Psalm 106:39-42
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The verse uses "went a whoring" not just to describe literal sexual impurity, but as a powerful metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness to God through idolatry and forbidden practices, highlighting how their own human-made customs deeply defiled them. This "spiritual adultery" stemmed directly from adopting the detestable "inventions" of the surrounding pagan cultures, which ultimately led to their ruin.
Thus they became unclean by their acts, and played the whore in their deeds. Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people, and he abhorred his heritage; he gave them into the hand of the nations, so that those who hated them ruled over them. Their enemies oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their power.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist is recounting Israel's history, focusing on their repeated unfaithfulness to God, even after witnessing His mighty acts. After detailing their sins in the wilderness, the psalm shifts to their transgressions upon entering the Promised Land. This verse describes how, by failing to completely drive out the Canaanite nations and instead adopting their practices, the Israelites became spiritually defiled and unfaithful to their covenant with God.
The Bible often uses strong language to describe the consequences of sin. What happens when the very things we do to 'fix' ourselves or feel good actually lead us further astray?
Verse 39 says the people "became unclean by their own works." This isn't just about external actions; it points to an internal corruption.
The Cycle of Sin
When people turn away from God, their actions become tainted. They might try to find satisfaction or meaning in things that are not God – their own inventions or practices. But these actions, instead of purifying them, actually 'defile' them, making them spiritually unclean. It's like trying to clean a stain with mud; it only makes things worse.
The Cost of Self-Reliance
This verse highlights how sin corrupts not only our relationship with God but also our very selves. The things we do apart from God, even if they seem productive or creative, can become sources of defilement when they replace our devotion to Him.
The imagery of 'playing the whore' might seem shocking, but it powerfully illustrates a deep spiritual truth about faithfulness and betrayal.
The phrase "played the whore in their deeds" is a metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness to God. In the Old Testament, God often described His relationship with Israel as a marriage covenant.
Spiritual Adultery
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When Israel turned to worship other gods or relied on their own human inventions instead of God, it was seen as spiritual adultery. They were breaking their solemn vows to God, the one to whom they were 'betrothed' or married.
The Pain of Betrayal
This imagery underscores the deep hurt and betrayal God feels when His people are unfaithful. It wasn't just a minor offense; it was a profound violation of trust, leading to destructive consequences for them and pain for God.
Understand the original words
tame’ · Hebrew Adjective/Verb
To be made ceremonially or morally impure. It denotes a state of corruption or contagion that separates a person or a nation from the presence, blessing, and holiness of God.
zanah · Hebrew Verb
A frequent prophetic metaphor used to describe apostasy, spiritual unfaithfulness, and the abandonment of the covenant relationship with God in favor of worldly or idolatrous pursuits. It highlights the betrayal of God's exclusive love and authority.
aph · Hebrew Noun
A description of God’s righteous, intense, and inevitable reaction against persistent sin, rebellion, and covenant-breaking. It is not an unbridled emotional outburst, but the holy indignation of a just Judge protecting His honor and justice.
nachalah · Hebrew Noun
A term referring to the people whom God has chosen as His own possession, property, or covenantal responsibility. It emphasizes the intimacy and special relationship between God and Israel (or His people), making their rebellion a matter of profound betrayal.
ta‘ab · Hebrew Verb
A strong expression of God’s visceral rejection, intense dislike, or holy repulsion toward sin and those who embrace it. It signifies that the object of this feeling is fundamentally incompatible with His holiness and covenant standards.
gowy · Hebrew Noun
Often translated as 'nations' or 'Gentiles,' it refers to groups of people distinct from the covenant people of God, often characterized by idolatry and opposition to the Lord's people.
lachats · Hebrew Verb
In a biblical context, oppression involves the unjust treatment, cruel subjugation, or crushing of someone, often highlighting the vulnerability of the victim and the wickedness of the oppressor.
This psalm reflects on Israel's consistent pattern of unfaithfulness, especially their intermingling with and adoption of Canaanite idolatrous practices. Verse 39 highlights how their own 'inventions'—idols and corrupt worship—led to spiritual 'whoredom' and defilement, a recurring theme throughout Israel's history, particularly after settling in the Promised Land.
c. 1400 BC
Israel enters Canaan
After 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites finally enter the Promised Land. They are commanded to drive out the existing inhabitants, but fail to do so completely.
c. 1350-1050 BC
Period of the Judges
Following the conquest, Israel experiences cycles of faithfulness and unfaithfulness, often falling into idolatry and syncretism with Canaanite practices.
c. 1050 BC
Anointing of Saul
Israel demands a king, and Saul is anointed. This marks a shift in their political and religious landscape, though challenges with idolatry persist.
c. 970 BC
Solomon's Reign and Temple
The nation reaches its peak of power and prosperity under Solomon, but his later years see him turning to foreign gods due to his many wives.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel is conquered by the Assyrians, and its people are exiled, largely for their persistent idolatry and deviation from God's ways.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Southern Kingdom of Judah is conquered by Babylon, and the Temple is destroyed. This exilic period serves as a stark consequence of prolonged unfaithfulness.
Post-Exilic Period— this verse
Return and Rebuilding
Jews return from exile, rebuild the Temple and Jerusalem, and strive to live by God's law, though the memory of past failures, as recounted in this Psalm, remains a potent warning.
This passage vividly describes spiritual adultery and idolatry using similar language to Psalm 106:39, illustrating how their 'works' led to defilement and faithlessness.
Hosea 2:2Hosea's prophecy likens Israel's unfaithfulness to their covenant with God to a wife committing adultery, highlighting how their 'inventions' or straying from God's ways led to impurity.
Romans 6:21This New Testament passage directly contrasts the 'fruit' of sinful acts, which leads to death, with the fruit of righteousness, echoing the idea in Psalm 106:39 that actions lead to defilement and ruin.
Jeremiah 13:27Jeremiah's lament directly connects Israel's persistent idolatry and 'adulterous' practices with their inability to be cleansed, mirroring the theme of being defiled by one's own deeds.
clarkePsalms 106:39: "Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions."
And went a whoring - By fornication, whoredom, and idolatry, the Scripture often expresses idolatry and idolatrous acts. I have given the reason of this in other places. Besides being false to the true God, to whom they are represented as betrothed and married, (and their acts of idolatry were breaches of this solemn engagement), the worship of idols was frequently accompanied with variou…
pulpitPsalms 106:39: "Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions."
Verse 39. - Thus were they defiled with their own works. The heathen "works," which they adopted from them (ver. 35), had become "their own works," and made them a "defiled" and "polluted" people. And went a-whoring with their own inventions; i.e. "became spiritually adulterous," deserted God, and were unfaithful to him (comp. Ezekiel 23:2-21; Hosea 2:2-5).
The verse uses "went a whoring" not just to describe literal sexual impurity, but as a powerful metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness to God through idolatry and forbidden practices, highlighting how their own human-made customs deeply defiled them. This "spiritual adultery" stemmed directly from adopting the detestable "inventions" of the surrounding pagan cultures, which ultimately led to their ruin.
The psalmist is recounting Israel's history, focusing on their repeated unfaithfulness to God, even after witnessing His mighty acts. After detailing their sins in the wilderness, the psalm shifts to their transgressions upon entering the Promised Land. This verse describes how, by failing to completely drive out the Canaanite nations and instead adopting their practices, the Israelites became spiritually defiled and unfaithful to their covenant with God.
The psalmist is recounting Israel's history, focusing on their repeated unfaithfulness to God, even after witnessing His mighty acts. After detailing their sins in the wilderness, the psalm shifts to their transgressions upon entering the Promised Land. This verse describes how, by failing to completely drive out the Canaanite nations and instead adopting their practices, the Israelites became spiritually defiled and unfaithful to their covenant with God.
"Thus they became unclean by their acts, and played the whore in their deeds. Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people, and he abhorred his heritage; he gave them into the hand of the nations, so tha…" — The verse uses "went a whoring" not just to describe literal sexual impurity, but as a powerful metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness to God through idolatry and forbidden practices, highlighting how…
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Last reviewed October 2026
