he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes;
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to read this as simply God humbling powerful people. But notice the phrase "wander in a wilderness, where there is no way." This isn't just about losing power; it's about losing direction and purpose, an utter disorientation that even the mightiest can experience when God withdraws His guiding hand.
he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes;
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm celebrates God's powerful intervention for His people, often in the face of seemingly insurmountable troubles that lead even the mighty to ruin. In these concluding verses, the psalm shifts from depicting God's deliverance of the afflicted to illustrating how He brings down the arrogant and powerful, causing them to lose their way and fall into disgrace. This sets the stage for the exaltation of the humble and the ultimate establishment of God's everlasting kingdom.
We often see worldly leaders seem untouchable, their power unshakeable. But this psalm reveals a divine perspective on human ambition.
The Ultimate Authority
The psalm declares that God 'pours contempt on princes.' This isn't just about political downfall; it's a statement about who truly holds ultimate authority. Even those who seem most powerful and revered in the world are subject to God's sovereign will. He can strip away their honor, their influence, and their perceived invincibility.
From Thrones to Desolation
The verse continues, 'and makes them wander in trackless wastes.' This imagery speaks of utter ruin and disorientation. Leaders who once commanded armies and dictated laws can find themselves lost, powerless, and without direction. This isn't necessarily a literal wilderness, but a state of complete helplessness and loss of purpose, orchestrated by God's judgment.
What does it truly mean for a powerful person to 'wander in a wilderness where there is no way?' It's more than just physical exile.
Spiritual and Mental Desolation
The 'trackless wastes' symbolize a profound loss of guidance and purpose. For leaders who relied on their own wisdom, schemes, or human power, God can infatuate their minds and baffle their plans. They are left 'at their wits' end,' unable to find a path forward, trapped in a maze of their own making, but divinely permitted.
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A Divine Judgment on Arrogance
This wandering isn't random misfortune; it's a consequence. When princes elevate themselves and scorn God's ways, they are ultimately set on a path of ruin. Their 'kingdoms' may vanish, their 'courts' deserted, leaving them stripped of all that once defined them. This state serves as a stark warning about the futility of human pride against the power of the Almighty.
Understand the original words
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 echoes themes found in the Book of Job, suggesting a long-held understanding of God's ultimate authority over earthly rulers. The context of the Psalms' compilation, likely after the exile, would have resonated deeply with a people who had seen their own leaders humbled and powerful empires topple.
c. 1400 BC
The Book of Job Written
The Book of Job, which contains a similar sentiment, is believed to have been written during the patriarchal period. This early work already reflects a view of God's sovereignty over even the highest rulers.
c. 700 BC
Assyrian Empire's Height
During this period, the powerful Assyrian Empire, with its formidable princes and kings, exerted immense influence. The psalmists would have been keenly aware of the rise and fall of such empires and their rulers.
605 BC - 539 BC
Babylonian Exile
Many Israelites were deported to Babylon, experiencing firsthand the powerlessness of their own leaders and the dominance of foreign princes. This era deeply shaped their understanding of God's justice and sovereignty.
c. 450 BC
Ezra and Nehemiah Return
Following the exile, attempts were made to rebuild Jerusalem and re-establish Israel's governance. This period saw both successes and challenges in restoring leadership and national identity.
c. 3rd-2nd Century BC— this verse
Compilation of Psalms
Psalms 107 likely took its final form during the post-exilic period. The psalm reflects on God's deliverance of His people from various distresses, including the downfall of powerful oppressors.
c. AD 100
Rabbinic Interpretation of Scripture
Jewish scholars continued to interpret and apply the Psalms, often relating passages about the downfall of princes to historical events and the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom.
This passage is a direct quotation, highlighting that God deliberately undermines the authority and status of powerful leaders, stripping them of their influence and leaving them in a state of confusion and powerlessness.
Daniel 4:17This verse parallels the theme of God's sovereign power over earthly rulers, demonstrating His ability to bring down the proud and elevate whomever He chooses, often through humbling experiences.
Luke 1:51-52This prophetic song echoes the sentiment of Psalm 107:40 by explicitly stating that God scatters the proud, pulls down rulers from their thrones, and exalts the humble, showcasing a consistent theme of divine justice regarding human ambition.
Revelation 18:10This passage describes the downfall of a great city that persecuted God's people, showing its king and leaders experiencing divine judgment and despair, mirroring the 'contempt' and 'trackless wastes' faced by proud princes.
pulpitPsalms 107:40: "He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way."
Verse 40. - He poureth contempt upon princes. A direct quotation from Job 12:21, but not therefore to be regarded as spurious, since the sacred writers often quote one another, and the psalmists especially are very much in the habit of citing, or referring to Job (see, in this very psalm, besides the present passage, vers. 10, 18 (bis), 20, 34, 41, and 42). And causeth them to…
gillPsalms 107:40: "He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way."
He poureth contempt upon princes,.... That is, the Lord does, who is above them; he laughs at them, and has them in derision, when they are raging against his people, cause, and interest; he sets them up and pulls them down at his pleasure; he hurls them from their seats and thrones, and makes them contemptible to their subjects; he sometimes brings them to a shameful end, as…
It's easy to read this as simply God humbling powerful people. But notice the phrase "wander in a wilderness, where there is no way." This isn't just about losing power; it's about losing direction and purpose, an utter disorientation that even the mightiest can experience when God withdraws His guiding hand.
This psalm celebrates God's powerful intervention for His people, often in the face of seemingly insurmountable troubles that lead even the mighty to ruin. In these concluding verses, the psalm shifts from depicting God's deliverance of the afflicted to illustrating how He brings down the arrogant and powerful, causing them to lose their way and fall into disgrace. This sets the stage for the exaltation of the humble and the ultimate establishment of God's everlasting kingdom.
This psalm celebrates God's powerful intervention for His people, often in the face of seemingly insurmountable troubles that lead even the mighty to ruin. In these concluding verses, the psalm shifts from depicting God's deliverance of the afflicted to illustrating how He brings down the arrogant and powerful, causing them to lose their way and fall into disgrace. This sets the stage for the exaltation of the humble and the ultimate establishment of God's everlasting kingdom.
"he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes;" — It's easy to read this as simply God humbling powerful people. But notice the phrase "wander in a wilderness, where there is no way." This isn't just about losing power; it's about losing direction a…
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Last reviewed October 2026