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers." | God's past miraculous water provision |
| Ps 114:8 | "who turned the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of water." | Similar phrasing to Ps 107:35 about rock and water |
| Ps 23:2 | "He leads me beside still waters." | God's gentle provision and refreshment |
| Deut 32:10 | "He found him in a desert land and in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye." | God's care in desolate places |
| Phil 4:19 | "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." | God's comprehensive provision for His people |
| Matt 11:28 | "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." | Jesus provides spiritual relief and sustenance |
| Ps 63:1 | "O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh faints for You, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water." | Human longing for God in a dry land |
Psalm 107 verses
Psalm 107 35 Meaning
Psalm 107:35 proclaims God's supreme power to utterly transform barrenness into abundant life and desolation into flourishing provision. It speaks of His sovereign ability to reverse natural conditions, changing a parched and lifeless wilderness into a fertile landscape filled with water and vibrant springs, thereby providing sustenance and refreshing vitality where none existed before. This verse highlights divine benevolence and an active, providential control over all creation.
Psalm 107 35 Context
Psalm 107 is a psalm of thanksgiving, specifically celebrating the enduring lovingkindness (hesed) of the Lord. It narrates various dire circumstances—wanderers in the desert, prisoners, sick people, and mariners facing storms—from which God delivers His people. Each section concludes with a call to "give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, and for His wonderful deeds to the sons of men." Verses 33-43 expand this theme to encompass God's sovereign control over nations and the very face of the earth, demonstrating His power to elevate the humble and bring low the proud. Verse 35 is part of this broader declaration of divine control over nature, presenting God's ability to transform conditions of scarcity into abundance, contrasting with the prior verses (33-34) where God can also turn fruitful lands barren due to the wickedness of its inhabitants. It highlights God's justice and providence, revealing that even natural conditions are subject to His will, not mere chance or the whims of other deities. Historically, access to water was crucial for survival and prosperity in the ancient Near East, making this act of turning dry land into water a profound testament to God's life-giving power and unique deity.
Psalm 107 35 Word analysis
- He turns (יַהֲפֹךְ, yahapok): This Hebrew word implies a powerful and complete reversal or overturning. It signifies an intentional and dramatic shift in state or condition, demonstrating God's active involvement and absolute sovereignty over circumstances. It is not a gradual change, but a decisive act of transformation.
- a wilderness (מִדְבָּר, midbar): Refers to a barren, uncultivated, and often desolate area, typically with sparse vegetation, signifying hardship, scarcity, and peril. It represents a place lacking life-sustaining resources.
- into a pool of water (לְאַגַּם־מָיִם, le'agam-mayim): An agam is a pond, pool, or marshy place, indicating a substantial collection of water. This transforms a place of extreme dryness into an area of considerable, collected water, sufficient for life and growth.
- and dry ground (וְאֶרֶץ צִמָּאוֹן, u'eretz tzimma'on): Eretz means "land" or "ground." Tzimma'on directly translates to "thirst" or "parchedness," indicating land suffering from extreme aridity and longing for moisture. It intensifies the description of desolation, implying desperate need.
- into springs of water (לְמוֹצָאֵי מָיִם, le'motza'ei mayim): Motza'ei refers to sources or outflow points, meaning continuously flowing, fresh water. Unlike a stagnant pool, springs imply a sustained and renewable supply of vital water, signifying abundant and ongoing provision.
- "He turns a wilderness into a pool of water, and dry ground into springs of water": The parallel structure ("wilderness into a pool" and "dry ground into springs") emphasizes the completeness and certainty of God's transformative power. The transition from midbar to agam mayim represents a complete reversal from absolute barrenness to collected abundance. The further progression from eretz tzimmaon to motza'ei mayim highlights not just the presence of water but an active, flowing, and sustainable source, signifying revitalizing abundance. This twofold declaration reinforces that God is capable of changing even the most inhospitable environments into flourishing lands, signifying not just miraculous provision but a total renewal. This also functions as an implicit polemic against ancient Near Eastern deities associated with weather or fertility, clearly asserting Yahweh's exclusive, unmatched sovereignty over nature.
Psalm 107 35 Bonus section
This verse can be understood as both a literal description of God's power over creation and a profound spiritual metaphor. Just as God can transform physical desolation, He also has the power to bring spiritual life and fruitfulness to parched souls, broken hearts, or seemingly barren lives. The miraculous provision of water in the wilderness for Israel (e.g., at Rephidim or Meribah) serves as historical examples that ground this poetic language in real events. The transformation of a "dry ground" into "springs" speaks to a source that does not deplete, reflecting the infinite nature of God's grace and supply. This concept finds fulfillment in Christ, who offers "living water" to those who thirst, signifying the Holy Spirit and eternal life, satisfying spiritual longing in a way the world cannot. It reaffirms the biblical principle that all true life and blessing ultimately flow from the Lord.
Psalm 107 35 Commentary
Psalm 107:35 vividly illustrates the boundless power and compassionate nature of God. It presents His ability to bring radical change, turning places of extreme desolation into havens of flourishing life. This transformation is not merely about physical geography but reflects God's broader capacity to reverse any dire circumstance, bringing hope, sustenance, and renewal where despair, famine, and death seemed inevitable. It underscores that all things, including the fundamental elements of creation, are under His divine command. The verse serves as a powerful reminder that with God, even the most barren and hopeless situations can be miraculously changed into places of refreshment and abundance, serving as a testament to His enduring faithfulness (hesed) and providential care for those who call upon Him. It shows God's control extends from individual deliverances to shaping entire landscapes and civilizations.