Psalms 106:14

KJV

But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.

KJV (with Strong's)

But lusted {H183} exceedingly {H8378} in the wilderness {H4057}, and tempted {H5254} God {H410} in the desert {H3452}.

Complete Jewish Bible

In the desert they gave way to insatiable greed; in the wastelands they put God to the test.

Berean Standard Bible

They craved intensely in the wilderness and tested God in the desert.

American Standard Version

But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tempted God in the desert.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 106:14 vividly portrays a critical moment of Israel's profound spiritual failure during their wilderness journey, highlighting their deep-seated discontentment with God's divine provision and their audacious challenge to His sovereign authority. Despite having witnessed miraculous deliverance and faithful sustenance, the Israelites succumbed to intense, sinful cravings, demonstrating a pervasive lack of trust that directly provoked the Lord. This verse serves as a concise yet powerful indictment of their recurring pattern of unbelief and ingratitude, which characterized much of their forty-year sojourn from Egypt to the threshold of the Promised Land.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 106 functions as a confessional and historical psalm, providing a stark and sobering counterpoint to the celebratory Psalm 105. While Psalm 105 extols God's steadfast covenant faithfulness and His mighty acts on behalf of Israel, Psalm 106 offers an unflinching examination of Israel's persistent apostasy, rebellion, and ingratitude throughout their history. The psalm systematically recounts their failures from the Red Sea deliverance, through the wilderness wanderings, the conquest of Canaan, and into the period of the judges, culminating in their exile. Verse 14 is strategically placed within the section detailing the wilderness generation's immediate failures following their miraculous Exodus and the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, setting the stage for a litany of their subsequent acts of disobedience and lack of faith. It serves as a pivotal moment, illustrating the swift descent from divine deliverance to human rebellion.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical setting for Psalms 106:14 is the Israelites' forty-year sojourn in the wilderness after their liberation from Egyptian bondage. This period was divinely ordained as a crucible for the nascent nation, designed to purify them, instruct them in God's ways, and forge them into a holy people utterly dependent on His supernatural provision. Having endured centuries of slavery, the Israelites often exhibited a "slave mentality," yearning for the perceived comforts of their past, even if it meant a return to oppression. The harsh, desolate desert environment was intended to test their faith and teach them absolute reliance on God for sustenance, as evidenced by the daily provision of manna and water from the rock. Their "lusting exceedingly" and "tempting God" directly reference specific incidents, most notably the craving for meat at Kibroth-hattaavah, described in [Numbers 11](/numbers/11 "Numbers 11 - The Quail and the Plague"), where their desires transcended legitimate hunger, becoming a rebellious rejection of God's sufficiency and a direct challenge to His power in a place where their very survival depended solely on Him.
* **Key Themes:** Psalms 106:14 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the psalm and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost among these is the theme of **human sinfulness and rebellion**, powerfully demonstrating Israel's chronic inability to maintain covenant faithfulness despite overwhelming evidence of God's power, grace, and miraculous provision. Their "lusting exceedingly" underscores their profound **discontentment and ingratitude**, revealing a refusal to be satisfied with God's perfect and daily provision, leading them to crave what was forbidden or unnecessary. Secondly, the phrase "tempted God" introduces the critical theme of **testing God's patience and power**, an audacious act of unbelief that directly challenges His sovereignty, goodness, and faithfulness. This act of "tempting God" is a recurring motif throughout the wilderness narrative, notably at [Massah and Meribah](/exodus/17-7 "Exodus 17:7 - Water from the Rock at Rephidim"), where they questioned God's very presence among them. Finally, the verse speaks to the theme of **divine judgment and consequences**, as these acts of rebellion invariably led to God's disciplinary actions, even as His steadfast love ultimately prevailed. The wilderness experience, as exemplified in this verse, serves as a perpetual warning against **unbelief and hardened hearts**, a lesson powerfully reiterated in the New Testament concerning the dangers of falling short of God's promised rest, as warned in [Hebrews 3](/hebrews/3 "Hebrews 3 - Warning Against Unbelief") and [Hebrews 4](/hebrews/4 "Hebrews 4 - The Promise of Rest").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Lusted exceedingly (Hebrew, _ʼâvâh_ H183 and _taʼăvâh_ H8378):** The Hebrew verb `ʼâvâh` (H183) means "to wish for," "to desire," or "to covet," often carrying a negative connotation of an illicit or excessive longing. The accompanying noun `taʼăvâh` (H8378), from the same root, denotes "a longing" or "a delight," but in this context, it functions as an intensifier, signifying an "exceeding" or "greedy" lust. Together, "lusted exceedingly" describes an intense, insatiable craving that transcends legitimate need, becoming a sinful desire. This refers to the Israelites' demand for meat in the wilderness, as detailed in [Numbers 11:4](/numbers/11-4 "Numbers 11:4 - The Craving of the Rabble"), which was not born of simple hunger but a deep dissatisfaction with God's daily provision of manna, revealing a covetous and ungrateful heart.
* **Tempted (Hebrew, _nâçâh_ H5254):** The Hebrew verb `nâçâh` (H5254) means "to test," "to try," or "to prove." While God may test humanity to refine their faith (e.g., [Genesis 22:1](/genesis/22-1 "Genesis 22:1 - God Tests Abraham")), when humans "tempt" God, it carries a profoundly negative connotation. It implies challenging God's power, questioning His presence, doubting His faithfulness, or presuming upon His grace and limits. In the wilderness, Israel repeatedly "tempted" God by complaining, demanding, and doubting His ability to provide, thereby putting Him to the test in a rebellious and faithless manner, as seen in [Exodus 17:2](/exodus/17-2 "Exodus 17:2 - Israel Quarrels at Rephidim").
* **God (Hebrew, _ʼêl_ H410):** The Hebrew noun `ʼêl` (H410) is a generic term for "God" or "deity," but in this context, it refers specifically to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, often emphasizing His strength and might. The fact that the Israelites "tempted God" underscores the audacity and gravity of their sin. They were not merely complaining to Moses or to each other; they were directly challenging the Almighty One who had just delivered them with a mighty hand, demonstrating a profound lack of reverence and trust in His power and goodness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness,"**: This clause immediately introduces a sharp contrast ("But") to the preceding verses which often recount God's mighty works. It highlights the internal spiritual state of the Israelites: an intense, sinful longing for something beyond what God had graciously and miraculously provided (manna). This "lusting" was not a simple desire but an excessive, uncontrolled craving that exposed a deep dissatisfaction with God's wisdom and provision. The phrase "in the wilderness" emphasizes the setting of their rebellion—a place meant for absolute dependence and trust in God alone.
* **"and tempted God in the desert."**: This second clause runs parallel to the first, reinforcing the geographical context ("in the desert" being synonymous with "in the wilderness") and revealing the outward manifestation of their internal lust. Their intense craving directly led them to challenge God, to put Him to the test. This "tempting" was an act of profound unbelief, questioning God's power, goodness, or willingness to care for them. It was a provocative act, born out of impatience and a lack of faith, daring God to prove Himself on their terms rather than humbly trusting in His sovereign plan.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 106:14 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message of Israel's rebellion. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically **Synonymous Parallelism**, where the second half of the verse ("and tempted God in the desert") echoes and intensifies the meaning of the first half ("But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness"). The phrases "in the wilderness" and "in the desert" are synonymous, reinforcing the desolate setting of their disobedience. The "lusting exceedingly" is intrinsically linked to "tempting God," as their intense, covetous craving directly led to their challenging of divine authority and patience. This parallelism effectively emphasizes the dual nature of their sin: an internal, illicit desire manifesting in an external, rebellious action. The verse also exhibits remarkable **Conciseness**, packing a significant historical and theological indictment into a single, compact statement. Furthermore, there is an implied **Anthropomorphism** in the phrase "tempted God," as it attributes to God the human characteristic of being subject to temptation or provocation, though it is understood metaphorically to describe the human act of challenging divine patience and power through faithless demands.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 106:14 serves as a profound theological statement on the dangers of discontentment and the severe spiritual consequences of failing to trust God's provision. The Israelites' "lusting exceedingly" was not merely a physical craving but a deep spiritual rebellion, a rejection of God's wisdom and goodness in providing manna, and an unholy desire for something they believed was better, or to which they felt entitled. This act of "tempting God" was a direct challenge to His sovereignty and a clear manifestation of their unbelief, demonstrating a hardened heart despite witnessing numerous and undeniable miracles. The psalm consistently highlights God's enduring steadfast love and patience in the face of such persistent rebellion, yet it also underscores the immutable truth that sin has consequences, even if ultimate judgment is deferred by grace and covenant faithfulness. This historical account serves as a timeless warning against the human tendency to doubt God, to crave what is outside His perfect will, and to provoke Him through our disobedience and lack of faith.

* [Numbers 11:4-6](/numbers/11-4 "Numbers 11:4-6 - The Mixed Multitude's Craving for Meat")
* [Exodus 17:1-7](/exodus/17-1-7 "Exodus 17:1-7 - Water from the Rock at Massah and Meribah")
* [1 Corinthians 10:6-10](/1_corinthians/10-6-10 "1 Corinthians 10:6-10 - Warnings from Israel's Wilderness Experience")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 106:14 holds up a poignant mirror for our own hearts, challenging us to critically examine our desires and our level of contentment with God's provision in our lives. Do we, like the Israelites, find ourselves "lusting exceedingly" for things that God has not provided, or for more than He has given, thereby questioning His goodness or sufficiency? This can manifest in myriad forms: an insatiable craving for more material possessions, a relentless pursuit of status or worldly recognition, an unhealthy hunger for approval from others, or a deep dissatisfaction with our current circumstances. When we allow such desires to consume us, we risk "tempting God"—not in the sense of causing Him to sin, but by presuming upon His grace, challenging His wisdom, or doubting His faithfulness to care for us. The wilderness generation's tragic failure reminds us that true faith involves trusting God even when His provision seems meager, His timing delayed, or His path difficult. It calls us to cultivate profound gratitude for what we have, to find our ultimate contentment in Christ alone, and to steadfastly resist the urge to test God through our impatience, covetousness, or unbelief. Our spiritual journey, much like Israel's, is a wilderness where God seeks to teach us absolute dependence; may we learn to trust and obey rather than to lust and tempt.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "wilderness" are you currently navigating in your life, and how are you responding to God's provision and guidance within it?**
* **In what specific areas of your life might you be "lusting exceedingly," desiring something God has not given or is withholding for your ultimate good?**
* **How might your discontentment or unchecked desires be subtly leading you to "tempt God" by doubting His character, questioning His wisdom, or challenging His sovereign will?**
* **What practical steps can you take this week to cultivate greater contentment, deeper trust in God's daily provision, and a more grateful heart?**

### FAQ
**What does "lusted exceedingly" mean in the context of Psalms 106:14?**

Answer: "Lusted exceedingly" refers to an intense, sinful craving or desire that went far beyond legitimate hunger or need. In the historical account this verse references ([Numbers 11:4-6](/numbers/11-4-6 "Numbers 11:4-6 - The Mixed Multitude's Craving for Meat")), the Israelites, tired of the daily manna, demanded meat with such vehemence and impatience that it became an act of rebellion against God. It was not merely a physical desire for food but a deep-seated spiritual dissatisfaction with God's perfect provision, indicating a profound lack of faith and an ungrateful heart that coveted what God had not given or had intentionally withheld for their spiritual formation. This excessive desire essentially became a form of idolatry, prioritizing their own immediate cravings over God's wisdom and loving care.

**How did Israel "tempt God" in the desert?**

Answer: Israel "tempted God" by challenging His authority, doubting His presence, and questioning His ability or willingness to provide for them. This was not a humble seeking of understanding but a provocative, faithless act. For example, when they complained bitterly about the lack of water at [Massah and Meribah](/exodus/17-7 "Exodus 17:7 - Israel Quarrels and Tests the Lord"), they were essentially putting God to the test, demanding that He prove Himself on their terms rather than trusting in His covenant promises. In the context of Psalms 106:14, their "lusting exceedingly" for meat led them to murmur against God and Moses, effectively challenging God's provision, leadership, and very presence in the wilderness. This act of "tempting" was born out of impatience, unbelief, and a presumptuous expectation that God must cater to their every desire rather than them trusting in His sovereign and good plan.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 106:14, with its stark portrayal of Israel's wilderness rebellion, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and perfect work of Jesus Christ. Where ancient Israel "lusted exceedingly" and "tempted God" in the desert, Jesus, the true Israel and the faithful Son, perfectly resisted temptation in His own wilderness experience. When tempted by the devil to turn stones into bread to satisfy His hunger, Jesus famously declared, "[Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God](/matthew/4-4 "Matthew 4:4 - Jesus Resists Temptation")." He did not lust for physical provision outside of God's will but submitted fully to the Father's word and timing. Furthermore, where Israel repeatedly "tempted God" by questioning His power and presence, Jesus never tempted God. He perfectly trusted His Father, even unto death on the cross, demonstrating complete obedience and unwavering reliance. Jesus is the ultimate provision, the "[Bread of Life](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")" who fully satisfies all spiritual hunger, so that those who come to Him "shall never hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." Through His perfect life of obedience, His atoning death on the cross, and His glorious resurrection, Christ has decisively dealt with the root of our own "lusting exceedingly" and "tempting God"—our sinful nature and pervasive unbelief. In Him, believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to overcome covetous desires and to live lives of profound contentment and steadfast trust, reflecting the faithfulness that Israel so tragically lacked.

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

1 Corinthians 10:9

Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

1 Corinthians 10:6

¶ Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

Numbers 11:4

¶ And the mixt multitude that [was] among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?

Exodus 17:2

Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?

Hebrews 3:8

Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

Hebrews 3:10

Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in [their] heart; and they have not known my ways.

Deuteronomy 9:22

And at Taberah, and at Massah, and at Kibrothhattaavah, ye provoked the LORD to wrath.