Psalms 105:28

KJV

He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.

KJV (with Strong's)

He sent {H7971} darkness {H2822}, and made it dark {H2821}; and they rebelled {H4784} not against his word {H1697}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He sent darkness, and the land grew dark; they did not defy his word.

Berean Standard Bible

He sent darkness, and it became dark— yet they defied His words.

American Standard Version

He sent darkness, and made it dark; And they rebelled not against his words.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 105:28 recounts the ninth plague, where God supernaturally enveloped Egypt in profound darkness, and simultaneously underscores the unwavering obedience of His chosen servants, Moses and Aaron, who faithfully executed His commands without rebellion. This verse powerfully illustrates God's absolute sovereignty over creation and His precise execution of judgment, while also commending the steadfast faithfulness of those who served Him, even amidst intense pressure and opposition.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 105 is a historical psalm, a grand narrative hymn that meticulously recounts God's covenant faithfulness and mighty redemptive acts on behalf of Israel, from the patriarchal promises to the Exodus and the eventual settlement in Canaan. The psalm's purpose is didactic, designed to inspire worship, gratitude, and unwavering trust in God's enduring promises and providential care. Verses 27-36 specifically detail the series of ten plagues God brought upon Egypt, serving as a dramatic demonstration of His unparalleled power and His unwavering commitment to deliver His people from bondage. Psalms 105:28, focusing on the plague of darkness, is strategically placed within this sequence, highlighting a pivotal moment of divine judgment that precedes the climactic tenth plague and the subsequent liberation of Israel.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The plague of darkness, as vividly described in [Exodus 10:21-23](/exodus/10-21-23 "Exodus 10:21-23 - The Plague of Darkness"), was not merely a natural phenomenon but a direct, targeted assault on the polytheistic religious system of ancient Egypt. It specifically challenged the supremacy of Ra, the revered sun god, along with other deities associated with light and the sky, such as Horus. By plunging Egypt into three days of thick, palpable darkness while Israel enjoyed light in their dwellings, God not only asserted His absolute supremacy over all creation and all false gods but also exposed the utter impotence of the Egyptian pantheon. This plague inflicted profound psychological torment, disrupted daily life, paralyzed religious rituals, and further hardened Pharaoh's heart, setting the stage for the devastating final plague. The historical backdrop is the brutal oppression and enslavement of the Israelites, and the plagues were God's divine means of compelling Pharaoh to release His chosen people.
* **Key Themes:** This verse significantly contributes to several overarching theological and narrative themes within Psalm 105 and the broader biblical metanarrative. It powerfully illustrates God's **sovereign power** over nature, demonstrating His ability to manipulate the very fabric of creation to execute His will and judgment. This highlights that He is the one true God, infinitely superior to all human rulers and false deities. The plague also underscores the theme of **divine judgment** against injustice, idolatry, and oppression, revealing God's righteous wrath against Egypt's cruelty and their worship of false gods. Furthermore, the latter half of the verse introduces the crucial theme of the **obedience of God's servants**, contrasting the unwavering faithfulness of Moses and Aaron with Pharaoh's persistent rebellion, a theme echoed in other biblical calls to fidelity, such as [Deuteronomy 10:12-13](/deuteronomy/10-12-13 "Deuteronomy 10:12-13 - The Call to Obedience and Love").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Darkness (Hebrew, _chôshek'_):** (H2822) This noun refers to a profound, thick, and oppressive darkness. It is not merely the absence of light but a tangible, suffocating obscurity. In the context of the plague, it signifies a supernatural phenomenon, a direct act of divine judgment that challenged the Egyptian sun god Ra and disrupted the very fabric of their existence and worship. It represents God's absolute control over creation, even over the most fundamental elements, demonstrating His power to bring about misery, destruction, and a state of spiritual ignorance.
* **Made it dark (Hebrew, _châshak'_):** (H2821) This verb, derived from the same root as _chôshek_, emphasizes the active and deliberate nature of God's intervention. It means "to darken" or "to cause darkness," highlighting that God was the direct agent who brought about this profound obscurity. The use of both the noun and the verb for darkness in the same clause ("sent darkness, and made it dark") serves as an emphatic declaration of God's intentional and complete control over this specific judgment, underscoring that it was a divinely orchestrated event, not a natural occurrence.
* **Rebelled (Hebrew, _mârâh'_):** (H4784) This verb conveys the sense of being rebellious, disobedient, contentious, or bitter. When applied to Moses and Aaron, "they rebelled not" signifies their complete and unwavering submission to God's commands. Despite the immense pressure, danger, and the severity of the judgments they were tasked to announce to Pharaoh, they remained faithful and obedient to every instruction from the Lord. This demonstrates a profound trust and commitment, standing in stark contrast to Pharaoh's persistent defiance and highlighting the virtue of unwavering fidelity in God's service.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He sent darkness, and made it dark":** This opening clause emphatically attributes the plague of darkness directly to God's active will and omnipotent power. The repetition and near-synonymy ("sent darkness, and made it dark") serve as a powerful literary device to underscore the deliberate, supernatural, and overwhelming nature of the event. It emphasizes that this was not a natural occurrence but a direct, intentional act of divine intervention. This highlights God's absolute sovereignty over creation, demonstrating His capacity to command light and darkness at will, and His readiness to use such power to achieve His purposes of judgment against oppressors and deliverance for His people.
* **"and they rebelled not against his word":** This crucial second clause shifts focus from God's action to the response of His chosen instruments. While some ancient interpretations have suggested "they" refers to the darkness or the elements themselves obeying God, the most contextually fitting and widely accepted understanding is that "they" refers to Moses and Aaron, God's servants explicitly mentioned in [Psalms 105:26](/psalms/105-26 "Psalm 105:26 - Moses and Aaron, God's Servants"). This phrase commends their steadfast obedience and faithfulness. Despite the terrifying nature of the plagues, the intense opposition from Pharaoh, and the immense burden of their mission, Moses and Aaron did not waver or disobey any of God's instructions. Their non-rebellion stands in stark contrast to Pharaoh's persistent defiance and highlights the profound importance of unwavering fidelity in God's service.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 105:28 employs several significant literary devices to enhance its meaning and impact. **Parallelism** is evident in the first half, "He sent darkness, and made it dark," where the two phrases reinforce and intensify the idea of God's direct and complete control over the plague. This emphasizes the singular divine agency behind the event. The verse also utilizes **Contrast**, setting the absolute power and obedience of God's command over creation (and His servants) against the implied rebellion of Pharaoh and Egypt. The phrase "they rebelled not" serves as a powerful example of **Litotes**, a figure of speech that expresses an affirmative by negating its opposite, thereby powerfully emphasizing the complete and unwavering obedience of Moses and Aaron. Furthermore, the entire narrative of the plagues, including this verse, functions as a form of **Theophany**, a dramatic manifestation of God's power and presence in the world, revealing His character as both sovereign and just.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 105:28 profoundly illustrates God's absolute sovereignty, not only over the natural world but also in the unfolding of human history and the precise execution of His divine will. The plague of darkness serves as a potent reminder that God is the ultimate authority, capable of disrupting the most fundamental aspects of existence to achieve His redemptive and judicial purposes. This verse also highlights the critical importance of obedience for those called to serve God, showcasing Moses and Aaron as exemplars of faithfulness even in the most challenging and perilous circumstances. Their non-rebellion underscores that true faith is demonstrated through unwavering submission to God's word, regardless of the cost or perceived difficulty. This divine act of judgment also foreshadows God's ultimate victory over all forms of spiritual darkness, rebellion, and oppression, assuring His people of His final triumph.

* [Exodus 10:21-23](/exodus/10-21-23 "Exodus 10:21-23 - The Plague of Darkness")
* [John 14:15](/john/14-15 "John 14:15 - Love and Obedience")
* [Romans 9:17](/romans/9-17 "Romans 9:17 - God's Purpose in Pharaoh")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse offers profound and enduring lessons for believers today. Just as God sovereignly commanded the darkness in Egypt, He remains in absolute control over all circumstances in our lives, even when we navigate periods of spiritual, emotional, or physical "darkness." We are called to trust in His overarching sovereignty, knowing that He is meticulously working His purposes, even in what appears to be chaos, despair, or overwhelming opposition. The unwavering obedience of Moses and Aaron serves as a powerful and convicting model for us. It challenges us to deeply examine our own level of submission to God's word, particularly when His commands seem difficult, counter-intuitive, or demand significant personal sacrifice. True faithfulness is not merely intellectual assent to biblical truths but active, committed obedience, even when it means standing against prevailing cultural norms or personal desires. This verse also reminds us that God's justice is unwavering; while He is merciful and patient, He is also perfectly righteous and will ultimately bring all things into account, providing both comfort that He will right all wrongs and a call to repentance for those who persist in rebellion.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you currently experiencing a form of "darkness," and how can you actively trust in God's sovereignty over these challenging circumstances?**
* **How does the example of Moses and Aaron's "non-rebellion" challenge your own commitment to obedience, especially when God's commands are difficult or inconvenient?**
* **What "false gods" or idols in your life might God be seeking to expose and overcome, much like He did with Ra in ancient Egypt, to reveal His singular supremacy?**

### FAQ
**Who are "they" who rebelled not against God's word?**

Answer: While some ancient interpretations suggested "they" referred to the darkness or the elements themselves obeying God's command, the most widely accepted and contextually fitting interpretation is that "they" refers to God's chosen servants, Moses and Aaron. As explicitly stated in [Psalms 105:26](/psalms/105-26 "Psalm 105:26 - Moses and Aaron Sent"), they were the ones specifically sent by God to deliver His word to Pharaoh and execute the plagues. Throughout the challenging narrative of the Exodus, despite immense pressure from Pharaoh, the dangers they faced, and the sheer severity of the judgments they were tasked to announce, Moses and Aaron consistently remained faithful and obedient to every command God gave them. They did not "rebel" (Hebrew: _mârâh_, meaning to be rebellious, disobedient, or contentious) against His word, even when it meant confronting the most powerful ruler of their time and enduring the unfolding divine wrath. Their steadfastness highlights their pivotal role as faithful instruments of God's sovereign will and serves as a profound example of obedience.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 105:28, with its portrayal of God sending a profound darkness as judgment and the unwavering obedience of His human servants, finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The plague of darkness, a tangible judgment against the spiritual darkness of Egypt and its pervasive idolatry, powerfully foreshadows the far greater spiritual darkness that grips all humanity apart from God. Jesus, the true [Light of the World](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World"), came precisely to dispel this profound spiritual obscurity, as declared in [John 1:5](/john/1-5 "John 1:5 - Light Shines in Darkness"): "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." Furthermore, the perfect obedience of Moses and Aaron, who "rebelled not against his word," points forward to the flawless and ultimate obedience of Christ. Unlike any human servant, Jesus perfectly fulfilled the Father's will in every respect, even to the agonizing point of death on a cross, as beautifully articulated in [Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience unto Death"). His perfect obedience secured our deliverance, not merely from physical bondage, but from the dominion of spiritual darkness, translating us "into the kingdom of his beloved Son" ([Colossians 1:13](/colossians/1-13 "Colossians 1:13 - Delivered from Darkness")). Thus, the temporary physical darkness and the partial obedience of servants in Psalms 105:28 find their glorious and complete resolution in Christ's decisive victory over spiritual darkness and His perfect, saving obedience, which brings eternal light and freedom.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 99:7

He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance [that] he gave them.

Exodus 10:21

¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness [which] may be felt.

Exodus 10:23

They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

2 Peter 2:4

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down to hell, and delivered [them] into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

Luke 23:44

¶ And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

Luke 23:45

And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

Ezekiel 2:4

For [they are] impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.