Psalms 107:40
Psalms 107:40 in Multiple Translations
He pours out contempt on the nobles and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
He poureth contempt upon princes, And causeth them to wander in the waste, where there is no way.
He puts an end to the pride of kings, and sends them wandering in the waste lands where there is no way.
He pours out his contempt on their leaders, making them wander, lost in the wilderness.
He powreth contempt vpon princes, and causeth them to erre in desert places out of the way.
He is pouring contempt upon nobles, And causeth them to wander in vacancy — no way.
He pours contempt on princes, and causes them to wander in a trackless waste.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
Yahweh shows contempt for the leaders who oppress them, and causes them to wander in deserts where there are no roads.
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 107:40
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 107:40 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
שֹׁפֵ֣ךְ
בּ֭וּז
עַל
נְדִיבִ֑ים
וַ֝/יַּתְעֵ֗/ם
בְּ/תֹ֣הוּ
לֹא
דָֽרֶךְ
שֹׁפֵ֣ךְ
shâphak
H8210
to pour
V-Qal
בּ֭וּז
bûwz
H937
contempt
N-ms
עַל
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep
נְדִיבִ֑ים
nâdîyb
H5081
noble
Adj
וַ֝/יַּתְעֵ֗/ם
tâʻâh
H8582
to go astray
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms | Suff
בְּ/תֹ֣הוּ
tôhûw
H8414
formlessness
Prep | N-ms
לֹא
lôʼ
H3808
not
Part
דָֽרֶךְ
derek
H1870
way
N-cs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 107:40
שֹׁפֵ֣ךְ
shâphak
H8210
"to pour"
V-Qal
To pour or spill something out, like blood or a liquid. In the Bible, it can mean to shed blood or to pour out one's heart in prayer or complaint. For example, in Psalm 42:4, the writer pours out his soul to God.
Definition: : pour 1) to pour, pour out, spill 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to pour, pour out 1a2) to shed (blood) 1a3) to pour out (anger or heart) (fig) 1b) (Niphal) to be poured out, be shed 1c) (Pual) to be poured out, be shed 1d) (Hithpael) 1d1) to be poured out 1d2) to pour out oneself
Usage: Occurs in 111 OT verses. KJV: cast (up), gush out, pour (out), shed(-der, out), slip. See also: Genesis 9:6; Jeremiah 6:6; Psalms 22:15.
בּ֭וּז
bûwz
H937
"contempt"
N-ms
This noun refers to contempt or disrespect, and can stem from evil, prosperity, or judgment, as described in the book of Job. It is used to describe a negative attitude or feeling towards someone or something. This term is translated as contempt or despised in the KJV Bible.
Definition: 1) contempt 1a) springing from evil 1b) springing from prosperity 1c) springing from judgment
Usage: Occurs in 11 OT verses. KJV: contempt(-uously), despised, shamed. See also: Genesis 38:23; Psalms 107:40; Psalms 31:19.
עַל
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
נְדִיבִ֑ים
nâdîyb
H5081
"noble"
Adj
Noble or generous, describing someone of high rank or character, like a prince, or a person with a willing and liberal heart, as seen in the stories of David and Solomon.
Definition: : noble n m 1) noble one adj 2) inclined, willing, noble, generous 1a) incited, inclined, willing 1b) noble, princely (in rank) 1c) noble (in mind and character)
Usage: Occurs in 26 OT verses. KJV: free, liberal (things), noble, prince, willing (hearted). See also: Exodus 35:5; Psalms 113:8; Psalms 47:10.
וַ֝/יַּתְעֵ֗/ם
tâʻâh
H8582
"to go astray"
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms | Suff
This word means to go astray or wander, and can be used physically or morally. It can also mean to cause someone to err or stumble.
Definition: 1) to err, wander, go astray, stagger 1a) (Qal) to err 1a1) to wander about (physically) 1a2) of intoxication 1a3) of sin (ethically) 1a4) wandering (of the mind) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be made to wander about, be made to stagger (drunkard) 1b2) to be led astray (ethically) 1c) (Hiphil) to cause to wander 1c1) to cause to wander about (physically) 1c2) to cause to wander (of intoxication) 1c3) to cause to err, mislead (mentally and morally)
Usage: Occurs in 45 OT verses. KJV: (cause to) go astray, deceive, dissemble, (cause to, make to) err, pant, seduce, (make to) stagger, (cause to) wander, be out of the way. See also: Genesis 20:13; Isaiah 9:15; Psalms 58:4.
בְּ/תֹ֣הוּ
tôhûw
H8414
"formlessness"
Prep | N-ms
Tohuw describes a desolate or empty place, like a wilderness or wasteland. It can also mean something is worthless or unreal, like an idol.
Definition: 1) formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness 1a) formlessness (of primeval earth) 1a1) nothingness, empty space 1b) that which is empty or unreal (of idols) (fig) 1c) wasteland, wilderness (of solitary places) 1d) place of chaos 1e) vanity
Usage: Occurs in 19 OT verses. KJV: confusion, empty place, without form, nothing, (thing of) nought, vain, vanity, waste, wilderness. See also: Genesis 1:2; Isaiah 34:11; Psalms 107:40.
לֹא
lôʼ
H3808
"not"
Part
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Definition: 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Usage: Occurs in 3967 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without. See also: Genesis 2:5; Genesis 31:15; Exodus 4:9.
דָֽרֶךְ
derek
H1870
"way"
N-cs
Derek refers to a road or path, and can also mean a way of life or manner of action. It is often used to describe a journey or direction, and can be used figuratively to describe a person's character or moral path.
Definition: : road/route 1) way, road, distance, journey, manner 1a) road, way, path 1b) journey 1c) direction 1d) manner, habit, way 1e) of course of life (fig.) 1f) of moral character (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 626 OT verses. KJV: along, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever). See also: Genesis 3:24; Deuteronomy 28:29; 1 Kings 15:34.
Study Notes — Psalms 107:40
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 107:40 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 107:40
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 107:40
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 107:40
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 107:40
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 107:40
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 107:40
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 107:40
- Sermons on Psalms 107:40
Context — Thanksgiving for Deliverance
38He blesses them, and they multiply greatly; He does not let their herds diminish.
39When they are decreased and humbled by oppression, evil, and sorrow,
40He pours out contempt on the nobles and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.
41But He lifts the needy from affliction and increases their families like flocks. 42The upright see and rejoice, and all iniquity shuts its mouth.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 12:24 | He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland. |
| 2 | Job 12:21 | He pours out contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty. |
| 3 | Daniel 4:33 | At that moment the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from mankind. He ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird. |
| 4 | Isaiah 23:8–9 | Who planned this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, whose traders are princes, whose merchants are renowned on the earth? The LORD of Hosts planned it, to defile all its glorious beauty, to disgrace all the renowned of the earth. |
| 5 | Psalms 107:4 | Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no path to a city in which to dwell. |
| 6 | Deuteronomy 32:10 | He found him in a desert land, in a barren, howling wilderness; He surrounded him, He instructed him, He guarded him as the apple of His eye. |
| 7 | Judges 4:21 | But as he lay sleeping from exhaustion, Heber’s wife Jael took a tent peg, grabbed a hammer, and went silently to Sisera. She drove the peg through his temple and into the ground, and he died. |
| 8 | 2 Kings 9:35–37 | But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing but her skull, her feet, and the palms of her hands. So they went back and told Jehu, who replied, “This is the word of the LORD, which He spoke through His servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘On the plot of ground at Jezreel the dogs will devour the flesh of Jezebel. And Jezebel’s body will lie like dung in the field on the plot of ground at Jezreel, so that no one can say: This is Jezebel.’ ” |
| 9 | Acts 12:23 | Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. |
| 10 | Psalms 78:66 | He beat back His foes; He put them to everlasting shame. |
Psalms 107:40 Summary
[Psalms 107:40 tells us that God pours out contempt on the nobles and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland, which means that He judges those who are proud and disobedient, and sometimes that judgment involves feeling lost and alone. This is not because God is cruel, but because He wants to correct and restore us, as seen in (Hebrews 12:10-11). We can trust that God's ways are always just and righteous, even when we don't understand them, as stated in (Psalm 119:137). By humbling ourselves before God and seeking His guidance, we can avoid the kind of contempt and wandering described in this verse, and instead experience His blessing and restoration, as seen in (Psalm 107:38-39).]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does God pour out contempt on the nobles in Psalms 107:40?
God pours out contempt on the nobles as a form of judgment for their pride and disobedience, as seen in other scriptures like Proverbs 16:18, which states that pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
What is the trackless wasteland mentioned in Psalms 107:40?
The trackless wasteland is a desolate and barren place, symbolizing a state of spiritual confusion and disorientation, similar to the wilderness described in Exodus 13:18, where the Israelites wandered due to their disobedience.
Is God being cruel by making the nobles wander in a trackless wasteland?
No, God's actions are always just and righteous, as stated in Psalm 119:137, and His discipline is intended to correct and restore, not to destroy, as seen in Hebrews 12:10-11, where God's discipline is compared to a father's correction of his child.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the chapter?
This verse is part of a larger narrative in Psalms 107, which describes God's deliverance of His people from various forms of distress, and serves as a reminder that God is sovereign over all, including the powerful and the weak, as seen in Psalm 107:38-39, where God blesses and multiplies the people, and in Psalm 107:41, where He lifts the needy from affliction.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I have seen God's judgment on pride and disobedience in my own life or in the lives of others?
- How can I humble myself before God and avoid the kind of contempt and wandering described in this verse?
- What are some 'trackless wastelands' in my own life where I feel lost or uncertain, and how can I trust God to guide me through them?
- In what ways can I be a source of encouragement and support to those who are wandering in their own spiritual wilderness?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 107:40
He poureth contempt upon princes,.... That is, the Lord does, who is above them; he laughs at them, and has them in derision, when they are raging against his people, cause, and interest; he sets
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 107:40
He poureth contempt upon princes; those who were honourable and adored like gods by their people, and terrible to all their enemies, he renders them despicable to their own subjects, and to other nations; and this he doth suddenly, abundantly, and unavoidably, as this phrase of pouring it out upon them seems to imply. To wander in the wilderness, where there is no way; either, 1. He giveth them up to foolish and pernicious counsels, by which they are exposed to contempt, and brought to their wit’ s end, not knowing what course to take. Or, 2. He banished them from their own courts and kingdoms, and forced them to flee into desolate wildernesses for shelter and subsistence.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 107:40
Psalms 107:40 He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, [where there is] no way.Ver. 40. He poureth contempt, &c.] See Job 12:21; Job 12:24, Poena tyrannorum est contemptus, exilium, nex, saith Genebrard. All the policy or king craft cannot save them.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 107:40
Verse 40. He poureth contempt upon princes] How many have lately been raised from nothing, and set upon thrones! And how many have been cast down from thrones, and reduced to nothing! And where are now those mighty troublers of the earth? On both sides they are in general gone to give an account of themselves to God. And what an account! Where there is no way.] Who can consider the fate of the late emperor of the French, Napoleon, without seeing the hand of God in his downfall! All the powers of Europe were leagued against him in vain; they were as stubble to his bow. "HE came, HE saw, and HE conquered" almost every where, till God, by a Russian FROST, destroyed his tens of thousands of veteran troops. And afterwards his armies of raw conscripts would have over-matched the world had not a particular providence intervened at Waterloo, when all the skill and valour of his opponents had been nearly reduced to nothing.
How terrible art thou, O Lord, in thy judgments! Thou art fearful in praises, doing wonders. The dreary rock of St. Helena, where there was no way, saw a period to the mighty conqueror, who had strode over all the countries of Europe!
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 107:40
40. “He poureth contempt upon princes, And maketh them wander in a wayless waste,”
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 107:40
He poureth contempt upon princes - He treats them as if they were common people; he pays no regard in his providence to their station and rank.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 107:40
40. No way—No prepared road; a quotation from Job 12:21; Job 12:24
Sermons on Psalms 107:40
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Peace From Wearying Labor by Mary Wilder Tileston | Mary Wilder Tileston emphasizes the importance of maintaining unbroken communion with God to experience peace, rest, and joy in our lives. She highlights the need to focus on givin |
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Gathering in Jesus Name (Tamil) by Zac Poonen | This sermon emphasizes the importance of spiritual progress and becoming more like Jesus Christ each year. It highlights the need to forget past accomplishments and focus on contin |
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Weighed and Found Wanting by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Daniel preaches to Belshazzar, the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, about the consequences of pride and disobedience to God. He reminds Belshazzar of how Nebuchadnezzar |
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Before Destruction the Heart of Man Is Haughty by C.H. Spurgeon | C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the dangers of pride and haughtiness, warning that a proud heart often precedes destruction. He illustrates this with biblical examples, such as King David |
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Nebuchadnezzar Exemplifying God's Grace for Humility by Bob Hoekstra | Bob Hoekstra preaches on the transformation of Nebuchadnezzar from pride to humility, showcasing God's opposition to pride and grace for humility. Despite being driven into the fie |
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Nebuchadnezzar's Dream Vision. His Insanity and Restoration by Arno Clemens Gaebelein | Arno Clemens Gaebelein preaches on the story of King Nebuchadnezzar's pride, fall, and restoration as a warning against self-exaltation and the consequences of turning away from Go |
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Blood Upon Dry Land by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the commission given to believers to deliver multitudes who are sorrowing and crying out in our generation. He uses the example of Moses, who |