Psalms 107:34

34 He made fertile land salty, because the people there did evil.

Psalms 107:34 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 107:34

A fruitful land into barrenness
Or, "into saltness" ^F20; 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 ) ( Deuteronomy 29:3 ) and so the Targum,

``the land of Israel, which brought forth fruit, he hath destroyed, as Sodom was overthrown.''

For the wickedness of them that dwell therein;
this was the cause of the overthrow of Sodom, and of the destruction of that fine country, as also of Canaan afterwards; see ( Genesis 13:13 ) ( Deuteronomy 29:22 Deuteronomy 29:23 ) . The very Heathens had a notion that barrenness and unfruitfulness in countries were owing to the sins of men; hence the sterility and famine at Mycenas were attributed to the wickedness of Atreus ^F21. This may figuratively be understood of the present state and condition of the Jews; who were once a people well watered with the word and ordinances, and had the first preaching of the Gospel among them; but, rejecting and despising it, are now become like a desert, barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of divine things: and it might be illustrated by the case of several Christian churches; the seven churches of Asia, and others, once as well watered gardens, but now are no more; and the places where they stood are destitute of spiritual knowledge, and the means of it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 (hxlml) "in salsuginem", Pagninus, Montanus, Musculus, Vatablus, Piscator, Gejerus, Michaelis; so Junius & Tremellius; "in salsam", Cocceius.
F21 Hygin. Fab. 88.

Psalms 107:34 In-Context

32 Let them praise his greatness in the meeting of the people; let them praise him in the meeting of the older leaders.

33 He changed rivers into a desert and springs of water into dry ground.

34 He made fertile land salty, because the people there did evil.

35 He changed the desert into pools of water and dry ground into springs of water.

36 He had the hungry settle there so they could build a city in which to live.