Psalms 106:24

Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:

Yea, they despised {H3988} the pleasant {H2532} land {H776}, they believed {H539} not his word {H1697}:

Next, they rejected the beautiful land, they didn't trust his promise;

They despised the pleasant land; they did not believe His promise.

Yea, they despised the pleasant land, They believed not his word,

Commentary

Context

Psalm 106 is a historical psalm, recounting the long history of Israel's unfaithfulness and rebellion against God, alongside God's enduring mercy and patience. Verse 24 specifically refers to the generation that was delivered from Egypt and stood on the verge of entering the Promised Land of Canaan. This verse summarizes a pivotal moment detailed in Numbers chapters 13 and 14, where twelve spies were sent to scout the land. Despite the land being rich and fruitful, ten of the spies brought back a fearful report focusing on the formidable inhabitants, leading the people to disbelieve God's promise to give them the land.

Key Themes

  • Unbelief and Distrust: The core message is the people's profound lack of faith in God's power and faithfulness. They saw the giants in the land and not the God who had miraculously parted the Red Sea and provided manna. Their refusal to believe God's word directly led to their downfall.
  • Despising God's Gift: The "pleasant land" (Hebrew: eretz chemdah, "land of delight" or "land of desire") was God's gracious inheritance for His people. By refusing to enter, they effectively scorned and rejected this divine blessing, viewing the challenges as greater than the promise.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: This act of unbelief resulted in God's judgment: the entire adult generation, save for Joshua and Caleb, was condemned to wander and die in the wilderness for forty years, never entering the land they despised. This highlights the severe repercussions of distrusting God.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "despised" is ma'as, which carries a strong connotation of rejecting, disdaining, or abhorring. It's not merely a passive dislike but an active, willful rejection. The phrase "believed not his word" uses the Hebrew lo' he'eminu bi-debaro, emphasizing their failure to put their trust or faith in God's spoken promise or covenant. This highlights that their primary sin was not just disobedience, but the underlying lack of faith in God's reliability.

Cross-References & Connections

The events described here are foundational to understanding the importance of faith in the Bible. The New Testament explicitly references this generation's failure as a warning. The book of Hebrews 3:19 states, "So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief," directly connecting their exclusion from the Promised Land to their lack of faith. This serves as a potent reminder for believers today to hold fast to their confidence in God's promises and not to fall into the same pattern of unbelief, as admonished in Hebrews 4:11.

Practical Application

Psalms 106:24 serves as a timeless warning for all believers. It challenges us to examine where we place our trust. Do we allow fear, circumstances, or the perceived "giants" in our lives to overshadow God's clear promises and power? This verse encourages us to:

  • Cultivate Faith: Actively choose to believe God's word, even when it seems difficult or impossible.
  • Value God's Blessings: Recognize and appreciate the gifts and opportunities God provides, rather than despising them due to perceived obstacles.
  • Beware of Unbelief: Understand that unbelief is a serious sin with tangible consequences, hindering us from experiencing God's full blessings and purposes for our lives.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 1:32

    Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God,

  • Numbers 14:31

    But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.

  • Hebrews 3:18

    And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

  • Hebrews 3:19

    So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

  • Ezekiel 20:6

    In the day [that] I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which [is] the glory of all lands:

  • Hebrews 4:6

    Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

  • Matthew 22:5

    But they made light of [it], and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
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