Psalm 107:17-20
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The verse highlights that these "fools" aren't just making occasional mistakes; their affliction stems from the way of their transgressions and their courses of iniquity, pointing to a settled habit of sin. This implies their suffering isn't random bad luck, but a direct consequence of a persistent lifestyle of rebellion against God.
Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm describes different groups of people who find themselves in desperate situations and then cry out to God for deliverance. Following the descriptions of sailors and travelers, this section focuses on those who are sick, calling them "fools" because their suffering is a direct consequence of their persistent sin and rebellion against God. The verse sets the stage for God's merciful intervention and the subsequent expression of gratitude from those who are healed.
Why does the Bible call sinners 'fools'? It's not about IQ, but a deeper spiritual ailment.
Psalm 107:17 calls those who suffer affliction 'fools' because of their sin. This isn't just a lack of intelligence, but a profound moral and spiritual perversity.
What 'Folly' Means Here:
Does God punish all suffering with sickness? This verse offers a crucial perspective on affliction.
The psalm presents a clear cause-and-effect: 'because of their iniquities, are afflicted.' This doesn't mean all suffering is direct punishment for sin, but it highlights that sin opens the door to affliction, and sometimes affliction the direct consequence.
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Understanding the Connection:
Even in the depths of sin-induced suffering, there is hope for healing and praise.
While Psalm 107:17 starkly depicts the consequences of sin, the surrounding verses (especially 18-22) reveal the glorious truth of God's intervention and restoration.
The Path of Rescue:
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The supreme deity of Israel, the covenant-keeping God who reveals His holiness and mercy to His people. It is the personal name for God (YHWH) and signifies His eternal existence and faithfulness to His covenant promises.
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.
dabar · Hebrew Noun
The power of God's revelation, decree, or promise. It is the active agency of God by which He creates, sustains, judges, and redeems, possessing inherent power to accomplish His purpose.
yasha · Hebrew Verb
To save, rescue, or liberate from danger, bondage, or death. It implies divine intervention to pull someone out of a life-threatening or hopeless situation.
shachath · Hebrew Noun
A term describing the pit, the grave, or the realm of the dead (Sheol). It represents total destruction or the final cessation of earthly life, often used poetically to describe the brink of death.
This passage echoes Psalm 107:17 by stating that the 'simple will kill themselves,' and the 'complacency of fools will destroy them,' directly linking foolishness and self-destruction through their choices.
Jeremiah 5:3This verse describes the people of Judah as fools who have not learned, linking their persistent sin ('transgression') with a hardened heart, mirroring the Psalmist's observation of affliction stemming from a way of transgression.
Romans 6:23The New Testament confirms the principle that 'the wages of sin is death,' which aligns with the Old Testament understanding that iniquity naturally leads to affliction and ruin, as seen in Psalm 107:17.
Luke 15:17The parable of the prodigal son illustrates the 'foolish' path of sin, where the son comes to his senses only when afflicted and destitute, directly experiencing the consequence of his iniquities.
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 highlights that these "fools" aren't just making occasional mistakes; their affliction stems from the way of their transgressions and their courses of iniquity, pointing to a settled habit of sin. This implies their suffering isn't random bad luck, but a direct consequence of a persistent lifestyle of rebellion against God.
This psalm describes different groups of people who find themselves in desperate situations and then cry out to God for deliverance. Following the descriptions of sailors and travelers, this section focuses on those who are sick, calling them "fools" because their suffering is a direct consequence of their persistent sin and rebellion against God. The verse sets the stage for God's merciful intervention and the subsequent expression of gratitude from those who are healed.
This psalm describes different groups of people who find themselves in desperate situations and then cry out to God for deliverance. Following the descriptions of sailors and travelers, this section focuses on those who are sick, calling them "fools" because their suffering is a direct consequence of their persistent sin and rebellion against God. The verse sets the stage for God's merciful intervention and the subsequent expression of gratitude from those who are healed.
"Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,…" — The verse highlights that these "fools" aren't just making occasional mistakes; their affliction stems from the way of their transgressions and their courses of iniquity, pointing to a settled ha…
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Last reviewed October 2026
