Psalms 107:11
in Psalms 107because they rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Because they rebelled against the words of God, And contemned the counsel of the Most High:
KJV
Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
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This verse in Psalms 107
Commentary
10 notes on this verseBecause they rebelled against the words of God,.... All afflictions, as captivity and imprisonment, are generally for sin; which is a rebellion against God, and a transgression of his laws. Adam rebelled against the words of God, not giving credit to them, but believing the words of the devil; and so brought himself and all his posterity into that state of darkness, captivity, and death, before described.
This site's exposition
prisoners in affliction and chains
on Psalms 107:10-16
The second rescue is prisoners in affliction and chains. They sat in darkness and the shadow of death, and this stanza names its own cause, rebellion against the words of God. He brought them out, and verse 16 breaks gates of bronze and bars of iron.
This site's exposition
despised the counsel of the Most High
Rebelled and counsel are two words from Psalm 106, at verses 7 and 13, where the fathers rebelled and failed to wait for His counsel. Most High is Elyon, the title of Genesis 14:19. The chains of verse 10 follow the rejected word.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"Them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, fast bound in beggary and iron" (ver. 10). Whence this, but that thou wast attributing things to thyself? that thou wast not owning the grace of God? that thou wast rejecting the counsel of God concerning thee? For see what He addeth: "Because they rebelled against the words of the Lord through pride" (ver. 11), not knowing the righteousness of God, and wishing to establish their own, "and they were bitter against the counsel of the Most High."
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
It is because they rebelled against the words of God. Wilful sin is rebellion against the words of God; it is a contradiction to his truths and a violation of his laws.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Their sufferings were for their rebellion against (Ps 105:28) the words, or purposes, or promises, of God for their benefit. When humbled they cry to God, who delivers them from bondage, described as a dark dungeon with doors and bars of metal, in which they are bound in iron--that is, chains and fetters. shadow of death--darkness with danger (Ps 23:4).
Because they rebelled against the words of God. This was the general cause of bondage among the ancient people of God, they were given over to their adversaries because they were not loyal to the Lord. God's words are not to be trifled with, and those who venture on such rebellion will bring themselves into bondage. And contemned the counsel of the Most High. They thought that they knew better than the Judge of all the earth, and therefore they left his ways and walked in their own.
Because they rebelled against the words of God. This was the general cause of bondage among the ancient people of God, they were given over to their adversaries because they were not loyal to the Lord. God's words are not to be trifled with, and those who venture on such rebellion will bring themselves into bondage. And contemned the counsel of the Most High. They thought that they knew better than the Judge of all the earth, and therefore they left his ways and walked in their own. When men do not follow the divine counsel they give the most practical proof of their contempt for it. Those who will not be bound by God's law will, ere long, be bound by the fetters of judgment. There is too much contemning of the divine counsel, even among Christians, and hence so few of them know the liberty wherewith Christ makes us free.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Because they rebelled against the words of God - 1. God showed them their duty and their interest, and commanded them to obey his word; but they cast off all subjection to his authority, acted as if they were independent of heaven and earth, and broke out into open rebellion against him. 2. He counsealed and exhorted them to return to him: but they contemned his advice, and turned his counsel into ridicule. 3. As lenient means were ineffectual, he visited them in judgment: hence it is added,
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Because they rebelled against the words of God - The commands of God. They did not keep his commandments. Their captivity was produced by national disobedience. See the notes at Dan 9:5-8. And contemned the counsel - They despised the instructions of God. The law of God, at the same time that it “is” law, is of the nature of “counsel,” since it is indicative of what God regards as wise and good, and since it is the best “advice” that God can give to people. A just and righteous law, while it involves “obligation” to obey it, is also the best counsel that can be given, and implies that the highest “wisdom” would be shown in being obedient to it. God will “command” nothing which he would not “advise,” and which it would not be “wisdom” to obey. Of the Most High - Of God, who, being supreme, has a right to rule over all, and to require that his laws shall be obeyed.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
For they rebelled against the words of God Trouble does not befall a person except because of his iniquity.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
Those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death Also those imprisoned in a dungeon are required to give thanks when they emerge from their prison.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 6 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| הִמְר֥וּ | himru | they had rebelled against | H4784 → | 45 times |
| אִמְרֵי־ | ʾimrei- | [the] words of | H561 → | 49 times |
| אֵ֑ל | ʾel | God | H410 → | 241 times |
| וַעֲצַ֖ת | vaatzat | and [the] counsel of | H6098 → | 89 times |
| עֶלְי֣וֹן | elyon | [the] Most High | H5945 → | 53 times |
| נָאָֽצוּ׃ | naatzu | they had spurned | H5006 → | 25 times |
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
הִמְר֥וּthey had rebelled against
himruH4784 →45 times
אִמְרֵי־[the] words of
ʾimrei-H561 →49 times
אֵ֑לGod
ʾelH410 →241 times
וַעֲצַ֖תand [the] counsel of
vaatzatH6098 →89 times
עֶלְי֣וֹן[the] Most High
elyonH5945 →53 times
נָאָֽצוּ׃they had spurned
naatzuH5006 →25 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 1:28Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
it leads to
- 2 Thessalonians 2:10–12
and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.
- Titus 1:16
They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.
- Romans 1:21
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts.
- Jeremiah 9:6
You dwell in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to know Me,” declares the LORD.
- Romans 1:24
Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:10–12
Through
Acts 20:27For I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole will of God.
it leads to
- Acts 20:20
I did not shrink back from declaring anything that was helpful to you as I taught you publicly and from house to house,
- Acts 20:20
Through
Proverbs 1:25because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction,
it leads to
- Psalms 81:11
But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.
- Luke 7:30
But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.
- Psalms 81:11
Where this verse is studied
About Psalms
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, On the Psalms, Psalm 107; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 5; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.