Psalm 107 40

Psalm 107:40 kjv

He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.

Psalm 107:40 nkjv

He pours contempt on princes, And causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way;

Psalm 107:40 niv

he who pours contempt on nobles made them wander in a trackless waste.

Psalm 107:40 esv

he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes;

Psalm 107:40 nlt

the LORD pours contempt on their princes,
causing them to wander in trackless wastelands.

Psalm 107 verses

Psalm 107 40 Meaning

God, in His sovereign power, demonstrates His absolute authority by humiliating proud leaders and those in high positions, causing them to lose their influence and wander without direction, as if lost in an barren and chaotic wilderness. This highlights God's justice in reversing the fortunes of the arrogant and powerful who act unjustly or against His will.

Psalm 107 40 Context

Psalm 107 is a wisdom psalm and a hymn of thanksgiving, celebrating God's steadfast love (hesed) and faithfulness across various forms of human distress and deliverance. The psalm opens by inviting the redeemed to declare God's goodness. It then describes four groups of people who experienced trouble (wanderers in the desert, prisoners, the sick, and seafarers), crying out to God, and being rescued by His grace. This culminates in a call to thank the Lord for His goodness (Ps 107:8, 15, 21, 31).

Following these accounts of rescue, verses 33-43 shift to a broader illustration of God's sovereign control over creation and human affairs. He can turn fertile land into barren waste as judgment for wickedness (Ps 107:33-34) and conversely, barren land into fruitful fields for the righteous (Ps 107:35-38). Within this context of divine judgment and blessing, verse 40 specifically addresses God's direct intervention in the fate of human leaders. It serves as a stark contrast to the lifting up of the needy (Ps 107:41) and highlights God's judicial power over nations and their rulers, humbling the proud and mighty. It implicitly challenges the ancient Near Eastern belief in the invincibility of kings and the permanence of human power, asserting God as the ultimate sovereign.

Psalm 107 40 Word analysis

• He pours contempt: Hebrew: יצק בוז (ya'tsaq buz).

  • יצק (ya'tsaq): Literally "to pour out," "to cast," or "to mold." This verb implies a forceful, abundant, and deliberate act. When applied to "contempt," it means God not only shows contempt but completely overwhelms them with it, as if deluging them. It signifies a decisive, complete, and unalterable act of humiliation directly from God.
  • בוז (buz): Means "contempt," "disdain," "scorn." This is a state of utter disregard and lowliness. For those accustomed to honor and reverence, being subjected to buz is the ultimate abasement.

• on princes: Hebrew: על נדיבים (ʿal nedîvîm).

  • נדיבים (nedîvîm): Refers to "nobles," "princes," "generous ones," or "chief men." These are individuals in positions of power, authority, wealth, or high social standing. The phrase indicates that God's judgment reaches even the highest human echelons, showing that no earthly power is beyond His reach or judgment. It underscores God's universal sovereignty.

• and makes them wander: Hebrew: ויתעם (wayetîʿem) from the root תעה (ta'ah).

  • תעה (ta'ah): Means "to wander," "to go astray," "to err," or "to be confused." It can imply both physical straying and moral deviation. Here, in the context of a "trackless waste," it primarily signifies physical and mental disorientation and loss of direction. This is an active divine act, where God Himself causes their confusion and loss of path. It demonstrates that He can disrupt the most carefully laid plans of human leaders.

• in a trackless waste: Hebrew: תהו לא דרך (tohu lo' derek).

  • תהו (tohu): A key term also found in Gen 1:2 describing the primordial "formless and void" state before creation. It signifies chaos, emptiness, desolation, and a lack of order or substance. It is a place where nothing can thrive and no progress can be made.
  • לא דרך (lo' derek): Literally "no path," or "no way." This emphasizes the utter absence of a discernible course or guide.
  • Together, tohu lo' derek portrays a state of ultimate confusion, disarray, and purposelessness. It's not just a physical desert but a symbolic condition of spiritual and political barrenness where previous wisdom, power, and strategy become useless, leading to complete aimlessness and collapse.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "He pours contempt on princes": This phrase highlights God's active, direct, and complete humiliation of human rulers. It’s a divine reversal of earthly power, showing that those who are esteemed among men may be disdained by God, especially if their leadership is characterized by pride or injustice. It asserts God's ultimate judicial authority over human governance.
  • "and makes them wander in a trackless waste": This second clause describes the practical consequences of God's poured-out contempt. Their previously held power, wisdom, and security vanish, leaving them without direction, resources, or purpose. The "trackless waste" signifies the ultimate loss of control, strategy, and even identity, as they are reduced to a state of confusion and futility, symbolizing the emptiness that comes from lives void of God's guidance.

Psalm 107 40 Bonus section

Psalm 107:40 encapsulates the biblical principle of divine reversal of fortunes—that God exalts the humble and brings low the proud (Luke 14:11, Jas 4:6). The "trackless waste" is a stark image not just of geographical wilderness but of moral and intellectual bankruptcy. When God "pours contempt," it implies that their previous wisdom and strategies, which brought them power, are now seen as foolishness. This divine action can occur subtly, through a spirit of confusion, or overtly, through dramatic events. It highlights the often hidden spiritual battle behind apparent societal successes or failures of leaders. This verse serves as a reminder that all earthly power is temporal and subservient to the eternal sovereignty of God.

Psalm 107 40 Commentary

Psalm 107:40 serves as a powerful declaration of God's absolute sovereignty and justice, especially in relation to human power. It portrays the divine hand actively dismantling the pride and influence of earthly rulers and figures of authority. The "pouring out of contempt" signifies a deliberate and overwhelming act of divine judgment, not merely passive disapproval. This judgment is specifically directed "on princes"—those who naturally command respect, wisdom, and leadership. This demonstrates that no human authority, no matter how elevated, is exempt from God's scrutiny or His power to abase.

The second part of the verse, "and makes them wander in a trackless waste," vividly illustrates the outcome of this divine contempt. It's a condition of utter disorientation and futility. These once powerful figures, accustomed to dictating paths and leading others, are now themselves lost in a barren landscape devoid of direction or purpose. The "trackless waste" (Hebrew: tohu lo' derek) conveys not just physical aimlessness but a profound spiritual and existential crisis—a state of chaos, emptiness, and the complete stripping away of their former significance and control. Their plans, wisdom, and power become utterly meaningless when God withdraws His favor or intervenes with His judgment.

This verse teaches us that human leaders, when they succumb to pride, injustice, or rebellion against divine principles, are subject to God's ultimate authority. He alone can humble the haughty and strip away their perceived wisdom and might, rendering them confused and powerless. This is both a solemn warning to those in positions of power not to forget their accountability to the Most High and a source of profound comfort to the oppressed, affirming that God sees the injustices and has the power to bring about reversal and restoration.

Examples for practical usage:

• A government leader relying solely on personal strength and cunning, disregarding moral principles, may find their influence waning and their initiatives failing, leaving them metaphorically "wandering in a trackless waste" of disunity and failed policies.
• An influential corporate figure operating unethically, accumulating power through manipulative means, might suddenly experience a public downfall, losing their position, reputation, and sense of direction, embodying the "contempt" and "trackless waste."
• Any individual in a position of authority who develops overbearing pride and refuses counsel could find their ventures or relationships disintegrating into chaos, as their previous influence is replaced by disdain and a sense of being lost without a clear way forward.