Psalms 107:33-34
He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground, a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse isn't just about natural disasters; it's a stark reminder that God holds the very sources of life and prosperity in His hands. He can turn a land blessed with abundant rivers and springs into a barren desert, not as a random act, but as a consequence of human wickedness.
This psalm, after recounting specific instances of God's deliverance, shifts to a broader reflection on God's power over nature and human affairs. It moves from the miraculous rescue of His people to His overarching control, illustrating how He can transform fertile lands into deserts due to human wickedness, or conversely, bring life to barren lands as an act of mercy and blessing.
How can a land that once flowed with life become completely barren overnight? It's not random chance.
This verse reveals a staggering truth: God holds the ultimate power over the very source of life and sustenance – water. He can take rivers, the lifeblood of fertile lands, and turn them into a parched, lifeless desert. The springs that bubble with refreshment can be utterly dried up, leaving the ground cracked and thirsty. This isn't just poetic imagery; it's a declaration of God's sovereignty over the natural world. He doesn't just allow these things to happen; He causes them. This power can be a display of judgment against sin, as seen in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, or a warning to His people.
When God changes a land from fruitful to barren, or vice versa, it's rarely without purpose.
The transformation described in this verse isn't arbitrary. The commentators point out that these divine actions are often linked to the wickedness of people (Psalms 107:34). When land becomes barren, it can be a consequence of sin, a judgment that impacts generations. But the power described here is two-sided. Just as God can bring desolation, He can also bring life. He can turn deserts into lush springs and fertile fields. This reversal highlights His mercy and His ability to restore what was lost. It's a powerful reminder that while judgment is real, so is God's capacity for renewal and blessing when people turn to Him.
Understand the original words
ra'ah · Hebrew Noun
The ethical state of rebellion against God, moral perversity, or wickedness that disrupts the created order and invites divine judgment.
This verse speaks to God's sovereign power over nature, often demonstrated through judgment on sin. The exile of Judah and the subsequent desolation of the land serve as a stark, historical example of God turning fertile ground into a barren wilderness due to the people's wickedness.
c. 2000 BC
Abrahamic Covenant Confirmed
God establishes a covenant with Abraham, promising land and descendants, setting the stage for Israel's future.
~1400 BC
Israel Enters the Promised Land
Following the Exodus, the Israelites conquer and settle Canaan, a land described as flowing with milk and honey.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Exile
The Northern Kingdom of Israel is conquered by the Assyrians, leading to the exile of many of its people.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Southern Kingdom of Judah falls to Babylon, its temple is destroyed, and many are exiled, leaving the land desolate.
This passage describes the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, turning a fertile plain into a salt waste, illustrating God's power to render once-watered land barren due to wickedness.
Jeremiah 50:13The prophet describes Babylon's desolation as becoming a wilderness, a commentary on how God can judge and transform once-flourishing lands into arid places.
Isaiah 35:7This verse offers a powerful contrast to Psalm 107:33, showing God's ability to turn a desert and parched land into pools of water and springs of water, highlighting His creative and restorative power.
Luke 12:48Jesus speaks of accountability and judgment, echoing the principle that those given much and failing to act wisely face severe consequences, similar to how God withdraws His blessings from the land due to inhabitants' sin.
pulpitPsalms 107:33: "He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;"
Verses 33-42. - Professor Cheyne finds in this passage - which he views as an "appendix" to the psalm - a falling off from the earlier portion of the psalm, and a set of "sentences strung together without much reflection." But to others the transition from special deliverances to God's general dealings with mankind seems an enlargement and an advance in the thought, although the language may be less grap…
clarkePsalms 107:33: "He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;"
He turneth rivers into a wilderness - After having, as above, illustrated the state of the Jews in their captivity, and the deliverance which God wrought for them, he now turns to the general conduct of God in reference to the poor and needy; and his gracious Interpositions in their behalf, the providential supply of their wants, and his opposition to their oppressors. On account of the wickedness of men…
This verse isn't just about natural disasters; it's a stark reminder that God holds the very sources of life and prosperity in His hands. He can turn a land blessed with abundant rivers and springs into a barren desert, not as a random act, but as a consequence of human wickedness.
This psalm, after recounting specific instances of God's deliverance, shifts to a broader reflection on God's power over nature and human affairs. It moves from the miraculous rescue of His people to His overarching control, illustrating how He can transform fertile lands into deserts due to human wickedness, or conversely, bring life to barren lands as an act of mercy and blessing.
This psalm, after recounting specific instances of God's deliverance, shifts to a broader reflection on God's power over nature and human affairs. It moves from the miraculous rescue of His people to His overarching control, illustrating how He can transform fertile lands into deserts due to human wickedness, or conversely, bring life to barren lands as an act of mercy and blessing.
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 107:33-34 is available in the Sola app.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands.
c. 445 BC
Nehemiah Rebuilds Jerusalem's Walls
Nehemiah leads the reconstruction of Jerusalem's walls, symbolizing the restoration of the community and its land.
"He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground, a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants." — This verse isn't just about natural disasters; it's a stark reminder that God holds the very sources of life and prosperity in His hands. He can turn a land blessed with abundant rivers and springs i…
