Therefore he said he would destroy them— had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Instead of just stopping God’s wrath, Moses actively "turned it away" by presenting himself as a shield, highlighting how intercession isn't passive but a powerful, active force. The phrasing also suggests Israel's sin had created a literal "breach" in God's protection, a gap that Moses desperately filled.
Therefore he said he would destroy them— had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage occurs within a larger psalm of confession, recounting Israel's repeated failures to trust and obey God, even after experiencing His powerful deliverance. The psalmist highlights the instance at Mount Sinai where the people’s sin of idolatry (worshiping the golden calf) provoked God’s intense anger to the point where He declared He would destroy them all. This verse then focuses on Moses stepping into the breach, interceding on behalf of the unfaithful nation, and averting God's immediate wrath.
Has God ever seemed ready to unleash His judgment, only for something to change? This verse reveals a pivotal moment where divine wrath was averted.
The text in Psalm 106:23 presents a stark picture: God, in His righteous anger, had decided to utterly destroy the Israelites. This wasn't a casual threat; it was a declaration of intent stemming from their persistent sinfulness. However, the narrative pivots dramatically because of one man: Moses.
The 'Breach'
Think of a city wall that’s been breached by an enemy. That's the image here. Israel’s sin had created a gaping hole, an opening through which God's just judgment could pour in and obliterate them. Their actions had broken the covenant, leaving them exposed.
Moses, the Champion
But Moses, 'his chosen one,' stood firm. He didn't just stand by; he 'stood in the breach.' This means he deliberately placed himself between God's fury and the sinful nation. His intercession was so powerful, so earnest, that it turned God away from complete destruction. It highlights that even when justice demands severe consequences, a faithful intercessor can make a profound difference.
Moses is called 'his chosen one.' What does that really mean in this context? It's more than just a title; it speaks to his unique calling and God's purpose.
The phrase 'his chosen one' applied to Moses is significant. It doesn't necessarily refer to a doctrine of predestination in the way we sometimes discuss it today. Instead, it points to Moses being specifically selected and appointed by God for a particular, vital role.
Ask a follow-up
Appointed for a Purpose
God had chosen Moses from before, setting him apart to lead Israel out of Egypt and to be their mediator with God. This 'chosenness' meant he had a unique standing and authority granted by God himself.
A Representative Intercessor
When Moses stood 'in the breach,' he wasn't just acting on his own initiative. He was acting as God's appointed representative for the people. His authority to intercede stemmed directly from God's prior selection and commissioning of him. This reminds us that God often works through individuals He has specifically equipped and empowered to stand on behalf of others.
Understand the original words
chemah · Hebrew Noun
Divine indignation or settled opposition against sin and rebellion; a necessary expression of God’s holiness and justice against unrighteousness.
This verse powerfully recalls a pivotal moment in Israel's history when God's judgment was imminent due to their sin. It highlights the critical role of intercession, embodied by Moses, in averting destruction and God's own character of mercy, even when provoked.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Israel's Apostasy at Sinai
The Israelites, newly freed from Egypt, fashioned and worshipped a golden calf while Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Law. This act was a profound betrayal of their covenant with God.
c. 1446 BC
God's Wrath and Moses' Intercession
Enraged by the golden calf incident, God declared his intention to destroy the Israelites and make a great nation from Moses. Moses pleaded with God, appealing to His mercy and reputation among the nations.
c. 1446 BC
Moses Confronts the People
Moses descended from Mount Sinai, saw the idol and the revelry, and in his anger, broke the stone tablets of the Law. He then confronted the people and their idolatry.
c. 1446 BC
Levites Stand with Moses
Moses called to those on the Lord's side to rally with him. The Levites responded, and as they executed Moses' command, a significant number of Israelites died.
c. 1446 BC
God Relents
After the decisive action of the Levites and Moses' continued intercession, God withdrew His immediate judgment, though consequences for the sin remained.
This passage directly describes God's stated intention to destroy Israel due to their sin with the golden calf, and Moses' subsequent intercession, mirroring the situation described in Psalms 106:23.
Ezekiel 22:30This verse uses the same 'standing in the breach' imagery to describe the desperate need for someone to intercede for a sinful people, highlighting the crucial role of the intercessor as depicted with Moses.
Numbers 14:11-20Here, God declares His intention to destroy Israel after their rebellion following the spies' report, and Moses again intercedes powerfully, showing a consistent pattern of God's wrath being turned aside by a chosen mediator.
Jeremiah 18:7-8This prophetic passage illustrates God's sovereign power to relent from judgment when a nation turns from its evil, reflecting the principle of God's wrath being averted through repentance and intercession, as seen with Moses.
wesleyPsalms 106:23: "Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them."
106:23 Breach - God had made a wall about them; but they had made a breach in it by their sins, at which the Lord, who was now justly become their enemy, might enter to destroy them; which he had certainly done, if Moses by his prevailing intercession had not hindered him.
clarkePsalms 106:23: "Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them."
Moses his chosen - Or elect; (Vulgate, electus ejus; Septuagint, ὁ εκλεκτος αυτου); the person that he had appointed for this work. It would be very difficult to show that this word in any part of the Old Testament refers to the eternal state of any man, much less to the doctrine of unconditional election and reprobation.
Instead of just stopping God’s wrath, Moses actively "turned it away" by presenting himself as a shield, highlighting how intercession isn't passive but a powerful, active force. The phrasing also suggests Israel's sin had created a literal "breach" in God's protection, a gap that Moses desperately filled.
This passage occurs within a larger psalm of confession, recounting Israel's repeated failures to trust and obey God, even after experiencing His powerful deliverance. The psalmist highlights the instance at Mount Sinai where the people’s sin of idolatry (worshiping the golden calf) provoked God’s intense anger to the point where He declared He would destroy them all. This verse then focuses on Moses stepping into the breach, interceding on behalf of the unfaithful nation, and averting God's immediate wrath.
This passage occurs within a larger psalm of confession, recounting Israel's repeated failures to trust and obey God, even after experiencing His powerful deliverance. The psalmist highlights the instance at Mount Sinai where the people’s sin of idolatry (worshiping the golden calf) provoked God’s intense anger to the point where He declared He would destroy them all. This verse then focuses on Moses stepping into the breach, interceding on behalf of the unfaithful nation, and averting God's immediate wrath.
"Therefore he said he would destroy them— had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them." — Instead of just stopping God’s wrath, Moses actively "turned it away" by presenting himself as a shield, highlighting how intercession isn't passive but a powerful, active force. The phrasing also…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026