Psalms 107:27

27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men, and were at their wits' end.

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 For he commanded, and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.

26 They mounted up to heaven, they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight;

27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men, and were at their wits' end.

28 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress;

29 he made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.