Psalms 106:32

KJV

They angered [him] also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:

KJV (with Strong's)

They angered {H7107} him also at the waters {H4325} of strife {H4808}{H4809}, so that it went ill {H3415} with Moses {H4872} for their sakes:

Complete Jewish Bible

They angered him at the M'rivah Spring, and Moshe suffered on their account;

Berean Standard Bible

At the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD, and trouble came to Moses because of them.

American Standard Version

They angered him also at the waters of Meribah, So that it went ill with Moses for their sakes;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 106:32 encapsulates a critical moment in Israel's wilderness journey, detailing the incident at Meribah where the people's persistent contention provoked God and, consequently, led to severe repercussions for Moses. This verse serves as a profound testament to the far-reaching impact of corporate sin, illustrating how the Israelites' rebellious spirit caused even their revered leader to falter, resulting in God's displeasure and Moses' exclusion from the Promised Land. It starkly underscores the gravity of failing to uphold God's holiness, even under duress, and highlights the immense accountability inherent in spiritual leadership.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 106 is a historical psalm, part of Book Four of the Psalter (Psalms 90-106), serving as a national confession of sin. It meticulously recounts Israel's tumultuous history of rebellion against God, beginning from their miraculous deliverance from Egypt, through the wilderness wanderings, the conquest of Canaan, and into the period of the judges. This psalm stands in thematic counterpoint to Psalm 105, which celebrates God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises. Verse 32 is strategically placed within a lengthy catalog of Israel's provocations, immediately following their idolatry with the golden calf and their grumbling for food. The incident at Meribah, described here, is presented as a particularly egregious act of rebellion that directly impacted Moses. The psalm's structure moves from an initial call to praise God for His enduring goodness to a detailed, confessional recounting of national sin, culminating in a fervent plea for deliverance and a final doxology.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The "waters of strife" refers to the pivotal incident at Meribah, explicitly detailed in [Numbers 20:1-13](/numbers/20-1-13 "Numbers 20:1-13 - The Incident at Meribah"). This event occurred during the final year of Israel's forty-year sojourn in the wilderness, as they approached the threshold of the Promised Land. The people, once again, voiced bitter complaints about the scarcity of water, a recurring pattern throughout their journey, reminiscent of earlier episodes like the one at Rephidim ([Exodus 17:1-7](/exodus/17-1-7 "Exodus 17:1-7 - Water from the Rock at Rephidim")). In ancient Israelite culture, leaders like Moses occupied a unique position as mediators between God and His people; their public actions were perceived as direct reflections of God's character and authority. Moses, in a moment of profound exasperation, struck the rock twice rather than speaking to it as God had commanded. This public act, born perhaps of frustration or a desire to assert his own authority, failed to "sanctify" or honor God's holiness in the sight of the Israelites. In a cultural milieu where divine authority was paramount and the public conduct of leaders carried immense spiritual weight, Moses' actions constituted a serious affront to God's precise instructions and His method of provision.
* **Key Themes:** Psalms 106:32 profoundly contributes to several overarching themes woven throughout the Psalter and the Pentateuch. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates the **Consequences of Disobedience**, emphasizing that sin, even when provoked by others, carries severe repercussions, even for the most faithful leaders. Moses' exclusion from the Promised Land, as vividly recounted in [Deuteronomy 32:51-52](/deuteronomy/32-51-52 "Deuteronomy 32:51-52 - Moses' Exclusion from the Promised Land"), stands as a stark and enduring warning. Secondly, the verse highlights **God's Holiness and Justice**, demonstrating that God holds even His most trusted servants to an exacting standard, demanding precise obedience to His commands and unwavering reverence for His character. Moses' failure to fully glorify God before the people underscored the absolute necessity of God's holiness being upheld. Thirdly, the incident at Meribah reveals the **Ripple Effect of Sin**, vividly showing how the Israelites' contentious spirit and constant grumbling directly led to Moses' exasperation and subsequent sin, illustrating how the actions of a community can profoundly impact those in leadership. Finally, it underscores **Human Frailty**, reminding us that even great spiritual leaders like Moses are susceptible to impatience, anger, and momentary lapses in faith under immense pressure, emphasizing the ongoing need for complete reliance on God's strength and wisdom, a truth consistently portrayed throughout the wilderness narrative, such as in [Numbers 14](/numbers/14 "Numbers 14 - Israel's Rebellion at Kadesh Barnea").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Angered (Hebrew, _qâtsaph'_):** This verb, derived from H7107, signifies a forceful emotional outburst, akin to "bursting out in rage" or "being wroth." While the KJV translates it as "angered [him]," the broader context of the Meribah narrative, particularly [Numbers 20:12](/numbers/20-12 "Numbers 20:12 - God's Judgment on Moses and Aaron"), clarifies that Moses' actions "angered" God. Therefore, the psalm here attributes the people's actions as the indirect cause of God's wrath, which then fell upon Moses. It conveys God's righteous indignation at the failure to properly represent His holiness, highlighting the seriousness of Moses' disobedience in the divine economy.
* **Waters (Hebrew, _mayim'_):** This noun (H4325), though dual in form, is used in a singular sense to denote "water." In this context, it refers to the literal water that was lacking, which became the catalyst for the Israelites' contention. The phrase "waters of strife" (מֵי מְרִיבָה, _mei Meribah_) therefore precisely identifies the physical location where the conflict unfolded, emphasizing the critical element that triggered the people's complaints and Moses' subsequent actions.
* **Strife (Hebrew, _mᵉrîybâh'_):** This noun (H4808), derived from the root meaning "to quarrel," signifies "contention," "dispute," or "provocation." It is the very root from which the place name "Meribah" (H4809) is derived. The "waters of strife" thus perfectly encapsulates the contentious and rebellious spirit of the Israelites at this location, where they contended not only with Moses but, by extension, with God Himself. The name serves as a perpetual memorial to their unfaithfulness and the profound conflict that transpired there.
* **Ill (Hebrew, _yâraʻ'_):** This primitive root (H3415) primarily means "to be broken up (with any violent action)" and figuratively, "to fear" or "be grievous." When the text states "it went ill with Moses," it refers to the severe negative consequences Moses faced. Specifically, it denotes the grievous outcome of his exclusion from entering the Promised Land, a devastating divine judgment for the leader who had faithfully guided Israel for forty years. The term underscores the tragic and detrimental impact of his momentary lapse in obedience.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"They angered [him] also at the waters of strife,"**: This clause directly attributes the genesis of the subsequent trouble to the Israelites. Their contentious and rebellious behavior at Meribah, where they quarreled bitterly over the lack of water, provoked God's displeasure. The implicit "him" refers to God, as the psalm consistently portrays Israel's sin as ultimately directed against the Lord. Their repeated grumbling and testing of God's provision and patience ultimately created an environment where even Moses, God's chosen mediator, was pushed to the brink of exasperation.
* **"so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:"**: This clause reveals the direct and tragic consequence of the Israelites' actions. Because of their persistent rebellion and the immense pressure they exerted, Moses reacted in a way that profoundly dishonored God. The phrase "it went ill with Moses" refers to the divine judgment that befell him: he was forbidden from entering the Promised Land ([Numbers 20:12](/numbers/20-12 "Numbers 20:12 - Moses' Punishment")). The concluding phrase "for their sakes" explicitly links Moses' severe punishment to the people's sin, highlighting the profound responsibility of leadership and the ripple effect of corporate sin on those who lead. Moses, despite his lifelong faithfulness, bore the brunt of their collective unfaithfulness in this pivotal instance.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 106:32 employs several potent literary devices to convey its powerful message. **Metonymy** is prominently featured in the phrase "waters of strife," where the specific location and the event (Meribah) stand in for the entire contentious episode and the Israelites' pervasive rebellious attitude. This concise phrase encapsulates a complex narrative of grumbling, divine command, human failure, and severe consequence. A strong element of **Irony** is also at play: Moses, the faithful leader who endured forty years of wilderness wandering and interceded for the people countless times, ultimately suffers a devastating personal consequence—exclusion from the Promised Land—due to their repeated provocation. His punishment is a poignant contrast to his lifelong dedication. Furthermore, the psalm's overall structure, which recounts a litany of Israel's sins, utilizes **Repetition** of the theme of rebellion and God's enduring patience, making this specific incident at Meribah a climactic and tragic example of the people's persistent unfaithfulness and its severe ramifications.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 106:32 offers profound theological insights into God's immutable character and the pervasive nature of human sin. It underscores God's absolute holiness and His unwavering demand for perfect obedience, even from His most trusted servants. Moses' punishment, though seemingly harsh for a single act, reveals that God's glory must be upheld above all else, and His methods are not to be circumvented or questioned, especially by those who represent Him. This incident also highlights the profound interconnectedness of sin and its consequences, demonstrating how the corporate sin of the community can create an environment that leads even righteous individuals to stumble. It serves as a sober reminder that while God is infinitely merciful, He is also perfectly just, and there are real, tangible repercussions for disobedience, particularly when it dishonors His name before others or undermines His authority in the eyes of His people.

* [Numbers 20:12](/numbers/20-12 "Numbers 20:12 - God's Judgment on Moses and Aaron")
* [Deuteronomy 3:26-27](/deuteronomy/3-26-27 "Deuteronomy 3:26-27 - Moses Forbidden to Enter Canaan")
* [Hebrews 3:16-19](/hebrews/3-16-19 "Hebrews 3:16-19 - Israel's Disobedience in the Wilderness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse calls us to profound introspection regarding our own responses to frustration, provocation, and the multifaceted challenges of leadership, whether in the home, church, or workplace. It serves as a potent reminder that our actions, especially when under immense pressure or amidst trying circumstances, carry significant spiritual weight and possess the power to either glorify or dishonor God. For those in leadership, it functions as a powerful cautionary tale: the higher the calling, the greater the accountability. We are called to exercise unwavering patience, profound humility, and unshakeable trust in God's prescribed ways, even when circumstances are trying, people are difficult, or our own expectations are unmet. Our temper, our impatience, and our desire to control outcomes can quickly lead us astray, diminishing God's glory in the eyes of others and hindering His work. Ultimately, this passage urges us to cultivate a constant reliance on the Holy Spirit for strength, wisdom, and self-control, ensuring that every word and deed reflects God's holiness and faithfulness, rather than our own human frailty, frustration, or momentary lapse in faith.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific situations do I find myself most prone to impatience, anger, or a desire to take matters into my own hands, and how might these reactions inadvertently dishonor God?**
* **How does this account of Moses' consequence challenge my understanding of God's justice, His holiness, and the exacting standards He applies to those in leadership?**
* **What responsibility do I bear, both as a leader and as a member of a community, to ensure my actions and attitudes do not cause others to stumble or dishonor God's name?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper, more consistent trust in God's methods, timing, and sovereign control, even when they differ significantly from my expectations or desires?**

### FAQ
**Why was Moses punished so severely for striking the rock instead of speaking to it?**

Answer: Moses' punishment, while seemingly severe for a single act, was profoundly significant because it represented a failure to "sanctify" God in the eyes of the Israelites ([Numbers 20:12](/numbers/20-12 "Numbers 20:12 - Moses' Failure to Sanctify God")). God had commanded Moses to *speak* to the rock, which would have powerfully demonstrated God's miraculous power through His word alone and Moses' perfect obedience. By striking the rock twice, Moses not only directly disobeyed a divine command but also acted out of frustration, perhaps implying that *he* was the one providing the water, or that God's power needed a physical, forceful act to be manifest, rather than simply His authoritative word. This undermined God's holiness, sovereignty, and specific instructions before a people already prone to rebellion. Given Moses' unique position as God's chosen leader and the public nature of the act, his disobedience was a serious affront to God's glory and a poor example to a people who desperately needed to see God's holiness upheld.

**What are the "waters of strife" and why are they significant?**

Answer: The "waters of strife" (Hebrew: *Mei Meribah*) refer to the specific location where the Israelites quarreled with Moses and, by extension, with God Himself, over the critical lack of water, as meticulously recorded in [Numbers 20:1-13](/numbers/20-1-13 "Numbers 20:1-13 - The Waters of Meribah"). The name "Meribah" itself literally means "strife" or "contention," perfectly encapsulating the rebellious and grumbling spirit of the people at that time. This incident is profoundly significant because it marked a critical turning point where Moses, God's faithful servant and mediator, sinned by striking the rock instead of speaking to it, leading directly to his exclusion from entering the Promised Land. It serves as a powerful and enduring reminder of the severe consequences of human impatience and disobedience, even when provoked, and highlights God's unwavering demand for His holiness to be upheld, especially by those in positions of spiritual leadership. The event at Meribah is a recurring motif throughout the Old Testament, symbolizing Israel's persistent unfaithfulness and God's righteous judgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 106:32, though a somber account of human failure and divine judgment, profoundly foreshadows the perfect obedience and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Moses, the great lawgiver and mediator of the Old Covenant, failed to perfectly sanctify God at Meribah, leading to his exclusion from the earthly Promised Land. This incident vividly highlights humanity's inherent inability to perfectly obey God's commands and enter His rest through works of the law. However, Christ, the greater Moses (as prophesied in [Deuteronomy 18:15](/deuteronomy/18-15 "Deuteronomy 18:15 - A Prophet Like Moses")), perfectly fulfilled all righteousness and never failed to glorify the Father in every word and deed ([John 8:29](/john/8-29 "John 8:29 - Jesus Always Does What Pleases the Father")). The rock that Moses struck is identified by the Apostle Paul as a type of Christ ([1 Corinthians 10:4](/1_corinthians/10-4 "1 Corinthians 10:4 - The Spiritual Rock Was Christ")), who was "struck" once on Calvary to provide living water for a thirsty world. Unlike Moses, who had to strike the rock, we are now invited to simply *speak* to the Father in prayer through Christ's name to receive the Spirit, who is like living water ([John 7:37-39](/john/7-37-39 "John 7:37-39 - Rivers of Living Water")). Moses' exclusion from the earthly Promised Land underscores the ultimate need for a perfect High Priest who could enter the true, heavenly sanctuary on our behalf ([Hebrews 4:14-16](/hebrews/4-14-16 "Hebrews 4:14-16 - Our Great High Priest")), securing for us an eternal inheritance and a rest that no human failure can forfeit. Thus, the very incident that sealed Moses' fate points to the flawless obedience and ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who alone can lead us into God's eternal rest.

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

Numbers 20:2

And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

Numbers 20:13

This [is] the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.

Deuteronomy 4:21

Furthermore the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, and sware that I should not go over Jordan, and that I should not go in unto that good land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee [for] an inheritance:

Deuteronomy 1:37

Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither.

Psalms 81:7

Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.

Numbers 20:23

And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying,

Numbers 20:24

Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.