Psalms 106:40-41
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
What's striking here is the intense connection between "people" and "inheritance." God's anger isn't just against generic wrongdoers, but against His own chosen people, the very ones He called His inheritance. This means their sin wasn't just a personal failing, but a deep offense against the relationship He had so carefully established with them.
The psalmist has been recounting Israel's long history of unfaithfulness and rebellion against God, detailing their sins from the wilderness wanderings to their settlement in the Promised Land. This verse describes the direct consequence of that persistent disobedience: God's anger was ignited, leading Him to turn away from His own people as if they were detestable, marking a profound consequence of their repeated betrayal of His covenant.
Have you ever felt a slow burn of anger build inside you? God's anger is described similarly, but with profound implications.
The phrase "the anger of the LORD was kindled" uses imagery of fire to describe God's intense displeasure. This isn't a fleeting emotion like human anger, but a righteous response to sin. Think of it like a controlled fire, intensely hot and destructive, that God unleashes against rebellion and disobedience. It’s a divine reaction that stems from His perfect nature and His covenant commitment. When His people turn away, this "kindled" anger signifies a serious consequence of their actions, leading to judgment.
It sounds jarring: God 'abhorring' His own people, whom He calls His 'inheritance.' What does this shocking statement truly mean?
When God "abhors His heritage," it’s a powerful, disturbing declaration. The word 'abhor' implies deep disgust and rejection. This isn't because God's nature has changed – He remains constant. Instead, it signifies the extreme offense caused by His chosen people's sin. They were His special possession, His inheritance, yet their rebellion made them appear detestable in His sight, leading Him to treat them as such through judgment. This reflects the deep wound sin inflicts on the relationship God desires with His people.
The psalm recounts Israel's failures. This verse isn't just a description of God's feelings; it's about the serious consequences of sin.
This verse, situated within a broader historical review, highlights the pattern of God’s dealing with His people. Their persistent sin, their turning away from Him despite His covenant love, inevitably brought about His righteous anger and judgment. The 'abhorrence' mentioned is not a permanent abandonment of His people but a description of the severe disciplinary action He took. It underscores that sin has real, tangible consequences, and that God, in His faithfulness, will discipline His heritage when they stray, all for the ultimate purpose of bringing them back to Himself.
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 verse reflects God's severe judgment upon His people for their persistent unfaithfulness, a judgment that culminated in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile, which is the primary historical context for this psalm.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God powerfully delivers the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, demonstrating His might and faithfulness to His covenant promises.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan
After forty years in the wilderness, the Israelites enter and begin to conquer the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey.
c. 1000 BC
United Monarchy (Saul, David, Solomon)
The establishment of the united kingdom, with Jerusalem as its capital, marks a period of relative peace and expansion, yet seeds of future division are sown.
931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's death, the united kingdom splits into two: the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, leading to increased political instability and spiritual decline.
This passage directly speaks to God's anger being kindled and His 'hiding His face' due to the people's wickedness, paralleling the sentiment of abandonment in Psalm 106:40.
Jeremiah 32:29This verse describes God's anger and judgment, comparing it to 'fire being kindled' against Jerusalem for its wickedness, mirroring the intense wrath mentioned in Psalm 106:40.
Psalm 78:59This verse is a direct parallel, stating that God 'heard this and disdained them,' showing His displeasure and anger when His people acted contrary to His will, much like the situation in Psalm 106:40.
Ezekiel 20:8This verse recounts God's anger being kindled against Israel for their rebellion in Egypt, leading Him to pour out His indignation, which strongly resonates with the judgment described in Psalm 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 the intense connection between "people" and "inheritance." God's anger isn't just against generic wrongdoers, but against His own chosen people, the very ones He called His inheritance. This means their sin wasn't just a personal failing, but a deep offense against the relationship He had so carefully established with them.
The psalmist has been recounting Israel's long history of unfaithfulness and rebellion against God, detailing their sins from the wilderness wanderings to their settlement in the Promised Land. This verse describes the direct consequence of that persistent disobedience: God's anger was ignited, leading Him to turn away from His own people as if they were detestable, marking a profound consequence of their repeated betrayal of His covenant.
The psalmist has been recounting Israel's long history of unfaithfulness and rebellion against God, detailing their sins from the wilderness wanderings to their settlement in the Promised Land. This verse describes the direct consequence of that persistent disobedience: God's anger was ignited, leading Him to turn away from His own people as if they were detestable, marking a profound consequence of their repeated betrayal of His covenant.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Psalms 106:40-41 is available in the Sola app.
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.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The powerful Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, deporting its people and scattering them throughout their empire, a stark warning to Judah.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians conquer the southern kingdom of Judah, destroy Jerusalem and the Temple, and exile much of the population, fulfilling repeated warnings of judgment.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus Cylinder issued
Cyrus the Great of Persia issues a decree allowing exiled peoples to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples, paving the way for the return of the Judean exiles.
"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." — What's striking here is the intense connection between "people" and "inheritance." God's anger isn't just against generic wrongdoers, but against His own chosen people, the very ones He called *His…
