Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse isn't just saying sinners get sick; it highlights that their "follies" are actually a "way" or a course of sinning. This isn't about an occasional mistake, but a settled habit that brings on their suffering, essentially a self-inflicted affliction.
Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
English Standard Version (ESV)
This section of Psalm 107 describes those brought low by their own foolish and sinful choices, specifically highlighting people afflicted with sickness. The verses before this have praised God's deliverance for wanderers and prisoners, and this next stanza continues to show God's grace extended to those who are suffering, even when their suffering stems directly from a "way of transgression" and deep-seated iniquity.
Have you ever felt like you've walked right into trouble, even when you could see it coming? This verse calls some people 'fools' not because they lack sense, but because of the path they chose.
The 'Way' of Transgression
The verse uses the phrase 'because of their transgression' and 'because of their iniquities.' Notice the subtle shift and the emphasis on the way of sin.
Sickness and suffering can feel random, but this Psalm suggests a direct link between our choices and our pain. What does this tell us about God's justice and mercy?
Sin's Natural Outcome
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The verse states that fools 'because of their iniquities suffered affliction.' This isn't a picture of God arbitrarily punishing, but of sin carrying its own built-in consequences.
Understand the original words
eviyl · Hebrew Noun
A moral and intellectual deficiency; in a biblical context, it refers not to a lack of IQ but to one who persistently rejects God’s authority and wisdom, choosing a path of rebellion.
avon · Hebrew Noun
Refers to moral perversity, wrongdoing, or rebellion against God’s standard of righteousness. It carries the sense of twisting or distorting what is right and incurring guilt before God.
oni · Hebrew Noun
A state of distress, hardship, or severe trial. In the Psalms, it often results from divine discipline due to sin or general earthly frailty, serving as a catalyst to turn the sufferer back to God.
This passage echoes the sentiment of Psalm 107:17 by stating that the 'simple' (often translated as fools) will be killed by their complacency and ease, directly linking a lack of wisdom and a life of sin to destruction.
Jeremiah 8:9Here, the prophet laments that the people's rejection of God's word has made them foolish, leading to their downfall. This highlights the theme that ignoring divine wisdom, much like the 'way of transgression,' brings ruin.
Romans 1:28Paul describes how those who reject God are given over to a 'debased mind,' leading them to practice shameful things. This connects the concept of foolishness in Scripture to a deliberate turning away from God, which often results in suffering.
Galatians 6:7-8This passage clearly states the principle of reaping what you sow. It powerfully illustrates how a life lived in the 'way of transgression' (sin) will inevitably lead to reaping corruption and destruction, aligning with the affliction described in Psalms 107:17.
bensonPsalms 107:17: "Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted."
Psalm 107:17-22 . Fools — That is, wicked men whom he calls fools, because through their own sin and folly they wrong themselves, and act against their own interest; not only their spiritual, but their secular interest; they often even prejudice their bodily health by their intemperance, and endanger their lives by indulging their appetites and fleshly lusts, as well as bring upon themselves m…
wesleyPsalms 107:17: "Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted."
107:17 Afflicted - With sickness.
The verse isn't just saying sinners get sick; it highlights that their "follies" are actually a "way" or a course of sinning. This isn't about an occasional mistake, but a settled habit that brings on their suffering, essentially a self-inflicted affliction.
This section of Psalm 107 describes those brought low by their own foolish and sinful choices, specifically highlighting people afflicted with sickness. The verses before this have praised God's deliverance for wanderers and prisoners, and this next stanza continues to show God's grace extended to those who are suffering, even when their suffering stems directly from a "way of transgression" and deep-seated iniquity.
This section of Psalm 107 describes those brought low by their own foolish and sinful choices, specifically highlighting people afflicted with sickness. The verses before this have praised God's deliverance for wanderers and prisoners, and this next stanza continues to show God's grace extended to those who are suffering, even when their suffering stems directly from a "way of transgression" and deep-seated iniquity.
"Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;" — The verse isn't just saying sinners get sick; it highlights that their "follies" are actually a "way" or a course of sinning. This isn't about an occasional mistake, but a settled habit that *bring…
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Last reviewed October 2026