Psalm 106:23-24
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The verse highlights that God's wrath was so intense that He intended to "destroy them," but Moses stepped into a dangerous "breach" – a gap where destruction was about to pour in. This wasn't just pleading; it was Moses physically, metaphorically, interposing his entire being between God's judgment and His people.
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. Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in his promise.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following a retelling of Israel's repeated acts of unfaithfulness, even after experiencing God's mighty deeds, this verse highlights a specific instance at Mount Sinai. After the people fashioned and worshipped a golden calf, God, provoked by their sin, declared his intention to destroy them. This verse emphasizes Moses' crucial role as God's chosen intercessor, stepping into the "breach" of divine judgment to plead for the people and avert their annihilation.
Why would God want to destroy an entire people? This verse points to a critical moment where their actions pushed God to the brink.
The Gravity of Disobedience
Psalms 106 recounts the long, sad history of Israel's faithlessness. Despite God's mighty deeds and enduring love, they repeatedly fell into sin. In this specific instance, likely referring to the incident at Mount Sinai where the Israelites made the golden calf (as referenced in Exodus 32), their actions were so egregious that God declared, 'he said he would destroy them.'
This wasn't a casual threat, but a righteous judgment against a people who had broken their covenant with God. Their sin created a 'breach' in the protective wall God had built around them, leaving them vulnerable to His wrath.
When God's judgment was imminent, one man stepped forward. What does it mean to 'stand in the breach'?
The Power of Intercession
The phrase 'stood in the breach' is a powerful metaphor. Imagine a city wall that has been broken through by an enemy. A valiant defender would rush to that gap, placing themselves between the city and the attackers to prevent further destruction.
That’s what Moses did. When God, in His righteous anger, intended to destroy the unfaithful Israelites, Moses intervened. He pleaded with God, appealing to God's own promises and reputation. He didn't stand there because he was personally blameless, but because God had chosen him to lead this people and he felt the weight of their fate. His intercession, his heartfelt plea, 'turned away his wrath from destroying them.'
Ask a follow-up
The verse calls Moses 'his chosen one.' What does this tell us about God's choices and His heart?
Divine Choice and Enduring Mercy
Calling Moses 'his chosen one' (or 'his elect') doesn't necessarily speak to the complex theological doctrine of eternal election, but rather to God's specific appointment for a particular task. God chose Moses to lead His people, to be their mediator in many crucial moments. This choice wasn't based on Moses' perfection, but on God's sovereign plan and His desire to work through human agents.
More importantly, this moment reveals the depth of God's mercy. Even when His people sin grievously and deserve judgment, He listens to the pleas of His chosen intercessor. He delights in showing mercy, and He actively looks for reasons to withhold His wrath. Moses' intervention reminds us that God's judgment is not His final word; His enduring love and willingness to forgive are equally, if not more, characteristic of His nature.
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.
ma'as · Hebrew Verb
To treat with contempt or lack of value; to regard as unworthy of interest or respect, often manifesting in the rejection of God's blessings or truth.
emunah · Hebrew Noun
A state of trusting reliance on God and His word; a foundational posture of the heart that acknowledges God’s truthfulness and sovereign ability.
This verse powerfully illustrates the concept of intercession, highlighting how Moses' courageous stand before God turned away divine judgment from a sinful people.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Israelites at Mount Sinai
After escaping Egypt, the Israelites received the Law at Mount Sinai. The people's repeated disobedience and idolatry, especially worshipping the golden calf, tested God's patience.
c. 1446 BC
Golden Calf Incident
While Moses was receiving the Law, the Israelites crafted a golden calf and worshipped it, provoking God's intense anger and leading Him to declare His intention to destroy them.
c. 1446 BC
Moses Intercedes
Moses pleaded with God on behalf of the Israelites, reminding God of His promises and averting His wrath. This act of intercession is a pivotal moment where a leader stood in the gap for his people.
c. 1446 BC
God Relents
Moved by Moses' prayer, God relented from executing the destruction He had threatened, showing His mercy and longsuffering towards the people.
This passage directly describes God's intention to destroy Israel due to their sin at Sinai, mirroring the threat mentioned in Psalm 106:23, and Moses' subsequent intercession.
Ezekiel 22:30This verse uses the powerful imagery of someone standing in a breach to defend a city, which directly parallels the metaphor used in Psalm 106:23 to describe Moses' intercessory action before God.
Numbers 14:11-20Here, God declares his intention to strike Israel with pestilence and disinherit them, and Moses intercedes, appealing to God's mercy and reputation among the nations, much like the scenario in Psalm 106.
Deuteronomy 9:14In this passage, Moses reminds God of his plea to let him alone, so that God's wrath might burn out against them, directly reflecting the concept of standing 'in the breach' to avert destruction.
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.
The verse highlights that God's wrath was so intense that He intended to "destroy them," but Moses stepped into a dangerous "breach" – a gap where destruction was about to pour in. This wasn't just pleading; it was Moses physically, metaphorically, interposing his entire being between God's judgment and His people.
Following a retelling of Israel's repeated acts of unfaithfulness, even after experiencing God's mighty deeds, this verse highlights a specific instance at Mount Sinai. After the people fashioned and worshipped a golden calf, God, provoked by their sin, declared his intention to destroy them. This verse emphasizes Moses' crucial role as God's chosen intercessor, stepping into the "breach" of divine judgment to plead for the people and avert their annihilation.
Following a retelling of Israel's repeated acts of unfaithfulness, even after experiencing God's mighty deeds, this verse highlights a specific instance at Mount Sinai. After the people fashioned and worshipped a golden calf, God, provoked by their sin, declared his intention to destroy them. This verse emphasizes Moses' crucial role as God's chosen intercessor, stepping into the "breach" of divine judgment to plead for the people and avert their annihilation.
"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. Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in his p…" — The verse highlights that God's wrath was so intense that He intended to "destroy them," but Moses stepped into a dangerous "breach" – a gap where destruction was about to pour in. This wasn't just p…
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Last reviewed October 2026
