Psalm 107:38 kjv
He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
Psalm 107:38 nkjv
He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly; And He does not let their cattle decrease.
Psalm 107:38 niv
he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased, and he did not let their herds diminish.
Psalm 107:38 esv
By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he does not let their livestock diminish.
Psalm 107:38 nlt
How he blesses them!
They raise large families there,
and their herds of livestock increase.
Psalm 107 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:28 | God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply..." | God's original blessing for multiplication |
| Gen 12:2 | "I will bless you and make your name great... you will be a blessing." | Promise of blessing and greatness |
| Gen 26:12 | Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; the LORD blessed him. | Divine blessing leads to abundant material return |
| Exod 1:7 | But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong... | God's blessing causing demographic growth |
| Deut 7:13 | He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain, your new wine, and your oil, the increase of your cattle... | God's comprehensive covenantal blessing |
| Deut 28:1-12 | Blessings for obedience include numerous children, abundant harvest, and increasing livestock. | Detailed outline of material blessings for faithfulness |
| Ps 104:14 | He causes the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate. | God's general provision for creation |
| Ps 145:15 | The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due season. | God as the source of sustenance |
| Prov 10:22 | The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. | Divine blessing as the source of wealth |
| Job 42:10,12 | And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job... The LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning... He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels... | God's power to restore and multiply after suffering |
| Ps 126:1-3 | When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream... The LORD has done great things for us... | Reversal of captivity, return to prosperity |
| Ps 115:14 | May the LORD give you increase more and more, you and your children! | A prayer/blessing for continued increase |
| Isa 51:2 | Look to Abraham your father... For he was but one when I called him, that I might bless him and multiply him. | God's historical pattern of blessing and multiplying |
| Jer 30:19 | And out of them shall come thanksgiving and the voice of those who celebrate. I will make them increase, and they will not be diminished... | Prophecy of restored numerical strength |
| Ezek 36:11 | I will multiply men on you, all the house of Israel... I will do better for you than at your beginnings. | God promises increased population and prosperity after desolation |
| Hag 2:19 | "Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, from this day on I will bless you." | God's blessing promises future abundance |
| Mal 3:10 | "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse... I will open for you the windows of heaven and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need." | Blessing for obedience leading to overwhelming abundance |
| Zech 8:12 | For the seed shall be prosperous, the vine shall yield its fruit, and the ground shall give its increase... | Prophecy of peace and agricultural abundance |
| Matt 6:26 | Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. | God's faithfulness in providing sustenance |
| Phil 4:19 | And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. | God's comprehensive provision for His people |
| Acts 2:47 | Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. | Numerical growth in the New Testament Church |
| Acts 6:7 | And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem... | Spiritual and numerical multiplication of believers |
| Jas 1:17 | Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights... | God as the ultimate source of all good blessings |
| 1 Tim 6:17 | Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age... | God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. |
Psalm 107 verses
Psalm 107 38 Meaning
Psalm 107:38 declares that God, in His gracious care, actively blesses His delivered people. This blessing leads to their profound numerical increase, specifically in terms of human progeny, and also ensures the significant growth and steadfast preservation of their livestock, a critical indicator of wealth and stability in ancient agrarian societies. The verse highlights God's comprehensive provision, demonstrating His power to transform conditions of distress into overwhelming abundance and sustained well-being.
Psalm 107 38 Context
Psalm 107 is a profound wisdom psalm of thanksgiving that celebrates God's steadfast lovingkindness (hesed) and His deliverances from various distresses. The psalm structures its narrative by portraying four distinct groups of people who suffer due to their own folly or circumstances: wanderers lost in the wilderness, prisoners in darkness, the sick near death, and sailors facing violent storms. In each scenario, these individuals cry out to the Lord, and He delivers them. The psalm repeatedly uses the refrain "Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to the children of man!" (vv. 8, 15, 21, 31).
Verse 38 specifically concludes a passage (vv. 33-43) that highlights God's sovereign control over the natural world and human destiny. After illustrating how God can turn fertile land into desert (due to wickedness) and parched land into springs (for the righteous), the psalmist portrays the profound restoration and flourishing of those whom God favors. Verse 37, just preceding our verse, speaks of God allowing them to "sow fields and plant vineyards" – a setup for agricultural prosperity. Therefore, verse 38 functions as the culmination of this divine favor, where agricultural and animal wealth, alongside human proliferation, signifies complete blessedness and the full reversal of previous suffering and lack, demonstrating God's ultimate providence for His covenant people.
Psalm 107 38 Word analysis
He blesses (יְבָרֲכֵם, yevarkhem): Derived from the Hebrew root בָּרַךְ (barakh), meaning to bless. This signifies an active divine impartation of favor, empowerment, and prosperity. It is Yahweh (the Lord) Himself, the sovereign God of Israel, who initiates and provides this good.
them: Refers to the "hungry ones" whom God fills with good (v. 9), those rescued from distress, and more broadly, His righteous people who acknowledge His works.
also / and: Connects this specific blessing (multiplication and increase of livestock) to the prior acts of deliverance and establishment. It indicates that God’s blessing is comprehensive.
multiply greatly (וַיִּרְבּוּ מְאֹד, vayirbu me'od):
- multiply (וַיִּרְבּוּ, vayirbu): From the root רָבָה (rabah), meaning to become many, to increase, to multiply. This reflects God's original blessing to humanity (Gen 1:28) and His specific promise to Abraham's descendants (Gen 15:5).
- greatly (מְאֹד, me'od): An intensifier meaning very, exceedingly, exceedingly, much. It stresses the substantial and undeniable nature of the increase, beyond mere natural growth.
and he does not let their livestock diminish (וּמִקְנֵהֶם לֹא יַמְעִיט, u'miknehem lo yam'it):
- livestock (מִקְנֵהֶם, miknehem): From the root קָנָה (qanah), meaning to acquire, possess. Refers collectively to all owned animals, primarily sheep, goats, cattle, and donkeys. These animals were central to the economic and social well-being of the ancient Israelites, providing food, clothing, transport, and labor. Their abundance indicated wealth and prosperity.
- diminish (לֹא יַמְעִיט, lo yam'it): From the root מָעַט (ma'at), meaning to be few, decrease, diminish. The preceding negation lo (not) signifies God's active preservation and protection against loss, disease, barrenness, or raiding, ensuring continuous growth and stability rather than decline.
He blesses them, and they multiply greatly: This phrase encapsulates the theme of divine generative power. God is not merely passive observer; He actively grants fertility and abundance to His people, fulfilling covenantal promises that span from Abraham's call to the nation's well-being. This implies an increase in human population as well as overall flourishing.
and he does not let their livestock diminish: This speaks to God's continuous and protective providence over the material assets that were vital for survival and prosperity. It highlights His safeguarding hand, preventing the very kind of loss or ruin that could stem from natural disaster, economic hardship, or conflict, thus ensuring enduring prosperity.
Psalm 107 38 Bonus section
This verse not only speaks of material and numerical blessings but implicitly underscores God's complete sovereignty over every aspect of life, from fertility and population growth to agricultural yields and animal husbandry. In an ancient worldview often attributing prosperity or misfortune to fickle deities or natural forces, Psalm 107:38 firmly attributes sustained prosperity directly to Yahweh's blessing and protective hand. It emphasizes that divine favor means more than merely getting by; it means thriving and experiencing tangible increase. This aspect directly opposes pagan ideas that success depended on appeasing fertility gods or chance; instead, it establishes a foundational theological truth: that God alone orchestrates the flourishing of His creation, particularly those whom He redeems.
Psalm 107 38 Commentary
Psalm 107:38 functions as a culminating testament to God's restorative and beneficent power following the trials outlined earlier in the psalm. It moves beyond mere deliverance from distress to the abundant establishment and multiplication of God’s people. In a world where famine, disease, and conflict often decimated populations and their resources, the promise of multiplication and sustained livestock growth was a profound assurance of divine favor and ultimate security. This verse vividly portrays God's power to completely reverse the fortunes of those who trust in Him: from desolation to abundance, from scarcity to overwhelming fruitfulness. It reminds us that God's lovingkindness (hesed) extends to the practical and material well-being of His people, providing not just sustenance but surplus.
Practical implications include:
- Dependence on God: Recognizes that true and lasting prosperity ultimately comes from God's blessing, not solely human effort.
- Trust in Providence: Encourages faith that God is capable of not only delivering from current struggles but also establishing a future of abundance and stability.
- Stewardship: Implies a responsibility to manage God-given blessings wisely, understanding their divine source.