Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse emphasizes God's active "looking" upon their distress, not just passive observation. It highlights that His intervention was directly triggered by their "cry," suggesting a responsive relationship where even in their repeated failures, their desperate pleas drew His compassionate attention.
Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is recounting Israel's history of repeated rebellion and God's consistent faithfulness, even after their repeated failures. Despite their turning away from God and suffering the consequences, the narrative emphasizes that God hears their cries and shows them compassion. The verses immediately following this passage will continue to highlight God's remembering His covenant and delivering them from their oppressors.
Ever felt like you're crying out in a void? This verse reminds us that God's gaze isn't distant, but fixed on our suffering.
The psalm describes Israel's repeated cycles of sin, punishment, and then deliverance. Even when their actions deserved severe judgment, God looked upon their affliction.
A God Who Sees
This shows a God who is intimately aware of our struggles, not detached from them. His perspective is one of compassion, ready to intervene.
What is it about a cry that moves God to act, even after His people have strayed?
The verse highlights a direct cause-and-effect: God acts when He hears their cry. This points to the profound significance of prayer and vocal dependence on Him.
More Than Just Sound
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This teaches us that no cry to God is insignificant. It is heard, acknowledged, and often becomes the catalyst for divine intervention, a testament to His enduring mercy and faithfulness.
This verse likely reflects the experience of the Israelites during the Babylonian Exile. Despite their repeated failures and God's judgment, the psalm emphasizes God's enduring faithfulness to His covenant, hearing their cries even in their deepest distress and remembering His promises.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
After centuries of oppression and slavery in Egypt, the Israelites cry out to God, who hears their pleas and leads them out of bondage through Moses.
c. 1406-1077 BC
Period of the Judges
Following their entry into the Promised Land, the Israelites repeatedly fall into cycles of sin, oppression, and deliverance as they cry out to God for help.
c. 1077-975 BC
United Monarchy and Division
Israel's continued disobedience leads to periods of divine discipline and oppression, even under their own kings, prompting cries for relief.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, scattering its people into exile due to their persistent idolatry and rebellion.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The southern kingdom of Judah falls to Babylon, its temple destroyed, and its people taken into exile, crying out to God in their distress.
c. 539 BC
Return from Exile
Following the Persian conquest of Babylon, some of the Jewish exiles are allowed to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding the Temple and city.
This passage describes God hearing the cries of the enslaved Israelites in Egypt due to their suffering, mirroring how He heard the cry of His people in distress in Psalm 106.
Judges 3:9The recurring cycle of Israel crying out to God in their oppression and God raising up a deliverer is a strong parallel to the theme of God hearing cries for help in Psalm 106.
Nehemiah 9:17This prayer acknowledges God's nature as a God of forgiveness, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, which aligns with the compassionate turning of God in Psalm 106:44 after the people's rebellion.
2 Chronicles 36:15This verse highlights God sending prophets to warn His people, but because they mocked and scorned His message, His wrath grew until there was no further remedy, illustrating the persistent rebellion that precedes God's eventual mercy shown in Psalm 106.
Isaiah 63:9The prophet remembers God's compassion for Israel in all their troubles, stating 'in all their affliction he was afflicted,' which echoes the empathetic regard God has for His people's distress as seen in Psalm 106:44.
poolePsalms 106:44: "Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:"
No text from Poole on this verse.
pulpitPsalms 106:44: "Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:"
Verse 44. - Nevertheless he regarded their affliction; or, "he saw them in their trouble," i.e. he looked on them, and had regard to them (see 2 Kings 17:13; 2 Chronicles 36:15). When he heard their cry. As God "heard the cry" of his people, when they suffered oppression in Egypt (Exodus 2:23; Exodus 3:7, 9), so also in their other oppressions (Judges 3:9, 15; Judges 4:3; Judges 6:6; Judges 10:10; 1 Samuel 12:1…
The verse emphasizes God's active "looking" upon their distress, not just passive observation. It highlights that His intervention was directly triggered by their "cry," suggesting a responsive relationship where even in their repeated failures, their desperate pleas drew His compassionate attention.
This psalm is recounting Israel's history of repeated rebellion and God's consistent faithfulness, even after their repeated failures. Despite their turning away from God and suffering the consequences, the narrative emphasizes that God hears their cries and shows them compassion. The verses immediately following this passage will continue to highlight God's remembering His covenant and delivering them from their oppressors.
This psalm is recounting Israel's history of repeated rebellion and God's consistent faithfulness, even after their repeated failures. Despite their turning away from God and suffering the consequences, the narrative emphasizes that God hears their cries and shows them compassion. The verses immediately following this passage will continue to highlight God's remembering His covenant and delivering them from their oppressors.
"Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry." — The verse emphasizes God's active "looking" upon their distress, not just passive observation. It highlights that His intervention was directly triggered by their "cry," suggesting a responsive relat…
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Last reviewed October 2026