Psalm 107:39 kjv
Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
Psalm 107:39 nkjv
When they are diminished and brought low Through oppression, affliction, and sorrow,
Psalm 107:39 niv
Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled by oppression, calamity and sorrow;
Psalm 107:39 esv
When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow,
Psalm 107:39 nlt
When they decrease in number and become impoverished
through oppression, trouble, and sorrow,
Psalm 107 39 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 28:62 | "And ye shall be left few in number..." | Consequence of disobedience |
| Is 51:19 | "These two things are come unto thee; desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword..." | Distress from divine judgment |
| Lam 1:1 | "How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!" | City's population diminished, brought low |
| Jer 15:8 | "Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a spoiler at noonday..." | Diminished families, sorrow and trouble |
| Lev 26:14-39 | (Summary of curses for disobedience) | General principle of distress for sin |
| Is 2:12 | "For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low..." | Divine humbling of the proud |
| Ez 21:26 | "Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown... exalting him that is low, and abasing him that is high." | God's power to bring low |
| Lk 1:52 | "He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree." | God's reversal of status |
| Jas 4:10 | "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." | Humbling leads to exaltation |
| Jb 5:6-7 | "For affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; But man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward." | Trouble as part of human experience |
| Ps 90:10 | "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow..." | Life often marked by sorrow |
| Rom 8:22 | "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now." | Creation's experience of sorrow/decay |
| 2 Cor 7:10 | "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." | Distinguishes types of sorrow |
| Gen 12:2 | "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great..." | Contrast with God's promise to increase |
| Deut 28:1-14 | (Summary of blessings for obedience) | Contrast with blessings of obedience |
| Ps 107:35-38 | "He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings... he blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly..." | Immediate context of increase and blessing |
| 1 Sam 2:7 | "The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up." | God's sovereignty over fortune |
| Ps 75:6-7 | "For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another." | God determines rise and fall |
| Dan 4:17 | "This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men." | Divine sovereignty over nations |
| Isa 6:11-12 | "Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, And the LORD have removed men far away..." | Population decrease due to judgment |
Psalm 107 verses
Psalm 107 39 Meaning
Psalm 107:39 describes a reversal of fortune where a group, often understood as those who rebel or stray from God's path, experiences decline. Their numbers are reduced, they are brought into a state of lowliness, and suffer greatly due to oppressive circumstances, calamity, and profound grief. This verse stands in stark contrast to God's blessing and increase upon the righteous described immediately prior in the psalm.
Psalm 107 39 Context
Psalm 107 is a psalm of thanksgiving, highlighting God's steadfast love (Hebrew: chesed) and redemptive acts. It unfolds as a cycle of human distress, cry for help, divine deliverance, and a call to give thanks. The initial part (vv. 4-32) illustrates four specific scenarios of distress from which God rescues His people: wanderers in the desert, prisoners, the sick due to their sin, and sailors in a storm. Following these rescue narratives, the psalm shifts in verses 33-43 to broader principles of divine providence over the natural world and human society. Verses 35-38 specifically speak of God turning desolation into fruitful land and causing the humble to prosper and multiply. Verse 39 then serves as a sharp contrast, illustrating the alternative scenario—a people brought low, diminished, and suffering—a potential consequence for those who do not remain in God's favor or perhaps a description of the state before God's merciful intervention described elsewhere. It underscores God's absolute sovereignty over nations and individuals, able to bring prosperity or adversity.
Psalm 107 39 Word analysis
- Again (וַיִּמְעֲטוּ - vayyim'atu): This translation for the prefixed 'vav' (wa-) indicates a sequence or contrast. It connects this adverse outcome back to previous principles, suggesting a continued cycle of human experience under divine providence, rather than just adding another point.
- they are minished (וַיִּמְעֲטוּ - vayyim'atu): From the root מָעַט (ma'at), meaning "to be small," "be few," "diminish." It refers to a reduction in number, strength, or substance. This signifies a quantitative decline, often representing a loss of power or presence.
- and brought low (וַיִּשְׁפְּלוּ - vayyishpelu): From the root שָׁפֵל (shafel), meaning "to be low," "be humbled," "abase." This indicates a qualitative decline, a reduction in status, pride, or dignity. It is a state of humiliation and loss of position.
- through oppression (מֵעֹצֶר - me'otzer): The Hebrew word עֹצֶר (otzer) means "restraint," "imprisonment," "oppression," or "calamity." The prefix me- means "from" or "because of." This points to external forces or difficult circumstances that exert pressure, limit freedom, or cause distress. It can denote a severe constraint or oppressive regime.
- trouble (רָעָה - ra'ah): This is a broad term, meaning "evil," "badness," "calamity," "misfortune," or "adversity." In this context, it refers to severe hardship and negative experiences rather than moral evil. It denotes a state of profound difficulty and distress.
- and sorrow (וְיָגוֹן - veyagon): From the root יָגוֹן (yagon), meaning "grief," "sadness," "anguish." It signifies the emotional pain and deep suffering accompanying their diminished state.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Again they are minished and brought low": This phrase describes the twin aspects of decline: a quantitative reduction (fewer in number, strength) and a qualitative reduction (loss of dignity, status, humbling). It portrays a complete reversal from prosperity.
- "through oppression, trouble, and sorrow": This triadic phrase specifies the agents and results of their low state. "Oppression" points to external pressure or constrained conditions, "trouble" indicates severe adversity, and "sorrow" signifies the deep emotional and internal pain that accompanies such a state. These three elements depict a comprehensive experience of suffering.
Psalm 107 39 Bonus section
The juxtaposition of abundance and destitution, increase and diminution, is a recurring theme in the biblical narrative, emphasizing that human fortune is ultimately tied to their relationship with the divine. The state described in verse 39 could be understood as:
- A return to the original distressed state of the redeemed groups from earlier in the Psalm before God intervened.
- A specific consequence for nations or people who walk in paths of wickedness, contrasting with the blessed righteous.
- A general principle demonstrating God's sovereign control over the rise and fall of societies, ensuring that all power and authority reside with Him. This serves as a warning and an encouragement for dependence.
Psalm 107 39 Commentary
Psalm 107:39 functions as a divine counterpoint to the flourishing described in the preceding verses (35-38). While God raises the poor and increases their families, this verse warns that His judgment can also diminish nations and individuals who rebel or are wicked (as implied by other psalms or Deut 28). It highlights God's absolute sovereignty, capable of both creation and reversal. The diminishing in numbers, the bringing low, and the suffering from oppression, calamity, and grief are not arbitrary. They are often portrayed in Scripture as consequences for forsaking God's ways, leading to divine withdrawal of favor or direct punitive action. The verse serves as a sober reminder of human vulnerability and dependence on God's sustaining grace. It is a powerful affirmation that prosperity and adversity are ultimately under divine control.