It has actually come to pass, the first strophe tells us, that they wandered in a strange land through deserts and wastes, and seemed likely to have to succumb to death from hunger. According to Psalm 107:40 and Isaiah 43:19, it appears that Psalm 107:4 ought to be read לא־דרך (Olshausen, Baur, and Thenius); but the line is thereby lengthened inelegantly. The two words, joined by Munach, stand in the construct state, like פּרא אדם, Genesis 16:12 : a waste of a way equals ἔρημος ὁδός, Acts 8:26 (Ewald, Hitzig), which is better suited to the poetical style than that דּרך, as in משׁנה־כּסףp, and the like, should be an accusative of nearer definition (Hengstenberg). In connection with עיר מושׁב the poet, who is fond of this combination (Psalm 107:7, Psalm 107:36, cf. בּית־מושׁב, Leviticus 25:29), means any city whatever which might afford the homeless ones a habitable, hospitable reception. With the perfects, which describe what has been experienced, alternates in Psalm 107:5 the imperfect, which shifts to the way in which anything comes about: their soul in them enveloped itself (vid., Psalm 61:3), i.e., was nigh upon extinction. With the fut. consec. then follows in Psalm 107:6 the fact which gave the turn to the change in their misfortune. Their cry for help, as the imperfect יצּילם implies, was accompanied by their deliverance, the fact of which is expressed by the following fut. consec. ויּדריכם. Those who have experienced such things are to confess to the Lord, with thanksgiving, His loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men. It is not to be rendered: His wonders (supply אשׁר עשׂה) towards the children of men (Luther, Olshausen, and others). The two ל coincide: their thankful confession of the divine loving-kindness and wondrous acts is not to be addressed alone to Jahve Himself, but also to men, in order that out of what they have experienced a wholesome fruit may spring forth for the multitude. נפשׁ שׁוקקה (part. Polel, the ē of which is retained as a pre-tonic vowel in pause, cf. Psalm 68:26 and on Job 20:27, Ew. 188, b) is, as in Isaiah 29:9, the thirsting soul (from שׁוּק, Arab. sâq, to urge forward, of the impulse and drawing of the emotions, in Hebrew to desire ardently). The preterites are here an expression of that which has been experienced, and therefore of that which has become a fact of experience. In superabundant measure does God uphold the languishing soul that is in imminent danger of languishing away.

Psalm 107:12 Parallel Commentaries

he brought

Exodus 2:23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage...

Exodus 5:18,19 Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall you deliver the tale of bricks...

Judges 10:16-18 And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel...

Judges 16:21,30 But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass...

Nehemiah 9:37 And it yields much increase to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies...

Isaiah 51:19,20,23 These two things are come to you; who shall be sorry for you? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword...

Isaiah 52:5 Now therefore, what have I here, said the LORD, that my people is taken away for nothing? they that rule over them make them to howl...

Lamentations 5:5,6 Our necks are under persecution: we labor, and have no rest...

Luke 15:14-17 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want...

and there

Psalm 18:40,41 You have also given me the necks of my enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me...

Psalm 22:11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.

Psalm 142:4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

2 Kings 6:26,27,33 And as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, there cried a woman to him, saying, Help, my lord, O king...

Job 9:13 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

Isaiah 63:5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore my own arm brought salvation to me...