Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 107:34

A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

34. barrenness ] A salt desert (Jer 17:6) like Sodom and Gomorrha, Deu 29:23.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

A fruitful land – Hebrew, A land of fruit. That is, a land that would produce abundance. The word fruit here is not used in the limited sense in which we now employ it, but means any productions of the earth.

Into barrenness – Margin, as in Hebrew, saltness. The word is used to denote a barren soil, because where salt abounds the soil is barren. Thus it is around the Dead Sea. Compare Job 39:6; Jer 17:6. See also Virg. Geor. II. 238, Salsa … tellus – frugibus infelix; Pliny, Hist. Nat. 31. 7; Bochart, Hieroz. t. i., p. 872.

For the wickedness of them that dwell therein – As he overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah; probably alluding to that.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Into barrenness, Heb. into saltness, which procures barrenness. See Deu 29:23; Jdg 9:45.

For the wickedness of them that dwell therein; he doth not inflict these judgments by choice, or without cause, but for the punishment of sin in some, and the prevention of it in others.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

A fruitful land into barrenness,…. Or, “into saltness” t; 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

Ge 14:3 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 Ge 13:13. 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 u. 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.

t “in salsuginem”, Pagninus, Montanus, Musculus, Vatablus, Piscator, Gejerus, Michaelis; so Junius Tremellius “in salsam”, Cocceius. u Hygin. Fab. 88.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(34) Barrenness.Better, a salt marsh, as in LXX. and Vulg. (See Job. 39:6.)

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

Psa 107:34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

Ver. 34. A fruitful land into barrenness ] Heb. saltness. See Luk 14:34-35 Deu 29:23 Jdg 9:45 . Salt breedeth barrenness, by eating up the fat and moisture of the earth. Some think the psalmist here alludeth to Sodom and her sisters turned into the Red Sea.

For the wickedness of them that dwell therein ] Hereof Judea is at this day a noble instance (besides many parts of Asia and Africa, once very fruitful, now, since they became Mahometan, dry and desert). Judea, saith one, hath now only some few parcels of rich ground found in it; that men may guess the goodness of the cloth by the fineness of the shreds. Greece, which was once Sol et sal gentium, saith another, terrarum flos, fens literarum, nunc vel Priamo miseranda manus; – nunc in Graecia desideramus Graeciam; it is nothing like the place it was once.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

wickedness. Hebrew. ra’a’. App-44.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

a fruitful: Gen 13:10, Gen 13:13, Gen 19:25, Deu 29:23-28, Isa 32:13-15

barrenness: Heb. saltness, Gen 14:3, Eze 47:11

Reciprocal: Gen 6:17 – bring Gen 12:10 – was a Gen 19:28 – General Exo 10:7 – that Egypt Lev 26:20 – for your land Jdg 9:45 – beat Rth 1:1 – a famine 2Ki 8:1 – the Lord 2Ch 7:13 – If I shut up heaven Job 39:6 – barren land Psa 68:6 – the rebellious Pro 14:34 – but Isa 1:7 – country Isa 42:15 – General Jer 4:26 – the fruitful Jer 5:25 – General Jer 9:12 – for Jer 12:4 – the herbs Jer 22:6 – surely Jer 23:10 – the pleasant Eze 12:19 – because Eze 32:15 – destitute of that whereof Hos 9:6 – nettles Joe 1:6 – my Mic 3:12 – Zion Hag 1:6 – have Heb 6:8 – beareth

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge