Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people, and he abhorred his heritage;
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's striking here is that God's anger ("wrath") is described as "kindled," using imagery of fire. This poetic language highlights how deeply Israel's persistent sin inflamed God's righteous displeasure, leading Him to treat His chosen people, His own inheritance, as something repulsive.
Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people, and he abhorred his heritage;
English Standard Version (ESV)
After recounting Israel's repeated disobedience, particularly their failure to drive out the Canaanites and their adoption of pagan worship, this verse describes the severe consequence. God's anger flared up against his people, leading Him to reject them, not in person, but as an inheritance he had once cherished. This punishment, as the following verses suggest, involved being handed over to their enemies and scattered among the nations.
Have you ever felt a righteous anger build inside you, a response to deep injustice or betrayal? The Bible speaks of God's anger, and here it's described as a fire.
The language here, 'the anger of the LORD was kindled,' paints a vivid picture. It's not a fleeting human emotion, but a holy and just response to rebellion. Think of a fire being 'kindled' – it starts, grows, and consumes. This imagery emphasizes the intensity and the righteous nature of God's displeasure when His people, whom He has set apart, turn away from Him.
This isn't about God losing control. Rather, it's His deliberate, holy reaction to sin. The 'fire' signifies the purifying and sometimes destructive nature of His judgment when sin is not repented of. It’s a powerful reminder that our actions have consequences, and God’s perfect nature cannot overlook persistent disobedience.
God calls Israel His 'inheritance,' a precious possession. Yet, this verse says He 'abhorred' them. How can God abhor what is His own?
This is one of the hardest truths in Scripture: God, in His holiness, can 'abhor' His own people when they persist in sin. The word 'abhor' here doesn't mean God stopped loving them entirely, but that His pleasure and favor were turned away due to their sin.
Think of it like a parent who loves their child but is deeply displeased and even repulsed by their harmful actions. God's people were meant to be a reflection of His glory, His 'heritage.' When they defiled themselves with sin, they became detestable to Him, not in their being, but in their rebellion.
This abhorrence is a manifestation of His judgment, a consequence of their forsaking Him. It's a solemn warning that sin, especially by those who claim to be God's own, grieves Him deeply and can lead to His righteous displeasure and severe discipline.
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Understand the original words
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.
This psalm reflects on Israel's repeated cycles of disobedience and God's subsequent judgment, particularly in light of the Babylonian exile. The verse vividly captures the divine anger that results when God's chosen people turn away from Him, leading to His abandonment of them as His inheritance.
c. 587-586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem, destroy the Temple, and deport a significant portion of the Judean population into exile. This event marks a profound crisis in Israel's history, leading to widespread questioning of God's faithfulness.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Exile
The Assyrians conquer the northern kingdom of Israel, deporting much of its population and scattering them. This event serves as a stark warning to the southern kingdom of Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
King Sennacherib of Assyria besieges Jerusalem during the reign of Hezekiah. While the city is spared destruction, the event highlights Judah's vulnerability and the consequences of their political alliances.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and deports a group of Judeans, including members of the royal family and educated elite, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's subjugation to Babylon.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers the Babylonian Empire, ushering in a new era for the exiles. He issues a decree allowing the Jewish people to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple.
This passage speaks of God's anger being kindled and his hiding his face, directly paralleling the sentiment of God's wrath and rejection in Psalms 106:40.
Judges 2:14This verse explicitly states that the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, leading to their oppression, mirroring the cause-and-effect described in Psalms 106:40.
Psalm 78:59This verse recounts a similar historical pattern of God's anger being kindled and his abhorrence of his people due to their provocations, providing a conceptual parallel to Psalms 106:40.
Ezekiel 20:8Here, God declares his anger was kindled against Israel for their rebellion in Egypt, emphasizing God's strong reaction to his people's disobedience, which resonates with the message in Psalms 106:40.
Jeremiah 12:7This passage uses the strong language of God abhorring his heritage and giving them up to their enemies, directly reflecting the sentiment and imagery found in Psalms 106:40.
clarkePsalms 106:40: "Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance."
Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled - God kindled a fire in his judgments for those who by their flagitious conduct had inflamed themselves with their idols, and the impure rites with which they were worshipped.
pulpitPsalms 106:40: "Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance."
Verse 40. - Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people (comp. Psalm 78:58, 59). Insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance (see Psalm 78:62). It justly increased God's anger that the sinners were his own people, his own inheritance.
What's striking here is that God's anger ("wrath") is described as "kindled," using imagery of fire. This poetic language highlights how deeply Israel's persistent sin inflamed God's righteous displeasure, leading Him to treat His chosen people, His own inheritance, as something repulsive.
After recounting Israel's repeated disobedience, particularly their failure to drive out the Canaanites and their adoption of pagan worship, this verse describes the severe consequence. God's anger flared up against his people, leading Him to reject them, not in person, but as an inheritance he had once cherished. This punishment, as the following verses suggest, involved being handed over to their enemies and scattered among the nations.
After recounting Israel's repeated disobedience, particularly their failure to drive out the Canaanites and their adoption of pagan worship, this verse describes the severe consequence. God's anger flared up against his people, leading Him to reject them, not in person, but as an inheritance he had once cherished. This punishment, as the following verses suggest, involved being handed over to their enemies and scattered among the nations.
"Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people, and he abhorred his heritage;" — What's striking here is that God's anger ("wrath") is described as "kindled," using imagery of fire. This poetic language highlights how deeply Israel's persistent sin inflamed God's righteous disple…
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Last reviewed October 2026