Psalms 107:34-36
a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants. He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water. And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in;
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's striking here is the specific image: not just barrenness, but "saltness." This highlights that God's judgment isn't just a removal of blessing, but a transformation into something inherently sterile and unusable, recalling the fate of Sodom as a stark warning.
This verse appears within a psalm that recounts God's acts of deliverance, moving from hardship to blessing. The preceding verses describe God transforming deserts into fertile lands and those who were suffering into prosperous communities, all because of His faithfulness. This verse, however, provides the stark contrast: God can also reverse His blessings, turning even the most fruitful land into a desolate, saline waste, directly as a consequence of the wickedness of its people.
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.
ra'eb · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
A state of physical or spiritual deprivation; in a biblical sense, it often describes the condition of those who realize their need for God's provision and righteousness.
This verse powerfully links a nation's land and its condition to the moral state of its people, echoing the fate of Sodom and the consequences of the Babylonian exile, reminding us that environmental and societal well-being are deeply connected to human choices.
c. 1800 BC
Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by God due to the extreme wickedness of their inhabitants, leaving the land around the Dead Sea a salty wasteland.
c. 1400 BC
Israel enters the Promised Land
After wandering in the desert, the Israelites were promised a fertile land. The blessings and curses associated with the covenant at Sinai would later serve as a framework for understanding national prosperity or desolation.
c. 700 BC - 586 BC
Prophetic Warnings of Judgment
Prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah warned Israel and Judah about impending judgment and exile due to their persistent unfaithfulness and social injustices.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and exiled many of the inhabitants. This event dramatically illustrated God's judgment on unfaithfulness, leaving the land itself seemingly desolate.
This passage directly connects the desolation of the land with divine judgment for wickedness, mirroring the sentiment of Psalm 107:34 by referencing the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Jeremiah 17:6This verse describes a person who trusts in humans as being like a shrub in the desert, unable to flourish, which vividly illustrates the concept of a 'fruitful land into barrenness' due to a turning away from God.
Genesis 13:10This verse describes the plain of Jordan as being well-watered and fruitful before its destruction, providing a narrative example of how a desirable land can become a place of ruin due to the wickedness of its inhabitants.
Luke 13:6-9Jesus' parable of the fig tree that is given one more year to bear fruit before being cut down highlights the theme of judgment on unfruitfulness and the potential for desolation when there is persistent lack of spiritual fruit.
gillPsalms 107:34: "A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein."
A fruitful land into barrenness,.... Or, "into saltness" (t); as Sodom and the land adjacent became a salt sea; and the land of Canaan was threatened to become brimstone, salt and burning, like Sodom; in which nothing was sown, and which bore no grass; see Genesis 14:3 and so the Targum, "the land of Israel, which brought forth fruit, he hath destroyed, as Sodom was overthrown.'' For the wickedness…
wesleyPsalms 107:34: "A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein."
107:34 For - He doth not inflict these judgments without cause, but for the punishment of sin in some, and the prevention of it in others.
What's striking here is the specific image: not just barrenness, but "saltness." This highlights that God's judgment isn't just a removal of blessing, but a transformation into something inherently sterile and unusable, recalling the fate of Sodom as a stark warning.
This verse appears within a psalm that recounts God's acts of deliverance, moving from hardship to blessing. The preceding verses describe God transforming deserts into fertile lands and those who were suffering into prosperous communities, all because of His faithfulness. This verse, however, provides the stark contrast: God can also reverse His blessings, turning even the most fruitful land into a desolate, saline waste, directly as a consequence of the wickedness of its people.
This verse appears within a psalm that recounts God's acts of deliverance, moving from hardship to blessing. The preceding verses describe God transforming deserts into fertile lands and those who were suffering into prosperous communities, all because of His faithfulness. This verse, however, provides the stark contrast: God can also reverse His blessings, turning even the most fruitful land into a desolate, saline waste, directly as a consequence of the wickedness of its people.
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c. 538 BC
Return from Exile
Many Judeans were allowed to return from Babylon to their homeland. While the land could be restored, its fertility was always contingent on the people's obedience.
"a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants. He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water. And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city…" — What's striking here is the specific image: not just barrenness, but "saltness." This highlights that God's judgment isn't just a removal of blessing, but a transformation into something inherently s…
