Psalm 107:39-40
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The verse highlights that even when God delivers people, they can still fall into dire straits through "oppression, evil, and sorrow." This isn't about God's abandonment, but rather shows how external forces, or even their own actions, can lead to their downfall after a period of blessing.
When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow, he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes;
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Psalmist has just described God's power to restore desolate lands and fill the hungry, but now he shifts to a darker picture. This passage explains how the same people who were blessed and multiplied can become diminished and brought low through oppression, their enemies, or deep sorrow, even when it seems God’s hand is against them.
Have you ever noticed how quickly fortunes can change? One moment, life is abundant; the next, it feels like everything is crumbling.
This verse marks a crucial turn in Psalm 107. The preceding verses paint a picture of God's faithfulness in blessing those who were lost and found. But here, the focus shifts dramatically. It's not just about being lost; it's about being 'diminished and brought low.' This isn't a passive decline; it's an active stripping away, often as a consequence of turning away from God's provision. When people become proud or forgetful of the One who lifted them up, God can 'alter the course of his providence.' The very blessings they enjoyed can be withdrawn, leading to a sudden and humbling fall.
The verse names specific hardships: 'oppression, evil, and sorrow.' What do these represent in God's plan?
These aren't random misfortunes. They are the tools God uses to bring about discipline when His people stray. 'Oppression' can come from tyrannical rulers or even the consequences of our own bad actions towards others. 'Evil' refers to the wicked acts that bring ruin, whether inflicted by others or stemming from our own sin. 'Sorrow' is the deep grief that follows loss—the death of loved ones, the destruction of a nation, or the pain of realizing one's own folly. These are not punishments meant solely to destroy, but chastisements meant to bring about repentance and a return to God.
Understand the original words
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osheq · Hebrew Noun
The state of being crushed, restricted, or treated cruelly by others; it signifies a period of testing or judgment often used to lead God's people to repentance.
ra'ah · Hebrew Noun
Moral wrongness or suffering; it represents a wide range of harmful realities—from human wickedness to the natural consequences of sin and brokenness in the world.
yagon · Hebrew Noun
The state of deep grief or emotional pain; often used to describe the internal human response to the brokenness of the world or the consequences of sin.
buz · Hebrew Noun
The act of showing disdain or treating something/someone as insignificant; when attributed to God, it signifies His righteous judgment against those who exalt themselves above His authority.
nadib · Hebrew Noun
Individuals in positions of power or leadership; in scripture, princes are often highlighted regarding their accountability to God and the danger of pride when exercising authority.
This verse describes the devastating impact of exile and oppression, particularly the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem, which shattered national life and scattered the people, leading to immense sorrow and diminishment.
~1000 BC
United Monarchy of Israel
Following the period of Judges, the united kingdom of Israel reached its zenith under Kings David and Solomon, marked by territorial expansion and monumental construction like the First Temple.
931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
After Solomon's death, the united kingdom split into two: the northern Kingdom of Israel (ten tribes) and the southern Kingdom of Judah (two tribes), leading to a period of political instability and internal conflict.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Captivity
The northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrian Empire, leading to the deportation of its population and the loss of the ten northern tribes, a significant demographic and political blow.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Under Nebuchadnezzar II, the Babylonian Empire conquered Judah, initiating a series of deportations that removed skilled and noble individuals, including royalty and prophets like Daniel, to Babylon.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar II destroyed Jerusalem and the First Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and leading to a mass exile of the remaining population of Judah to Babylon.
539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered the Babylonian Empire, opening the way for the return of exiled peoples, including the Jews, to their homelands.
c. 516 BC
Completion of the Second Temple
Following their return from exile, the Jewish people, under leaders like Zerubbabel and Joshua the High Priest, rebuilt and rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem, a symbol of their restored community.
This passage describes God humbling the mighty and powerful, causing them to wander in desolation, which mirrors the 'oppression, evil, and sorrow' that diminishes people in Psalms 107.
Lamentations 1:1This verse vividly portrays a city once great and populous now reduced to a widow, reflecting the 'diminished and brought low' state described in Psalms 107:39 due to suffering.
Isaiah 40:7-8This passage contrasts the fleeting nature of human glory with the enduring Word of God, providing a spiritual perspective on the transience of earthly comfort that can be diminished by hardship.
Luke 1:52This verse speaks of God bringing down the mighty and lifting up the humble, a direct parallel to the cycle of exaltation and diminishment that befalls individuals and nations in Psalms 107.
pulpitPsalms 107:39: "Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow."
Verse 39. - Again. There is no "again" in the original, but merely the usual yaw conjunctive. Still, in the thought, there is no doubt an abrupt transition. The writer turns to the darker side of the picture. They are minished and brought low. God shows his providence, not merely in blessing, but also in chastising. Even the very nation which has been the most highly favored may, by misconduct,…
gillPsalms 107:39: "Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow."
Again they are minished,.... Or "lessened", in their families, cattle, and substance; either the same persons as before, or others. The Targum paraphrases it, "but when they sin, they are lessened:'' for sin is the cause of it, as follows: and brought low through oppression, affliction and sorrow; either because of their oppression of the poor, the evil they do to them, and the sorrow they brin…
The verse highlights that even when God delivers people, they can still fall into dire straits through "oppression, evil, and sorrow." This isn't about God's abandonment, but rather shows how external forces, or even their own actions, can lead to their downfall after a period of blessing.
The Psalmist has just described God's power to restore desolate lands and fill the hungry, but now he shifts to a darker picture. This passage explains how the same people who were blessed and multiplied can become diminished and brought low through oppression, their enemies, or deep sorrow, even when it seems God’s hand is against them.
The Psalmist has just described God's power to restore desolate lands and fill the hungry, but now he shifts to a darker picture. This passage explains how the same people who were blessed and multiplied can become diminished and brought low through oppression, their enemies, or deep sorrow, even when it seems God’s hand is against them.
"When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow, he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes;" — The verse highlights that even when God delivers people, they can still fall into dire straits through "oppression, evil, and sorrow." This isn't about God's abandonment, but rather shows how externa…
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Last reviewed October 2026
