Psalms 106:23

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 106:23 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Therefore he said that he would destroy them, Had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, To turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy [them].” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Therefore he said that he would destroy them, Had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, To turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy [them].
Psalms 106:23 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 106

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
23Therefore he said that he would destroy them, Had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, To turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy [them].

What do historical commentaries say?

Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Therefore he said that he would destroy them - See Exodus 32:10-14. He threatened to destroy them, and he would have done it, if Moses had not interposed and pleaded for them. There was nothing strange or very unusual in this. Many a descending curse upon guilty people is turned away by prayer, and by human intervention. We are constantly endeavoring to turn aside evils which would come upon others - by our intervention - by labor or by prayer. Thus, when we toil to provide food for our children, or give it in charity to the poor, we are endeavoring to avert the evil of starvation which would otherwise come upon them; when we provide for them clothing, we turn away the evils of nakedness and…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Breach - God had made a wall about them; but they had made a breach in it by their sins, at which the Lord, who was now justly become their enemy, might enter to destroy them; which he had certainly done, if Moses by his prevailing intercession had not hindered him. Psalms 106:24”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“he said: Exo 32:10, Exo 32:11, Exo 32:32; Deu 9:13, Deu 9:14, Deu 9:19, Deu 9:25, Deu 10:10; Eze 20:13, Eze 20:14 his chosen: Psa 105:6, Psa 105:26; Num 16:5; Mat 12:18; Joh 15:16, Joh 15:19 stood: Exo 32:14; Jer 5:1; Eze 13:5, Eze 22:30; Jam 5:16 Psalms 106:24”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification