Psalms 106:15 — Word Study
WLCוַיִּתֵּ֣ן לָ֭הֶם שֶׁאֱלָתָ֑ם וַיְשַׁלַּ֖ח רָז֣וֹן בְּנַפְשָֽׁם׃
BSASo He grantednâthan▸ [gave, provided, fulfilled] their requestshᵉʼêlâh [petition, desire, longing] but sentshâlach▸ [caused to come, brought upon] a wasting diseaserâzôwn [leanness, thinness, weakness] upon themnephesh [into their soul, to their very being]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיִּתֵּ֣ן | and he gave | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| לָ֭הֶם | to them | Preposition, suffix |
| שֶׁאֱלָתָ֑ם | petition their | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| וַיְשַׁלַּ֖ח | and he sent | Verb, Piel, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| רָז֣וֹן | a wasting disease | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| בְּנַפְשָֽׁם׃ | on self their | Preposition, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | So He granted their request, but sent a wasting disease upon them. |
| KJV | And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. |
| ASV | And he gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul. |
| YLT | And He giveth to them their request, And sendeth leanness into their soul. |
| WEB | He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul. |
| BBE | And he gave them their request, but sent a wasting disease into their souls. |
Where they part company is שֶׁאֱלָתָ֑ם — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has two main clauses connected by 'but', highlighting the contrast between granting a request and sending a disease.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbנָתַן
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 106:15
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 — The Rebellion in the Wildernessgenerated
Psalms 106:15 recounts how the Israelites, despite their intense cravings in the wilderness, faced consequences for their desires. God granted their request but also sent a wasting disease upon them, illustrating the complex relationship between divine provision and human desire. This reflects the broader theme of the Israelites' struggles and God's responses throughout their journey, as seen in other passages like Psalm 78:29–31 and Numbers 11:31–34.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 78:29–31 | So they ate and were well filled, for He gave them what they craved. |
| 2 | Numbers 11:31–34 | Now a wind sent by the LORD came up, drove in quail from the sea, and brought them near the camp, about two cubits above the surface of the ground, for a day’s journey in every direction around the camp. |
| 3 | Isaiah 10:16 | Therefore the Lord GOD of Hosts will send a wasting disease among Assyria’s stout warriors, and under his pomp will be kindled a fire like a burning flame. |
| 4 | Isaiah 24:16 | From the ends of the earth we hear singing: “Glory to the Righteous One.” But I said, “I am wasting away! I am wasting away! Woe is me.” The treacherous betray; the treacherous deal in treachery. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — נָתַן, vai.yi.Tengenerated
The verb נָתַן (natan) is a Qal imperfect form meaning 'to give' or 'to provide'. It indicates an action performed by God, granting what was requested by the people. This word can encompass a wide range of giving, from bestowing blessings to fulfilling requests.
In this verse, it highlights God's willingness to respond to the people's desires, but also serves as a reminder that such responses may not always align with their best interests.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of two main clauses connected by 'but'. The first clause is governed by the verb נָתַן, he gave, which is followed by the object שֶׁאֱלָתָ֑ם, their request. The second clause begins with וַיְשַׁלַּ֖ח, and he sent, which introduces the consequence of a wasting disease.
The structure emphasizes the contrast between God's granting of the request and the subsequent sending of a disease, illustrating the dual nature of divine response.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew נָתַן is rendered as ἔδωκεν (edōken), which also means 'to give'. This choice maintains the core meaning of the original Hebrew.
The Greek word for 'wasting disease' is πλησμονὴν (plēsmōnēn), which conveys a sense of fullness or abundance, possibly implying a contrast with the leanness described in the Hebrew.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalms 106:15 tells us that God granted the Israelites' request but also sent a wasting disease upon them. This highlights how their desires were met, but with a serious consequence that affected their very being.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that God responded to the people's desires, fulfilling what they asked for, but this fulfillment came with a significant consequence.
The wasting disease refers to a state of leanness or weakness, indicating a physical or spiritual deficiency that resulted from their desires.
This verse illustrates that while God may fulfill requests, the outcomes can sometimes lead to negative consequences, emphasizing the need for discernment in our desires.
We can learn that while God is willing to grant our requests, we should be mindful of the potential consequences that may accompany those requests.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What desires do I have that I need to bring before God, and how might they affect me?
- In what ways can I seek God's guidance to ensure my requests align with His will?
- How do I respond when I receive what I ask for, but it comes with unexpected consequences?
- What lessons can I learn from the Israelites' experience in the wilderness that apply to my life today?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers, like Augustine of Hippo, have commented on this verse, noting the relationship between God's granting of desires and the consequences that follow.
"And He gave them their desire, and sent fullness withal into their souls" [Psalms 106:15].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 106 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 106:15 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd he gave them their request,.... Flesh and feathered fowl in great abundance; see Psalms 78:27. So God sometimes gives to wicked men what they ask for, as much as they can desire, yea, more than heart could wish.
Read John Gill on Psalms 106 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThey soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: -Three transgressions of Israel in the wilderness are detailed, rising in gradation of moral guilt, without respect to time: (1) Their
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 106 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleEither into their persons; or rather, their bodies, which are oft understood by this word; of which see the notes upon . So their inordinate desire of pleasing and pampering their bodies was the occasion of destroying them; whilst God denied his blessing, which alone makes food able to nourish us, and inflicted his curse, which made their food as destructive as poison to them.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 106 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 106:15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.Ver. 15. And he gave them their request] Deus saepe dat iratus quod negat propitius (Aug.). Munera magna quidem misit, sed misit in hamo (Martial). Quails they had, but to choke them; as afterwards a king, but to vex them, &c. But sent leanness into their soul] i.e. Into their bodies, such a loathing as caused leanness, Numbers 11:20, a plague upon their bodies, a curse upon their souls. Many men eat that on earth which they digest in hell. It is dangerous feeding on sin’ s murdering morsels.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 106 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(15) Leanness.—The LXX., Vulg., and Syriac read “satiety.” As Mr. Burgess points out, by accepting this reading, and giving nephesh its very usual signification of “lust” (comp. Psalms 78:18, where also the word rendered “request” occurs) we get two exact synthetical clauses:— “And he gave them their request, And sent satiety for their lust.”
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 106 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 15. Sent leanness] They despised the manna, and called it light, that is, innutritive, bread. God gave flesh as they desired, but gave no blessing with it; and in consequence they did not fatten, but grew lean upon it. Their souls also suffered want.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 106 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges15. They complained “Our soul is dried away” (Numbers 11:6), our vitality is exhausted; but the satisfaction of their self-willed lust brought sickness and death not life and vigour, and “the graves of lust” marked the scene of their sin and its punishment.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 106 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleAnd he gave them their request - By sending great quantities of quails. Numbers 11:31-32.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 106 →The verse in English, compared — 17 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
So He granted their request, but sent a wasting disease upon them.
He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.
So He granted their request, but sent a wasting disease upon them.
He granted their request, then struck them with a disease.
Tyndale line
And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.
And he gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul.
And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.
And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.
Then he gaue them their desire: but he sent leannesse into their soule.
Strictly literal
Then he gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.
And He giveth to them their request, And sendeth leanness into their soul.
And He gives to them their request, || And sends leanness into their soul.
And he gave them what they had asked; but sent dryness into their soul.
So he gave them what they requested, but he sent a horrible disease upon them.
From the Latin
Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him, and his wonderful works to the children of men.
Simplified
He gave them what they wanted, but sent them a plague as well.
And he gave them their request, but sent a wasting disease into their souls.
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 of Psalms 106:15 states, "וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לָ֭הֶם שֶׁאֱלָתָ֑ם וַיְשַׁלַּ֖ח רָז֣וֹן בְּנַפְשָֽׁם׃" which translates to "So He granted their request, but sent a wasting disease upon them." The Septuagint, while not providing a direct equivalent text in this instance, shows a close alignment with the Masoretic Text in terms of the overall meaning, although the exact wording and structure differ. The Samaritan Pentateuch and the Dead Sea Scrolls do not provide additional variations for this specific verse, indicating that the Masoretic Text's reading is consistent across these witnesses.
וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לָ֭הֶם שֶׁאֱלָתָ֑ם וַיְשַׁלַּ֖ח רָז֣וֹן בְּנַפְשָֽׁם׃
5 of the 6 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.
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 106:15
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 נָתַן (natan) means 'to give' and encompasses a wide range of applications such as putting, setting, and making. It can also indicate actions like bestowing, delivering, and assigning. The entries describe its use in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hophal, but do not present any significant disagreements among lexicons.
נָתַן 2007 vb. give, put, set
Qal 1917
give
Put, set
Make, constitute
Niph.
82be given
Be put, set
Hoph.
be given, bestowed
= be given to one for wife
be put upon
base
H5414 נָתַן give, put, set .. give
. Put, set
. Make, constitute
. . be given
. Be put, set
. . . be given, bestowed
. = be given to one for wife
. be put upon
5414 nathan naw-than'
a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of
application (put, make, etc.):--add, apply, appoint, ascribe,
assign, X avenge, X be ((healed)), bestow, bring (forth,
hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, +
cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, X doubtless, X
without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up),
grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up),
(give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that,
occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X
pull , put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send
(out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander,
strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade,
turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to)
God, yield.
נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: give.
: give/deliver/send/produce
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend
1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate
1a3) to make, constitute
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned
1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up
1c2) to be put upon
נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: put.
: put/set/apppoint
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
הֶם (hem) — them.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine plural
HR/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3mp
שְׁאֵלָה, transliterated as sh'elah, refers to a petition or request. It can denote something asked for or demanded, and is derived from the root meaning to ask. The term appears in contexts related to requests and loans, with an Aramaic equivalent noted. Strong's entry highlights its use in 1 Samuel 1:17.
שְׁאֵלָה, [I. שֵׁלָה] n.f. request, thing asked for
base
H7596 שְׁאֵלָה, שֵׁלָה
7596 sh'elah sheh-ay-law'
or shelah (1 Samuel 1:17) {shay-law'}; from 7592; a petition;
by implication, a loan:--loan, petition, request.
see HEBREW for 07592
שְׁאֵלָה (she.e.lah) — petition.
1) request, thing asked for, demand
1a) request, petition
1b) thing asked for
Aramaic equivalent: she.e.la (שְׁאֵלָא "affair" H7595)
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp3mp
The Hebrew word שָׁלַח (shalach) is a primitive root meaning 'to send' with a wide range of applications. It can refer to sending away, stretching out (especially a hand), or letting go. The entries indicate various forms, including sending off, casting out, and setting free. Notably, it can also imply divorce or being sent away in a marital context.
שָׁלַח 814 vb. send
Qal
send: human subj.
send: subj. י׳ (God)
stretch out, esp. acc. hand
rarely send away: human subj.
let loose
Niph. letters were sent
Pi.
send off, away, human subj.
send away, subj. י׳
give over
cast out
send out, forth
let go, set free
shoot forth branches
let down
shoot
Phrases
Pu. be sent off (started on journey); be put away, divorced, of wife; be impelled(?)
Hiph. and I (י׳) will send
base
H7971 שָׁלַח send .. send: human subj.
. send: subj. י׳ (God)
. stretch out, esp. acc. hand
. rarely send away: human subj.
. let loose
. letters were sent
. . send off, away, human subj.
. . send away, subj. י׳
. give over
. cast out
. send out, forth
. let go, set free
. shoot forth branches
. let down
. shoot
. Phrases
. be sent off (started on journey); be put away, divorced, of wife; be impelled(?)
. and I (י׳) will send
7971 shalach shaw-lakh'
a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great
variety of applications):--X any wise, appoint, bring (on the
way), cast (away, out), conduct, X earnestly, forsake, give
(up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose),
push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send
(away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread,
stretch forth (out).
שָׁלַח (sha.lach) — to send: depart.
: depart/send
1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to send
1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct
1a3) to send away
1a4) to let loose
1b) (Niphal) to be sent
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out
1c2) to let go, set free
1c3) to shoot forth (of branches)
1c4) to let down
1c5) to shoot
1d) (Pual) to be sent off, be put away, be divorced, be impelled
1e) (Hiphil) to send
שָׁלַח (sha.lach) — to send: let go.
: let_go/free
1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to send
1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct
1a3) to send away
1a4) to let loose
1b) (Niphal) to be sent
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out
1c2) to let go, set free
1c3) to shoot forth (of branches)
1c4) to let down
1c5) to shoot
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Piel · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vpw3ms
רָזוֹן (razown) refers to leanness, wasting, or scantness, often in the context of physical condition or measurement. It is derived from the root meaning 'thinness' and encompasses concepts like leanness due to disease or insufficient quantity.
רָזוֹן n.[m.] leanness, wasting, scantness
base
H7332 רָזוֹן leanness, wasting, scantness
7332 razown raw-zone'
from 7329; thinness:--leanness, X scant.
see HEBREW for 07329
רָזוֹן (ra.zon) — leanness.
1) leanness, scantness, wasting
1a) leanness
1b) wasting (of disease)
1c) scantness (of measure)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
The Hebrew word נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) broadly means 'soul' or 'living being,' encompassing concepts like life, self, person, desire, and emotion. It is derived from the root meaning 'to breathe' and signifies both physical and mental aspects of existence. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, including as the seat of appetites and emotions, though its application to will and character is uncertain.
נֶ֫פֶשׁ 756 n.f. soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
= that which breathes, the breathing substance or being
The נפשׁ becomes a living being
The נפשׁ is specif.
The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself
נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)
נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions
נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts
נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.
נפשׁ = character is still more dub.
נ׳ in D
base
H5315 נֶ֫פֶשׁ soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion . = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being
. The נפשׁ becomes a living being
. The נפשׁ is specif.
. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself
. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)
. נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions
. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts
. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.
. נפשׁ = character is still more dub.
. נ׳ in D
5315 nephesh neh'-fesh
from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of
(abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal,
accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):--any,
appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire,
X (dis-)contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart(-y),
(hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me,
mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-,
thy-)self, them (your)-selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they,
thing, (X she) will, X would have it.
see HEBREW for 05314
נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul.
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
1b) living being
1c) living being (with life in the blood)
1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
1e) seat of the appetites
1f) seat of emotions and passions
1g) activity of mind
1g1) uncertain
1h) activity of the will
1h1) uncertain
1i) activity of the character
1i1) uncertain
נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul: life.
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
1b) living being
1c) living being (with life in the blood)
1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
1e) seat of the appetites
1f) seat of emotions and passions
1g) activity of mind
Prep | N-cs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp