Many times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their purposes and were brought low through their iniquity.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easy to miss here is the subtle shift in the original language, from Israel "provoking" God to them being "rebellious in their purposes." This emphasizes that their downfall wasn't just an external reaction to God, but an internal choice to ignore His wisdom and follow their own stubborn plans. They were brought low because of their iniquity, not just by it, highlighting their active defiance.
Many times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their purposes and were brought low through their iniquity.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is recounting the history of Israel's unfaithfulness, highlighting how their repeated rebellions and sinful choices led to their downfall, even after God's consistent deliverances. The context shows a pattern: God would rescue them from their enemies, but they would then turn back to their own stubborn ways and iniquities, leading to further suffering and judgment.
Have you ever felt like you're stuck in a loop of making the same mistakes? This verse reveals that even ancient Israel struggled with this.
The psalm highlights God's incredible patience and faithfulness. It says, 'Many times he delivered them.' This wasn't a one-off rescue mission; it was a pattern. Think about the book of Judges – a repeating story of Israel falling into sin, crying out to God, and God raising up a deliverer to save them. Despite their repeated failures, God kept showing up for them, offering them chance after chance to turn back to Him. This shows God's deep desire for relationship and His unwavering commitment, even when people are consistently unfaithful.
What does it mean to be rebellious 'in your purposes'? It goes deeper than just outward actions.
The phrase 'rebellious in their purposes' points to an internal, willful defiance. It wasn't just that they did wrong things; it's that their plans, their intentions, and their deep-seated desires were set against God's ways. They weren't just making accidental mistakes; they were actively choosing paths that went against God's counsel and His will for them. This internal rebellion is what fueled their outward actions and led them down paths of destruction. It’s a stark reminder that true faithfulness starts in the heart and mind.
Sin always has a cost. This verse spells out what that cost looked like for Israel.
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The consequence for their persistent rebellion was being 'brought low through their iniquity.' This phrase suggests a state of weakness, degradation, and suffering directly resulting from their sins. It wasn't random misfortune; it was a direct result of their own choices and their persistent iniquity. Their internal rebellion manifested externally, leading to hardship, oppression, and loss of their strength and standing. This shows that while God is merciful and delivers, His justice also ensures that actions have consequences, and iniquity ultimately weakens and destroys.
Understand the original words
natsal · Hebrew Verb
To deliver or rescue someone, often used of God acting on behalf of His people to save them from physical danger, enemies, or judgment.
marah · Hebrew Adjective
A state of defiance against God’s authority; it refers to a heart that refuses to submit to His revealed will and commands.
avon · Hebrew Noun
Moral perversity or deviation from the standard of God’s law; it denotes not just the act of sinning but the twisted nature of wrongdoing and its guilt.
This verse captures the recurring pattern throughout Israel's history: God's consistent deliverance met by the people's stubborn rebellion, leading to their downfall, a cycle particularly evident during the tumultuous period of the Judges.
c. 1406 BC
Israel Enters the Promised Land
After 40 years in the wilderness, Joshua leads the Israelites into Canaan, fulfilling God's promise to their ancestors. However, they fail to completely drive out the existing inhabitants.
c. 1375 – 1077 BC
The Period of the Judges
A cycle of apostasy, oppression by foreign powers, crying out to God, and deliverance through appointed judges like Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, and Samson.
Psalm 106:43— this verse
Psalmist Reflects on Israel's Cycle
The psalmist looks back at Israel's history, noting God's repeated faithfulness in delivering them despite their persistent rebellion and self-will.
c. 975 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's reign, the united kingdom splits into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah, leading to further spiritual decline.
722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling its people and effectively ending its existence as a distinct entity.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and the Southern Kingdom
The Babylonian Empire destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the people of Judah and marking a devastating consequence of their continued iniquity.
This passage describes a recurring cycle in Israel's history where God would raise up judges to deliver them, but the people would persistently return to their sinful ways, provoking God's anger and experiencing subsequent hardship.
Nehemiah 9:16-17The people confess their ancestors' stubbornness and rebellion, recalling how God, despite repeated deliverances, found them stiff-necked and refused to hear His commands. This echoes the theme of persistent rebellion met by divine grace.
Isaiah 63:7-10This passage recounts God's steadfast love and faithfulness towards Israel, highlighting their rebellions which grieved the Holy Spirit, leading God to turn against them as an enemy, only to remember His covenant.
Jeremiah 2:5-7The prophet reminds Israel that their ancestors, far from being harmed by God, were brought into the promised land, yet they turned away from Him, following worthless idols. This emphasizes the unfaithfulness that followed God's good deeds.
Romans 11:20-22Paul uses the analogy of the olive tree to warn Gentile believers not to become arrogant because of Israel's temporary stumbling, reminding them that God's kindness and severity are demonstrated in how He cuts off the unfaithful and accepts the repentant.
clarkePsalms 106:43: "Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity."
Many times did he deliver them - See the Book of Judges; it is a history of the rebellions and deliverances of the Israelites.
bensonPsalms 106:43: "Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity."
Psalm 106:43-46 . Many times did he deliver them — This seems to refer to the times of the judges; when God, many times, raised up deliverers, and wrought deliverances for them; and yet they relapsed to idolatry. They provoked him with their counsel — By forsaking God’s counsel, and the way which he had appointed, and following after their own evil inclinations. Ne…
What's easy to miss here is the subtle shift in the original language, from Israel "provoking" God to them being "rebellious in their purposes." This emphasizes that their downfall wasn't just an external reaction to God, but an internal choice to ignore His wisdom and follow their own stubborn plans. They were brought low because of their iniquity, not just by it, highlighting their active defiance.
This psalm is recounting the history of Israel's unfaithfulness, highlighting how their repeated rebellions and sinful choices led to their downfall, even after God's consistent deliverances. The context shows a pattern: God would rescue them from their enemies, but they would then turn back to their own stubborn ways and iniquities, leading to further suffering and judgment.
This psalm is recounting the history of Israel's unfaithfulness, highlighting how their repeated rebellions and sinful choices led to their downfall, even after God's consistent deliverances. The context shows a pattern: God would rescue them from their enemies, but they would then turn back to their own stubborn ways and iniquities, leading to further suffering and judgment.
"Many times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their purposes and were brought low through their iniquity." — What's easy to miss here is the subtle shift in the original language, from Israel "provoking" God to them being "rebellious in their purposes." This emphasizes that their downfall wasn't just an ext…
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Last reviewed October 2026