Psalm 107 36

Psalm 107:36 kjv

And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;

Psalm 107:36 nkjv

There He makes the hungry dwell, That they may establish a city for a dwelling place,

Psalm 107:36 niv

there he brought the hungry to live, and they founded a city where they could settle.

Psalm 107:36 esv

And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in;

Psalm 107:36 nlt

He brings the hungry to settle there
and to build their cities.

Psalm 107 verses

Psalm 107 36 Meaning

Psalm 107:36 proclaims God's transformative power, where He divinely intervenes to settle the destitute and vulnerable—specifically "the hungry"—in a secure place. This divine provision enables these individuals, formerly wanderers or suffering want, to establish and dwell permanently in an ordered community, symbolized by "a city." The verse speaks to God's providence, turning barrenness or homelessness into stability, security, and flourishing habitation for those in need.

Psalm 107 36 Context

Psalm 107 is a wisdom psalm and a hymn of thanksgiving, celebrating God's enduring love (hesed). It portrays God's deliverance of various groups who cried out to Him in distress: wanderers in the desert (vv. 4-9), prisoners (vv. 10-16), the sick (vv. 17-22), and storm-tossed sailors (vv. 23-32). Each section culminates in a call to give thanks to the Lord for His goodness. The latter part of the psalm (vv. 33-42) broadens the scope to God's sovereignty over the land and human society. Verse 36 specifically contrasts with the previous verses where God can turn fruitful land into a wasteland due to its inhabitants' wickedness (v. 34), showcasing His ultimate power to reverse fortunes. It presents a divine act of turning desolation and hunger into ordered, stable habitation, highlighting God's providential care for the humble and needy.

Psalm 107 36 Word analysis

• There: Hebrew `sham` (שָׁם). This adverb of place indicates a specific, appointed location. It points back to the "wilderness" (v. 4) or "desert waste" (v. 33), signifying that God actively selects or creates a suitable environment for habitation even in previously uninhabitable regions. It emphasizes divine direction and initiative in placing them.
• He makes...dwell: Hebrew `yoshiv` (יֹוֹשִׁיב). This is the Hiphil imperfect form of `yashav` (יָשַׁב), meaning "to sit, to dwell, to inhabit, to settle." The Hiphil stem indicates a causative action: "He causes to dwell" or "He settles." This highlights God as the active agent who provides permanence and stability for those who had none, going beyond simple permission to active establishment.
• the hungry: Hebrew `re'evim` (רְעֵבִים). This noun refers to those literally experiencing hunger or starvation, implying severe destitution, need, and vulnerability. Metaphorically, it can also signify those lacking spiritual nourishment or living in utter desolation. Their state of need emphasizes God's compassion and power to deliver the most desperate.
• and they establish: Hebrew `vayekhonenû` (וַיְכוֹנְנוּ). This is the Waw consecutive with the Piel perfect of `kun` (כּוּן), meaning "to set up, to establish, to prepare, to make firm, to make ready." The Piel stem often indicates intensive or causative action. This phrase signifies a collective, sustained effort on the part of the people to build, empowered by God's provision. It's not passive reception but active participation in constructing their new reality, given the resources and stability from God.
• a city: Hebrew `'ir` (עִיר). A significant term implying not just a cluster of dwellings but an organized, protected community with stability, law, and corporate identity. In ancient times, cities provided security against external threats and a framework for civil life. This contrasts sharply with the earlier nomadic, insecure existence of "wanderers" (v. 4).
• to live in: Hebrew `moshav` (מוֹשָׁב). Derived from `yashav` (the same root as "dwell"), `moshav` refers to a settled dwelling place, habitation, seat, or residence. It underscores the intention of permanence and a secure, continuous presence, emphasizing a definitive end to wandering and a secure place of belonging.

• "There he makes the hungry dwell": This phrase underscores the miraculous, direct intervention of God. From a place of emptiness and want, God Himself brings and settles the destitute. It's an act of divine mercy and sovereign placement.
• "and they establish a city to live in": This second clause highlights the co-working of humanity with divinity. God provides the ground and opportunity, but the people themselves engage in the effort of building and structuring their lives, establishing a stable, collective habitation. This represents God enabling self-sustainability and community development.

Psalm 107 36 Bonus section

This verse embodies the biblical theme of God raising the lowly and filling the hungry, providing practical illustration for abstract principles found throughout scripture. The contrast between barrenness and fertile land, wilderness and city, demonstrates God's ultimate control over all circumstances and His capacity to bring order and life where there was desolation. The establishment of a "city" signifies not just individual well-being but the flourishing of collective life and organized society, suggesting that God desires not just individual salvation but communal thriving based on His blessing. It points to a broader pattern where God transforms not just individual lives but also creates settled, purposeful communities.

Psalm 107 36 Commentary

Psalm 107:36 is a powerful testament to God's compassionate sovereignty and His transformative power over creation and human destiny. It reveals God's tender regard for the vulnerable, specifically the "hungry" or destitute. From a state of homelessness and despair, God provides a definitive "place" and causes them to "dwell," ending their wandering. Beyond mere shelter, He empowers them to "establish a city to live in," indicating the building of a structured, secure, and enduring community. This verse encapsulates a reversal of fortune—from scarcity to abundance, from rootlessness to stability, and from vulnerability to fortified dwelling. It illustrates how divine provision initiates human flourishing and ordered societal life, reminding us that true societal foundation comes from God's gracious hand enabling His people to build and thrive.