Psalms 107:39 — Word Study
WLCוַיִּמְעֲט֥וּ וַיָּשֹׁ֑חוּ מֵעֹ֖צֶר רָעָ֣ה וְיָגֽוֹן׃
BSAWhen they are decreasedmâʻaṭ▸ [minished, diminished] and humbledshâchach▸ [bowed down, brought low] by oppressionʻôtser [coercion, restraint] evilraʻ [bad, moral harm] and sorrowyâgôwn [grief, anguish]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיִּמְעֲט֥וּ | and they became few | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| וַיָּשֹׁ֑חוּ | and they were bowed down | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| מֵעֹ֖צֶר | from [the] pressure of | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| רָעָ֣ה | calamity | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| וְיָגֽוֹן׃ | and sorrow | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | When they are decreased and humbled by oppression, evil, and sorrow, |
| KJV | Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow. |
| ASV | Again, they are diminished and bowed down Through oppression, trouble, and sorrow. |
| YLT | And they are diminished, and bow down, By restraint, evil, and sorrow. |
| WEB | Again, they are diminished and bowed down through oppression, trouble, and sorrow. |
| BBE | And when they are made low, and crushed by trouble and sorrow, |
All translations agree on the rendering of the key terms in this verse.
The sentence has one main clause followed by a subordinate phrase detailing the causes of their condition.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Poole, Trapp, AdamClarke & more — read them ›
clause
verbמָעַט
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 107:39
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — God's Mercy in Distressgenerated
Psalms 107:39 reflects on a time when the people of Israel faced oppression and hardship, leading to their diminishment and humility. This passage emphasizes God's awareness of their suffering and sets the stage for His eventual deliverance, as seen in the following verses where He lifts the needy from affliction.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 30:6–7 | In prosperity I said, “I will never be shaken.” |
| 2 | Genesis 45:11 | And there I will provide for you, because there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise, you and your household and everything you own will come to destitution.’ |
| 3 | Ruth 1:20–21 | “Do not call me Naomi, ” she replied. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has dealt quite bitterly with me. |
| 4 | 1 Samuel 2:5–7 | The well-fed hire themselves out for food, but the starving hunger no more. The barren woman gives birth to seven, but she who has many sons pines away. |
| 5 | 2 Kings 4:8 | One day Elisha went to Shunem, and a prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to have a meal. So whenever he would pass by, he would stop there to eat. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 15 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — מָעַט, vai.yim.'a.Tugenerated
The Hebrew word מָעַט (ma`at) means to diminish or become small. It can refer to being few in number or making something smaller or fewer. The parsing as a sequential imperfect verb indicates that this action is ongoing or habitual, describing a state of reduction experienced by the people.
This word can describe both a physical decrease and a metaphorical sense of diminishing importance or effectiveness. In this context, it highlights the plight of the people who have become few due to oppression and hardship.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
All translations agree on the rendering of מָעַט as 'decreased' or 'diminished'.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb phrase is וַיִּמְעֲט֥וּ, and they became few, which governs the subsequent verb וַיָּשֹׁ֑חוּ, and they were bowed down. The structure indicates a cause-and-effect relationship, where the diminishment leads to a state of being bowed down.
The prepositional phrase מֵעֹ֖צֶר introduces the source of their condition, linking their diminishment and humility to external pressures.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates מָעַט as ὠλιγώθησαν, which conveys a similar sense of becoming few or diminished. This choice reflects a nuanced understanding of the Hebrew term, emphasizing the reduction in status or number.
The Greek word ἐκακώθησαν for וַיָּשֹׁ֑חוּ also indicates a state of being brought low, aligning closely with the Hebrew meaning.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalms 107:39 describes how the people became few and were humbled due to oppression, calamity, and sorrow. This verse highlights their difficult circumstances and sets the stage for God's intervention in their lives.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies a reduction in number or importance, often due to external pressures or hardships.
Oppression can lead to feelings of helplessness and diminishment, as described in this verse.
Being bowed down indicates a state of humility or submission, often as a result of overwhelming circumstances.
The verse sets the context for God's eventual deliverance of the oppressed, highlighting His awareness of their suffering.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced diminishment in my life, and how did I respond?
- How can I support those who are feeling oppressed or bowed down?
- What does it mean to me that God sees the struggles of His people?
- How can I remind myself of God's mercy in times of distress?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentary on this verse includes reflections from Augustine of Hippo, who discusses the implications of the people's condition.
"And they became few, and were vexed" [Psalms 107:39]. Whence this? From athwart? Nay, from within.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 107 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 107:39 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAgain they are minished,.... Or "lessened", in their families, cattle, and substance; either the same persons as before, or others.
Read John Gill on Psalms 107 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThey, these poor men, who, when they are exalted and blessed by God, kick at him, and grow insolent and secure, as the returner of men is, are minished and brought low; are by God’ s just judgment diminished in their numbers and in their blessings. Through oppression, affliction, and sorrow; or, through wicked oppression, (by the tyranny of others, whom God sends to spoil them of their abused riches,) and by other griefs or grievous calamities which God inflicts.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 107 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 107:39 Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.Ver. 39. Again, they are minished] Minorati sunt. This also is of the Lord, who hath treasuries of plagues, and cannot be exhausted.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 107 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 39. Again, they are minished] Sometimes by war, or pestilence, or famine. How minished and brought low was the country already spoken of, by the long and destructive war which began in 1775, and was not ended till 1783! And what desolations, minishings, and ruin have been brought on the fertile empires of Europe by the war which commenced in 1792, and did not end till 1814! And how many millions of lives have been sacrificed in it, and souls sent unprepared into the eternal world! When God makes inquisition for blood, on whose heads will he find the blood of these slaughtered millions? Alas! O, alas!
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 107 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges33–43. The style of the Psalm changes, and its subject becomes more general. The refrain disappears, and instead of examples of God’s goodness in delivering various classes of men, we have proofs of His providential government of the world in the vicissitudes of countries and peoples.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 107 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleAgain, they are minished ... - literally, “And they are made to decrease.” That is - all is in the hand of God. He rules and directs all things.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 107 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible39. Again, they are minished—The abruptness of the transition obscures the sense; but it seems more natural to understand the subject of the verb to be the same as in Psalms 107:38, and to translate:
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 107 →The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
When they are decreased and humbled by oppression, evil, and sorrow,
Again, they are diminished and bowed down through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.
When they are decreased and humbled by oppression, evil, and sorrow,
As for their enemies, they decreased in number and were beaten down, because of painful distress and suffering.
Tyndale line
Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
Again, they are diminished and bowed down Through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.
Again, they are minished and bowed down through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.
Again, they are diminished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
Againe men are diminished, and brought lowe by oppression, euill and sorowe.
Strictly literal
And they are diminished and brought low, through oppression, adversity, and sorrow:
And they are diminished, and bow down, By restraint, evil, and sorrow.
And they are diminished, and bow down, || By restraint, evil, and sorrow.
They were also diminished and bowed low through oppression, misfortune, and sorrow:
They were diminished and brought low by painful distress and suffering.
Simplified
When they become few, brought low by oppression, misery, and sorrow,
And when they are made low, and crushed by trouble and sorrow,
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint align closely, with all five words matched in meaning. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration, but the core message remains consistent across these witnesses.
וַיִּמְעֲט֥וּ וַיָּשֹׁ֑חוּ מֵעֹ֖צֶר רָעָ֣ה וְיָגֽוֹן׃
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ימעטו [וישחו] [מעצר] [רעה] ויגון
nothing on the leather here — 2 partly restored, 3 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 107:39
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word מָעַט (ma`at) means to diminish or become small. It can refer to being few in number or making something smaller or fewer. The entries indicate its use in various forms, including Qal, Piel, and Hiphil, covering both intransitive and causative meanings.
[מָעַט] vb. be or become small, diminished, few
Qal be too small for a lamb
Pi. become few
Hiph. make small or few, diminish
base
H4591 מָעַט be or become small, diminished, few .be too small for a lamb
. become few
. make small or few, diminish
4591 ma`at maw-at'
a primitive root; properly, to pare off, i.e. lessen;
intransitively, to be (or causatively, to make) small or few
(or figuratively, ineffective):--suffer to decrease,
diminish, (be, X borrow a, give, make) few (in number, -ness),
gather least (little), be (seem) little, (X give the) less, be
minished, bring to nothing.
מָעַט (ma.at) — to diminish.
1) to be or become small, be few, be diminished
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to diminish
1a2) to be too small
1b) (Piel) to become few
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to make small, make few, diminish
1c2) to give less
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
שָׁחַח (shachach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to bow or be bowed down. It encompasses actions such as prostrating oneself in homage, crouching like a wild beast, or experiencing despair. The word can be used reflexively or causatively, indicating both the act of bowing and the state of being humbled or cast down.
[שָׁחַח] vb. bow, be bowed down, crouch
Qal
be bowed down, prostrated, humbled
bow in homage
bow, of mourner
crouch, of wild beast in lair
Niph. be prostrated, humbled
Hiph. prostrate, lay low, city, walls, etc.
Hithpō‛. be cast down, despairing
base
H7817 שָׁחַח bow, be bowed down, crouch .. be bowed down, prostrated, humbled
. bow in homage
. bow, of mourner
. crouch, of wild beast in lair
. be prostrated, humbled
. prostrate, lay low, city, walls, etc.
. be cast down, despairing
7817 shachach shaw-khakh'
a primitive root; to sink or depress (reflexive or
causative):--bend, bow (down), bring (cast) down, couch,
humble self, be (bring) low, stoop.
שָׁחַח (sha.chach) — to bow.
1) to bow, crouch, bow down, be bowed down
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be bowed down, be prostrated, be humbled
1a2) to bow (in homage)
1a3) to bow (of mourner)
1a4) to crouch (of wild beast in lair)
1b) (Niphal) to be prostrated, be humbled, be reduced, be weakened, proceed humbly, be bowed down
1c) (Hiphil) to prostrate, lay low, bow down
1d) (Hithpolel) to be cast down, be despairing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
עֹ֫צֶר (otser) refers to concepts of restraint and coercion, including meanings related to closure and oppression. It can also denote barrenness, particularly of the womb. The word is built from the root associated with closure (H6113).
עֹ֫צֶר n.[m.] restraint, coercion
base
H6115 עֹ֫צֶר restraint, coercion
6115 `otser o'-tser
from 6113; closure; also constraint:--X barren, oppression,
X prison.
see HEBREW for 06113
עֹ֫צֶר (o.tser) — coercion.
1) restraint, coercion
1a) restraint, coercion
1b) barrenness (of womb)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
רַע (ra) is a Hebrew word meaning bad or evil, encompassing a range of negative qualities such as distress, misery, and ethical wrongdoing. It can describe unpleasantness, harm, or low value, and is used in various contexts, including emotional states and moral judgments. The entries also note its comparative form, indicating worse than or worst. The word has feminine forms, such as רָעָה (ra.ah), which similarly convey concepts of evil and distress.
רַע 228 adj. bad, evil
bad, disagreeable, malignant
bad, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery
evil, displeasing
bad of its kind
bad, , i.e. of low value
מִן comp., worse than
sad, unhappy
devise evil (hurtful) device
bad, unkind, vicious in disposition or temper
ethically bad, evil, wicked
base
רַע 126 n.m. evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity
evil, distress, adversity
evil, injury, wrong
ethical evil
base
רָעָה 310 n.f. evil, misery, distress, injury
evil, misery, distress
evil, injury, wrong
ethical evil
base
H7451a רַע bad, evil . bad, disagreeable, malignant
. bad, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery
. evil, displeasing
. bad of its kind
. bad, , i.e. of low value
. + מִן comp., worse than
. sad, unhappy
. devise evil (hurtful) device
. bad, unkind, vicious in disposition or temper
. ethically bad, evil, wicked
H7451b רַע evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity . evil, distress, adversity
. evil, injury, wrong
. ethical evil
H7451c רָעָה evil, misery, distress, injury . evil, misery, distress
. evil, injury, wrong
. ethical evil
7451 ra` rah
from 7489; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral):--
adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease(-ure),
distress, evil((- favouredness), man, thing), + exceedingly, X
great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured),
+ mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, + not
please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex,
wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong.
(Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.).
see HEBREW for 07489
רַע (ra) — bad: harmful.
: harmful
adj
1) bad, evil
1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant
1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)
1c) evil, displeasing
1d) bad (of its kind-land, water, etc)
1e) bad (of value)
1f) worse than, worst (comparison)
1g) sad, unhappy
1h) evil (hurtful)
1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition)
1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically)
1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts
1j2) deeds, actions
רַע (ra) — bad: evil.
1) evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity
1a) evil, distress, adversity
1b) evil, injury, wrong
1c) evil (ethical)
רָעָה (ra.ah) — distress: harm.
: harm
1) evil, misery, distress, injury
1a) evil, misery, distress
1b) evil, injury, wrong
1c) evil (ethical)
רַע (ra) — bad: evil.
: evil
adj
1) bad, evil
1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant
1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)
1c) evil, displeasing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
ka-lam'-i-ti ('edh, "a load" or "burden" under which one is crushed, hence, "misfortune"; hayyah, hawwah, "fall," "ruin," the latter word used only in the plural; ra`, "evil in essence" hence, "adversity," once only, Ps 141:5, the Revised Version (British and American) "wickedness"): Purely an Old Testament term, signifying adversities--natural, but more often those that result from wickedness or moral evil. Various kinds:
יָגוֹן (yagown) refers to grief or sorrow, encompassing feelings of anguish and affliction. It is derived from the root word for affliction, יָגוֹן is used in contexts related to emotional pain and distress.
יָגוֹן n.[m.] grief, sorrow
base
H3015 יָגוֹן grief, sorrow
3015 yagown yaw-gohn'
from 3013; affliction:--grief, sorrow.
see HEBREW for 03013
יָגוֹן (ya.gon) — sorrow.
grief, sorrow, anguish
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
sor'-o (chebhel, yaghon, makh'obh, etc.; lupe): The Old Testament has very many words translated "sorrow," those named being the most frequent; in the New Testament "sorrow" is usually the translation of lupe (Lu 22:45; Joh 16:6; 2Co 2:3,7, etc.). Penthos, translated "sorrow" in Re 18:7; 21:4, is in the Revised Version (British and American) "mourning." Odune, of pain-and distress, is thus rendered in Ro 9:2; 1Ti 6:10 (compare the verb in Lu 2:48; Ac 20:38). the…
→ God takes notice
Of Hagar' s Ge 21:17-20
Of the Israelites Ex 3:7-10
→ For sin 2Co 7:10,11
→ See REPENTANCE
→ See SIN, CONFESSION OF
→ No sorrow in heaven Re 21:4
→ “Sorrow and sighing will flee away,” Isa 35:10
→ Of Hannah 1Sa 1:15
→ Of David for Absalom 2Sa 18:33; 19:1-8
→ Of Mary and Martha Joh 11:19-40
→ Of Jeremiah La 1:12