Psalm 107 4

Psalm 107:4 kjv

They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

Psalm 107:4 nkjv

They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; They found no city to dwell in.

Psalm 107:4 niv

Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle.

Psalm 107:4 esv

Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in;

Psalm 107:4 nlt

Some wandered in the wilderness,
lost and homeless.

Psalm 107 verses

Psalm 107 4 Meaning

Psalm 107:4 vividly portrays a state of profound human distress: people are lost, aimless, and without a settled home. It describes them as wanderers in a barren, trackless desert, desperately searching for a place of security and rest but finding none. This verse sets the stage for God's redemptive work, emphasizing the desperate human condition from which only divine intervention can deliver.

Psalm 107 4 Context

Psalm 107 is a communal psalm of thanksgiving, specifically celebrating God's enduring love (Hesed). It unfolds through four distinct vignettes, each depicting a group in dire straits who cry out to the Lord and are subsequently delivered. Each section follows a similar pattern: a description of the affliction, the people crying out to God, God's merciful rescue, and a call to give thanks. Verse 4 introduces the first group: those who wander aimlessly in the wilderness. This immediately brings to mind Israel's forty years of wandering after the Exodus from Egypt (e.g., Num 14; Deut 8), a pivotal historical and theological event. It also extends metaphorically to any who find themselves in a lost, directionless, and precarious situation, lacking stability and a true home. The emphasis is on the profound sense of homelessness and insecurity.

Psalm 107 4 Word analysis

• They wandered (תָּעוּ - ta'u): From the root ta'ah, meaning to go astray, wander, err, or be lost. It implies a lack of direction, aimlessness, and being disoriented. This can be physical or moral/spiritual, but here it is primarily physical disorientation leading to vulnerability.
• in the wilderness (בַּמִּדְבָּר - bammidbār): Midbar denotes a barren, uninhabited region, often a desert or pastureland. It is typically a harsh and inhospitable environment, challenging to navigate and survive in. In biblical narrative, it is frequently a place of testing, discipline, but also divine provision.
• in a desolate way (בְּתֹהוּ דָרֶךְ - b'ṯōhū ḏāreḵ):
  • desolate (tohū): This word is significant, notably appearing in Gen 1:2 ("formless and void"). It describes something waste, formless, empty, chaotic, and without discernible features or structure. Here, it conveys a pathless waste, completely devoid of signs or landmarks, making true wandering inevitable.
  • way (dāreḵ): A path, road, or journey. Combined with tohū, it describes a road that isn't really a road – it's an indistinguishable, trackless wilderness.
• they found (מָצָאוּ - māṣā'ū): From the root matsa, to find, attain, or encounter. The negation ("no") indicates a complete lack of success in their search.
• no city (לֹא עִיר - lō' 'îr): 'Ir signifies a settled dwelling place, a community, offering protection and stability, contrasted with the open, dangerous wilderness.
• to dwell in (מוֹשָׁב - mōšāḇ): A habitation, dwelling place, or seat. It denotes permanence, rest, and security, a settled abode after journeying.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "They wandered in the wilderness": This phrase paints a picture of extreme exposure and lack of clear purpose or destination. The "wilderness" is not just geographical but represents a state of being unsupported and vulnerable.
• "in a desolate way": This intensifies the sense of lostness. It’s not merely wandering in a wilderness, but wandering on a path that literally has no form, no guidance, and no discernible direction. It speaks to profound disorientation and spiritual emptiness.
• "they found no city to dwell in": This expresses the climax of their plight – the desperate yearning for stability, community, and safety remains unfulfilled. The inability to find a settled dwelling emphasizes their utter helplessness, reflecting a deep longing for security and belonging that cannot be satisfied by their own efforts.

Psalm 107 4 Bonus section

The experience depicted in Psalm 107:4 is not just a historical recollection but a perennial human condition. The imagery of the "wilderness" and "no city" transcends physical landscapes to represent spiritual or existential lostness, anxiety, and homelessness. It speaks to the human soul's deep yearning for a dwelling place, not just physically, but spiritually—a place of safety, community, and God's presence. This aligns with the New Testament concept of believers being "sojourners and exiles" (1 Pet 2:11) in this world, ever seeking a heavenly city and ultimately finding rest in God Himself (Heb 4:9; Rev 21:3). The phrase "desolate way" using tohū echoes primordial chaos, suggesting a return to a state of disorder and nothingness if God does not bring form and purpose.

Psalm 107 4 Commentary

Psalm 107:4 establishes a powerful baseline for the narrative of God's deliverance: a condition of abject lostness and insecurity. It resonates with humanity's intrinsic need for direction, belonging, and a place of rest, elements sorely lacking when one is aimlessly wandering in a desolate landscape. This verse underscores that apart from divine intervention, life can be characterized by profound instability and fruitless searching for genuine peace. It sets the stage for God's action as the only source of true provision, guidance, and settled rest for the bewildered soul.

• Examples: A new convert seeking spiritual direction in a chaotic world. A person enduring chronic displacement or a major life transition without a sense of grounding. Someone wrestling with spiritual confusion or doubt, feeling like they have no clear path or purpose.