Psalms Chapter 107

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns 43 Verses

What is Psalms 107 about?

One hundred fifty inspired poems and hymns — Israel's prayer book, spanning lament and praise, confession and trust. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1O give thanks unto Jehovah; For he is good; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.
2Let the redeemed of Jehovah say [so], Whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the adversary,
3And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south.
4They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way; They found no city of habitation.
5Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them.
6Then they cried unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he delivered them out of their distresses,
7He led them also by a straight way, That they might go to a city of habitation.
8Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9For he satisfieth the longing soul, And the hungry soul he filleth with good.
10Such as sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, Being bound in affliction and iron,
11Because they rebelled against the words of God, And contemned the counsel of the Most High:
12Therefore he brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help.
13Then they cried unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he saved them out of their distresses.
14He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And brake their bonds in sunder.
15Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!
16For he hath broken the gates of brass, And cut the bars of iron in sunder.
17Fools because of their transgression, And because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
18Their soul abhorreth all manner of food; And they draw near unto the gates of death.
19Then they cry unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he saveth them out of their distresses.
20He sendeth his word, and healeth them, And delivereth [them] from their destructions.
21Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!
22And let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare his works with singing.
23They that go down to the sea in ships, That do business in great waters;
24These see the works of Jehovah, And his wonders in the deep.
25For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, Which lifteth up the waves thereof.
26They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths: Their soul melteth away because of trouble.
27They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits` end.
28Then they cry unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he bringeth them out of their distresses.
29He maketh the storm a calm, So that the waves thereof are still.
30Then are they glad because they are quiet; So he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
31Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!
32Let them exalt him also in the assembly of the people, And praise him in the seat of the elders.
33He turneth rivers into a wilderness, And watersprings into a thirsty ground;
34A fruitful land into a salt desert, For the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
35He turneth a wilderness into a pool of water, And a dry land into watersprings.
36And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, That they may prepare a city of habitation,
37And sow fields, and plant vineyards, And get them fruits of increase.
38He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; And he suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
39Again, they are diminished and bowed down Through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.
40He poureth contempt upon princes, And causeth them to wander in the waste, where there is no way.
41Yet setteth he the needy on high from affliction, And maketh [him] families like a flock.
42The upright shall see it, and be glad; And all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
43Whoso is wise will give heed to these things; And they will consider the lovingkindnesses of Jehovah. Psalm 108 A Song, A Psalm of David.

What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“O give thanks unto the Lord, etc.] As all men should do, at all times and for all things; the psalm begins as the former does, and gives the same reasons for thanksgiving. For he is good; and does good, and is the author of all good. For his mercy endureth for ever; and men in every age are partakers of it.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“The writer complains of his virulent enemies, on whom he imprecates God's righteous punishment, and to a prayer for a divine interposition in his behalf appends the expression of his confidence and a promise of his praises. This Psalm is remarkable for the number and severity of its imprecations. Its evident typical character (compare Psa 109:8) justifies the explanation of these already given, that as the language of David respecting his own enemies, or those of Christ, it has respect not to the penitent, but to the impenitent and implacable foes of good men, and of God and His cause, whose inevitable fate is…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good - See the notes at Psalms 106:1. For his mercy endureth for ever - He is unchanging in his mercy. It is an attribute of his very nature. He is constantly manifesting it. The word rendered “mercy” here, however - חסד chesed - is more general in its signification than our word “mercy.” Our word means “favor shown to the guilty;” the Hebrew word means kindness, goodness, benignity in general. It is this which is celebrated in the psalm before us. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 3
“Gathered - Into their own land. Psalms 107:4”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“Ps 107 This psalm is a hymn of praise to God the Redeemer. After an introduction exhorting the redeemed to praise God for his goodness (107:1-3), the psalmist brings together four case studies of people whom the Lord redeemed from adversity (107:4-32). He then sums up the Lord’s sovereignty (107:33-42) and concludes with an invitation to discern God’s unfailing love in all areas of life (107:43).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“am 3468, bc 536 (Title), The author of this Psalm is unknown; but it was evidently written to commemorate the return of the Jews from the Babylonian captivity; and it may easily be perceived that it must have been sung in alternate parts, having a double burden, or two intercalary verses often recurring. Bp. Lowth considers it as written "after the method of the ancient pastorals, where, be the subject of their verse what it will, each swain endeavours to excel the other; and one may perceive their thoughts and expressions gradually to rise upon each other." "No doubt," he adds, "the composition of this Psalm is…”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“The introit, with the call upon them to grateful praise, is addressed to the returned exiles. The Psalm carries the marks of its deutero-Isaianic character on the very front of it, viz.: "the redeemed of Jahve," taken from Isa 62:12, cf. Psa 63:4; Psa 35:9.; קבּץ as in Isa 56:8, and frequently; "from the north and from the sea," as in Isa 49:12 : "the sea" (ים) here (as perhaps there also), side by side with east, west, and north, is the south, or rather (since ים is an established usus loquendi for the west) the south-west, viz., the southern portion of the Mediterranean washing the shores of Egypt. With this…”
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