Psalms 106:43 — Word Study
WLCפְּעָמִ֥ים רַבּ֗וֹת יַצִּ֫ילֵ֥ם וְ֭הֵמָּה יַמְר֣וּ בַעֲצָתָ֑ם וַ֝יָּמֹ֗כּוּ בַּעֲוֹנָֽם׃
BSAManyrab timespaʻam [on numerous occasions, repeatedly] He rescued themnâtsal▸ [delivered, saved] ◂but theyhêm were bentmârâh▸ on rebellionʻêtsâh [stubbornly committed to, resistance, disobedience] and sank downmâkak▸ [were brought low, humiliated] in their iniquityʻâvôn [moral evil, sin, wickedness]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| פְּעָמִ֥ים | times | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| רַבּ֗וֹת | many | Adj |
| יַצִּ֫ילֵ֥ם | he delivered them | Verb hiphil imperfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
| וְ֭הֵמָּה | and they | Conjunction, pronoun |
| יַמְר֣וּ | they rebelled | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect third person masculine plural |
| בַעֲצָתָ֑ם | by plan[s] their | Preposition, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| וַ֝יָּמֹ֗כּוּ | and they sank | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| בַּעֲוֹנָֽם׃ | by iniquity their | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Many times He rescued them, but they were bent on rebellion and sank down in their iniquity. |
| KJV | Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity. |
| ASV | Many times did he deliver them; But they were rebellious in their counsel, And were brought low in their iniquity. |
| YLT | Many times He doth deliver them, And they rebel in their counsel, And they are brought low in their iniquity. |
| WEB | He rescued them many times, but they were rebellious in their counsel, and were brought low in their iniquity. |
| BBE | Again and again he made them free; but their hearts were turned against his purpose, and they were overcome by their sins. |
Where they part company is יָּמֹ֗כּוּ — see How Translations Differ.
The main action is followed by a contrasting statement about the people's rebellion, highlighting the tension between divine mercy and human disobedience.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectהֵמָּה
verbמָרָה
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 106:43
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 of Israelgenerated
Psalm 106:43 reflects on the history of Israel, highlighting how God repeatedly intervened to save them from their troubles. Despite His numerous acts of deliverance, the people remained committed to rebellion and fell deeper into their sins. This verse is part of a larger narrative that recounts Israel's cycles of sin, judgment, and mercy, as seen in the surrounding verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Judges 2:16–18 | Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them from the hands of those who plundered them. |
| 2 | 1 Samuel 12:9–11 | But they forgot the LORD their God, and He sold them into the hand of Sisera the commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab, who fought against them. |
| 3 | Psalm 106:29 | So they provoked the LORD to anger with their deeds, and a plague broke out among them. |
| 4 | Psalm 1:1 | Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. |
| 5 | Psalm 81:12 | So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — פַּעַם, pe.'a.Mimgenerated
The word פַּעַם (pa'am) is a masculine plural noun that fundamentally means a beat or stroke, often used to refer to a time or occurrence. It suggests repetition, indicating that God's deliverance happened on numerous occasions.
This word is built from a root that encompasses various meanings related to rhythm and timing, emphasizing the repeated nature of God's actions in rescuing His people.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses rescued and rebellion, aligning with the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse centers around the finite verb יַצִּ֫ילֵ֥ם, He delivered them, which serves as the main action. It is followed by a conjunction and two clauses that describe the people's response to God's deliverance.
The structure highlights the contrast between God's repeated acts of salvation and the people's persistent rebellion, emphasizing the weight of their actions against the backdrop of divine mercy.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew פַּעַם is rendered as πλεονάκις, which means 'many times' and carries a similar sense of repetition. This choice reflects the translators' intent to convey the same idea of God's repeated interventions.
The translation of יַמְר֣וּ as παρεπίκραναν suggests a more intense form of rebellion, indicating a deeper understanding of the people's defiance.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 106:43 tells us that God rescued His people many times, yet they chose to rebel and fell into their sins. This reflects a pattern in Israel's history of turning away from God despite His deliverance.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It indicates God's persistent mercy and willingness to save His people from their troubles, despite their repeated disobedience.
The people were stubbornly committed to their own ways, choosing rebellion over obedience to God.
It refers to the consequences of their sins, where they became low or humiliated due to their moral failures.
It echoes themes found in other scriptures, such as God's faithfulness contrasted with human unfaithfulness, seen in passages like Judges 2:16-18.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced God's deliverance in my life?
- How can I guard against stubbornness in my own heart?
- What steps can I take to avoid falling into patterns of rebellion?
- How does understanding God's mercy help me in my relationship with Him?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 106:43 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleMany times did he deliver them,.... By means of the judges, Othniel, Ehud, Barak, Gideon, Jephthah, Samson, and others.
Read John Gill on Psalms 106 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThey did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them: -From the fathers in the wilderness the Psalmist turns to the sons in Canaan.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 106 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleProvoked him with their counsel, by forsaking God’ s counsel and the way which he had appointed, and following after their own inventions and evil inclinations, as charged them, . See the like .
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 106 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 106:43 Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked [him] with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.Ver. 43. Many times did he deliver them] And as many times told them, Servati estis ut mihi servatis, I have, therefore, saved you that ye might serve me the better; Sed surdo fabulam, but they would not hearken. ηχαριςαλλαξαιτηνφυσινουδυναται (Theogn.).
Read John Trapp on Psalms 106 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(40-43) Having made review of the sinful past, the poet briefly but impressively describes the punishment which once and again had fallen on the nation. But as his purpose is to make his generation look on the Captivity as a supreme instance of this punishment, and to seek for deliverance by repentance, he mentions only the judgments inflicted by foreign foes.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 106 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 43. Many times did he deliver them] See the Book of Judges; it is a history of the rebellions and deliverances of the Israelites.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 106 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges43. but they provoked him &c.] But they were rebellious in their counsel. Self-will was their bane, as before (Psalms 106:13) when they would not wait for Jehovah’s counsel. The verbs are frequentative: repeated deliverances were met by repeated rebellion (Judges 2:16-17). and were brought low] The Heb. verb closely resembles that in Leviticus 26:39, “they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity,” and in Ezekiel 24:23; Ezekiel 33:10, passages which were doubtless in the Psalmist’s mind. The change may have been intentional, or it may be due to a scribe’s error.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 106 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleMany times did he deliver them - From danger of invasion; from foreign arms; from entire overthrow. Numerous instances of this are recorded in the history of the Hebrew people.
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
Many times He rescued them, but they were bent on rebellion and sank down in their iniquity.
He rescued them many times, but they were rebellious in their counsel, and were brought low in their iniquity.
Many times He rescued them, but they were bent on rebellion and sank down in their iniquity.
Many times he delivered them, but they had a rebellious attitude, and degraded themselves by their sin.
Tyndale line
Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.
Many times did he deliver them; But they were rebellious in their counsel, And were brought low in their iniquity.
Many times did he deliver them; but they were rebellious in their counsel, and were brought low in their iniquity.
Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel; and were brought low for their iniquity.
Many a time did hee deliuer them, but they prouoked him by their counsels: therefore they were brought downe by their iniquitie.
Strictly literal
Often did he deliver them; but as for them they provoked [him] by their counsel, and they were brought low by their iniquity.
Many times He doth deliver them, And they rebel in their counsel, And they are brought low in their iniquity.
He delivers them many times, || And they rebel in their counsel, || And they are brought low in their iniquity.
Many times did he deliver them; but they rebelled with their counsel, and they were brought low through their iniquity.
Many times he came to help them, but they kept rebelling and were brought low by their own sin.
From the Latin
Who is wise, and will keep these things: and will understand the mercies of the Lord?
Simplified
The Lord repeatedly rescued them, but they continued with their rebellious ideas, until they were finally destroyed by their own sins.
Again and again he made them free; but their hearts were turned against his purpose, and they were overcome by their sins.
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 largely agree in their wording, with seven of the eight words matched. The Septuagint's word order and articles differ, but the core message remains consistent across both texts.
פְּעָמִ֥ים רַבּ֗וֹת יַצִּ֫ילֵ֥ם וְ֭הֵמָּה יַמְר֣וּ בַעֲצָתָ֑ם וַ֝יָּמֹ֗כּוּ בַּעֲוֹנָֽם׃
7 of the 8 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 106:43
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.
פַּ֫עַם (pa'am) refers to a beat or stroke, and encompasses meanings such as foot, anvil, and occurrence. It can denote a footstep or time, indicating repetitions like once, twice, or thrice. The word is built from a root that suggests various applications related to rhythm and timing.
פַּ֫עַם 118 n.f. beat, foot, anvil, occurrence
base
H6471 פַּ֫עַם beat, foot, anvil, occurrence
6471 pa`am pah'-am
or (feminine) pa;amah {pah-am-aw'}; from 6470; a stroke,
literally or figuratively (in various applications, as
follow):--anvil, corner, foot(-step), going, (hundred-)fold,
X now, (this) + once, order, rank, step, + thrice, ((often-)),
second, this, two) time(-s), twice, wheel.
see HEBREW for 06470
פַּ֫עַם (pa.am) — beat.
1) stroke, beat, foot, step, anvil, occurrence
1a) foot, hoof-beat, footfall, footstep
1b) anvil
1c) occurrence, time, stroke, beat
1c1) one time, once, twice, thrice, as time on time, at this repetition, this once, now at length, now...now, at one time...at another
N-fp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
רַב (rav) means much, many, or great, often used in contrast to מְעַט (me'at). It can describe abundance in quantity or rank and is also used as a noun for chief or captain. The word conveys a range of meanings from numerous to exceedingly, and it can function as both an adjective and a noun.
רַב 429 adj. much, many, great
(oft. opp. מְעַט)
much: of substances
esp. of collectives, numerous
pl. many
רַב as subst. coll. pers.
cstr. = abounding in
מִן comp. = more numerous than
רַב = abundant, enough
as adv. much, exceedingly
less oft. great
base
רַב 49 n.m. chief
base
H7227a רַב much, many, great . (oft. opp. מְעַט) . . much: of substances
. esp. of collectives, numerous
. pl. many
. רַב as subst. coll. pers.
. cstr. = abounding in
. + מִן comp. = more numerous than
. רַב = abundant, enough
. as adv. much, exceedingly
. less oft. great
H7227b רַב chief
7227 rab rab
by contracted from 7231; abundant (in quantity, size, age,
number, rank, quality):--(in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly),
captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man,
one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold,
things, a time), ((ship-))master, mighty, more, (too, very)
much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous,
populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent).
see HEBREW for 07231
רַב (rav) — many.
adj
1) much, many, great
1a) much
1b) many
1c) abounding in
1d) more numerous than
1e) abundant, enough
1f) great
1g) strong
1h) greater than
adv
1i) much, exceedingly
רַב (rav) — chief.
captain, chief
Aramaic equivalent: rav.re.van (רַבְרְבָן "noble" H7261)
רַב (rav) — (Sidon) the Great.
Combined with tsi.don (צִידוֹן "Sidon" H6721H)
§ captain, chief
Adj — AdjHAafpa
MANY, adjective men'ny.
1. Numerous; comprising a great number of individuals.
Thou shalt be a father of many nations. Genesis 17:4.
Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 1 Corinthians 1:26.
MANY are the afflictions of the righteous. Psalms 34:12.
It is often preceded by as or so, and followed by so, indicating an equal number.
As many books as you take, so many shall be charged to your account.
So many laws argue so many sins.
It is followed by as.
As many as were willing-hearted brought bracelets. Exodus 34:1.
It precedes an or a, before a noun in the singular number.
Full many a gem of purest ray serene.
2. In low language, preceded by too, it denotes powerful or much; as, they are too many for us.
MANY, noun men'ny. A multitude; a great number of individuals; the people.
O thou fond many
The vulgar and the many are fit only to be led or driven.
The Hebrew word נָצַל (natsal) is built from a primitive root meaning to snatch away, with various usages across different stems. It covers a range of meanings including to rescue, deliver, plunder, and strip. The word appears in contexts of delivering oneself or being delivered, as well as rescuing from enemies or sin.
[נָצַל] 212 vb. not in Qal; Pi. strip, plunder; Niph. deliver oneself, be delivered Hiph. snatch away, deliver
Niph.
reflex. tear oneself away, deliver oneself
passive, be torn out or away
Pi.
strip off, spoil
deliver
Hiph.
take away, snatch away
rescue, recover
deliver from
deliver from sin and guilt
Hoph. as a brand plucked out of the burning
Hithp. and they stripped themselves of their ornaments.
base
H5337 נָצַל not in Qal; Pi. strip, plunder; Niph. deliver oneself, be delivered Hiph. snatch away, deliver
5337 natsal naw-tsal'
a primitive root; to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad
sense:- X at all, defend, deliver (self), escape, X without
fail, part, pluck, preserve, recover, rescue, rid, save,
spoil, strip, X surely, take (out).
נָצַל (na.tsal) — to rescue.
1) to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder
1a)(Niphal)
1a1) to tear oneself away, deliver oneself
1a2) to be torn out or away, be delivered
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to strip off, spoil
1b2) to deliver
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to take away, snatch away
1c2) to rescue, recover
1c3) to deliver (from enemies or troubles or death)
1c4) to deliver from sin and guilt
1d) (Hophal) to be plucked out
1e) (Hithpael) to strip oneself
Aramaic equivalent: ne.tsal (נְצַל "to rescue" H5338)
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms | Suff — Verb hiphil imperfect third person masculine singular · suffixHVhi3ms/Sp3mp
הֵ֫מָּה (hemmah) is a masculine plural pronoun meaning 'they.' The entries indicate that it can also mean 'these,' 'the same,' or refer to people in an emphatic context. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its usage.
הֵ֫מָּה and הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) pron. 3 pl. masc. they
base
H1992 הֵ֫מָּה, הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) they
1992 hem haym
or (prolonged) hemmah {haym'-maw}; masculine plural from
1981; they (only used when emphatic):--it, like, X (how, so)
many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, X so, X such,
their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye.
see HEBREW for 01981
הֵ֫מָּה (hem.mah) — they(masc.).
they, these, the same, who
Conj | Pron — Conjunction · pronounHC/Pp3mp
מָרָה (marah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be contentious or rebellious. It encompasses actions of disobedience, particularly towards authority figures like parents or God. The entries indicate that it can also imply causing bitterness or provoking resistance. The word appears in various forms, such as Qal and Hiphil, which denote different aspects of rebellion and disobedience.
מָרָה vb. be contentious, refractory, rebellious
Qal be disobedient, rebellious
Hiph. shew disobedience, rebelliousness
base
H4784 מָרָה be contentious, refractory, rebellious
4784 marah maw-raw'
a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) bitter (or
unpleasant); (figuratively) to rebel (or resist; causatively,
to provoke):--bitter, change, be disobedient, disobey,
grievously, provocation, provoke(-ing), (be) rebel
(against, -lious).
מָרָה (ma.rah) — to rebel.
1) to be contentious, be rebellious, be refractory, be disobedient towards, be rebellious against
1a) (Qal) to be disobedient, be rebellious
1a1) towards father
1a2) towards God
1b) (Hiphil) to show rebelliousness, show disobedience, disobey
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVhi3mp
עֵצָה (`etsah) refers to counsel or advice, and can also imply a plan or purpose. It is derived from a root meaning to advise or provide guidance. The entries consistently emphasize its use in contexts related to providing counsel or making decisions.
עֵצָה n.f. counsel, advice
base
H6098 עֵצָה counsel, advice
6098 `etsah ay-tsaw'
from 3289; advice; by implication, plan; also
prudence:--advice, advisement, counsel(l-(or)), purpose.
see HEBREW for 03289
עֵצָה (e.tsah) — counsel.
counsel, advice, purpose
Prep | N-fs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp
מָכַךְ (makak) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be low or humiliated. It can also refer to sinking, particularly in the context of decay, as in house-timbers. The word is used in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hophal, indicating different nuances of being brought low or perishing.
[מָכַךְ] vb. be low, humiliated
Qal of perverse Isr.
Niph. sink (in decay) of house-timbers.
Hoph. be brought low, of wicked.
base
H4355 מָכַךְ
4355 makak maw-kak'
a primitive root; to tumble (in ruins); figuratively, to
perish:--be brought low, decay.
מָכַךְ (ma.khakh) — to sink.
1) to be low, be humiliated
1a) (Qal) to be low, be humiliated
1b) (Niphal) to sink
1c) (Hophal) to be brought low
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
עָוֹן (avon) refers to iniquity, guilt, or the punishment associated with iniquity. It encompasses concepts of moral evil, such as perversity and depravity, and includes the consequences or punishment for these actions. The term appears in contexts like 2 Kings 7:9 and Psalm 51:5, highlighting its significance in discussions of sin and guilt.
עָוֹן n.m. iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity
base
H5771 עָוֹן iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity
5771 `avon aw-vone'
or oavown (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 (7)) {aw-vone'}; from
5753; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil:--fault, iniquity,
mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin.
see HEBREW for 07
see HEBREW for 05753
עָוֺן (a.van) — iniquity: crime.
: crime
1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity
1a) iniquity
1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)
1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity
עָוֺן (a.van) — iniquity: guilt.
: guilt
1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity
1a) iniquity
1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)
1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity
עָוֺן (a.van) — iniquity: punishment.
: punishment
1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity
1a) iniquity
1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)
1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity
Prep | N-cs | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp3mp