Psalms 107:27

27 They reeled and staggered like drunks, and all their skills as sailors became useless.

Psalms 107:27 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 107:27

They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man
Through the agitation of the water, and motion of the ship, not being able to stand upon deck.

And are at their wit's end;
or, "all their wisdom is swallowed up" ^F14; their wisdom in naval affairs, their art of navigation, their skill in managing ships, all nonplussed and baffled; they know not what method to take to save the vessel and themselves; their knowledge fails them, they are quite confounded and almost distracted. So Apollinarius paraphrases it,

``they forget navigation, and their wise art does not appear;''

so Ovid, describing a storm, uses the same phrase, "deficit ars",

``art fails.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 (elbtt Mtmkx lk) "omnis sapientia eorum absorpta est", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus; so Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Psalms 107:27 In-Context

25 He spoke, and a storm began to blow, and it made the waves rise high.

26 The sailors aboard ship rose toward the sky. They plunged into the depths. Their courage melted in [the face of] disaster.

27 They reeled and staggered like drunks, and all their skills as sailors became useless.

28 In their distress they cried out to the LORD. He led them from their troubles.

29 He made the storm calm down, and the waves became still.