Psalms 106:33

KJV

Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.

KJV (with Strong's)

Because they provoked {H4784} his spirit {H7307}, so that he spake unadvisedly {H981} with his lips {H8193}.

Complete Jewish Bible

for when they embittered his spirit, [Moshe] spoke up without thinking.

Berean Standard Bible

For they rebelled against His Spirit, and Moses spoke rashly with his lips.

American Standard Version

Because they were rebellious against his spirit, And he spake unadvisedly with his lips.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 106:33 offers a poignant reflection on a critical moment in Israel's wilderness journey, specifically recounting how the Israelites' persistent rebellion and provocation led Moses, God's chosen leader, to act rashly. This verse highlights the profound consequences of human impatience and unadvised speech, even for those in positions of immense spiritual authority, underscoring the divine demand for perfect obedience and the weighty responsibility of representing God's holiness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 106 is a historical psalm, part of the fourth book of the Psalter, that serves as a national confession of Israel's recurring unfaithfulness and rebellion against God, juxtaposed with God's enduring covenant faithfulness and steadfast love. It provides a sweeping overview of Israel's history from the Exodus to the Babylonian exile, emphasizing a pattern of sin, divine judgment, and subsequent deliverance. Verse 33 is situated within a section (verses 28-33) that details Israel's idolatry and rebellion at Baal-peor and Meribah, specifically recounting the incident at the "waters of Meribah" (Numbers 20). This particular verse acts as a concise summary of Moses's transgression, linking the people's provocation directly to his unadvised actions, which ultimately prevented him from entering the Promised Land.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The incident referenced in Psalms 106:33 is fully detailed in [Numbers 20:1-13](/numbers/20-1 "Numbers 20:1-13 - The Waters of Meribah"). After nearly forty years in the wilderness, the Israelites again grumbled against Moses and Aaron for lack of water. God commanded Moses to "speak to the rock" (Numbers 20:8) to bring forth water. However, exasperated by the people's constant complaining and rebellion, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff, declaring, "Hear now, you rebels; shall we bring you water out of this rock?" (Numbers 20:10). This act, born of frustration and a momentary lapse in faith, failed to properly sanctify God in the eyes of the people. In the ancient Near East, a leader's actions and words were seen as directly reflecting upon their deity, making Moses's failure to perfectly obey and glorify God a grave offense.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes within Psalm 106 and the broader Pentateuchal narrative. It powerfully illustrates **The Burden and Accountability of Leadership**, showing that even a leader as uniquely close to God as Moses could be overwhelmed by the constant rebellion and provocation of the people, leading to a moment of human weakness and sin. It also highlights the **Consequences of Rash Speech and Disobedience**, demonstrating that seemingly minor deviations from God's explicit commands can have severe repercussions, as seen in Moses being barred from the [Promised Land](/deuteronomy/32-51 "Deuteronomy 32:51 - Moses Barred from Promised Land"). Furthermore, the incident at Meribah, as summarized here, underscores **God's Unwavering Holiness and Demand for Reverence**, particularly from those who represent Him. God's glory must be paramount, and any action that diminishes His sanctity, even inadvertently, is unacceptable.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Provoked (Hebrew, _marah'_):** This word (מָרָה) signifies to be rebellious, bitter, or vexed. In this context, it describes the Israelites' continuous, exasperating disobedience and grumbling that embittered or distressed Moses's spirit. It implies a deep-seated antagonism and a persistent refusal to trust God, which in turn wore down Moses's patience.
* **Unadvisedly (Hebrew, _bata'_):** The Hebrew term (בָּטָא) means to utter rashly, to speak thoughtlessly, or to blurt out. It suggests that Moses's words were not carefully considered or spoken with the intention of glorifying God, but rather were an impetuous outpouring of his personal frustration and anger. This contrasts sharply with the deliberate, sanctifying speech God commanded.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Because they provoked his spirit":** This clause directly attributes Moses's subsequent actions to the Israelites' constant rebellion and complaint. Their persistent grumbling and lack of faith at the waters of Meribah (Numbers 20) wore down Moses's patience and tested his endurance, leading to a moment where his human spirit was deeply agitated and embittered. This highlights the cumulative effect of prolonged provocation on even the most steadfast leaders.
* **"so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips":** This clause describes the direct consequence of the provocation on Moses. Instead of calmly speaking to the rock as God commanded, Moses lashed out in frustration, striking the rock twice and speaking words that reflected his own anger and perhaps even a claim to the power that belonged solely to God (Numbers 20:10). His words were not measured or sanctifying, but rather rash and impetuous, failing to properly honor God before the people.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Retrospection**, looking back at a pivotal historical event (the incident at Meribah) to extract a theological lesson. There is also a subtle **Cause and Effect** relationship established, where the people's provocation is presented as the direct cause of Moses's unadvised speech. Furthermore, the verse contains **Irony**; the very leader who mediated God's law and miracles for Israel, and who was known for his meekness, succumbed to the same impatience and lack of faith that plagued the people he led. This serves to emphasize the universal human propensity to sin and the high standard of holiness God demands, especially from His representatives.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 106:33 offers a profound theological insight into the nature of human leadership, divine holiness, and the pervasive impact of sin. It underscores that even the most devout and divinely appointed leaders are fallible and susceptible to the pressures and provocations of their context. Moses's failure at Meribah, though seemingly minor in its physical action, was a significant spiritual lapse because it failed to properly sanctify God's name before the people, implying that the miracle came from Moses's own power or frustration rather than God's command. This incident serves as a stark reminder that God's holiness demands perfect obedience and reverence, especially from those who represent Him, and that personal frustration can never justify disobedience.

* [Numbers 20:12](/numbers/20-12 "Numbers 20:12 - God's Judgment on Moses and Aaron")
* [Deuteronomy 32:51](/deuteronomy/32-51 "Deuteronomy 32:51 - Moses's Consequence at Meribah")
* [James 3:2](/james/3-2 "James 3:2 - The Power of the Tongue")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 106:33 serves as a timeless cautionary tale, urging us to consider the profound power of our words and the critical importance of self-control, especially when under pressure or provoked. Moses, the greatest prophet in Israel's history, stumbled not in a moment of grand rebellion, but in a flash of frustration, demonstrating that even those closest to God are not immune to human weakness. This verse calls us to cultivate patience, to trust God's methods and timing even when they seem slow or difficult, and to always prioritize the sanctification of God's name above our own feelings or reputation. It reminds us that our words, whether spoken in private or public, have the potential to either glorify or dishonor God, and that true spiritual authority is demonstrated not in self-assertion, but in humble obedience and unwavering reliance on divine grace.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what situations do I find myself most prone to speaking "unadvisedly" or rashly?**
* **How does Moses's experience at Meribah challenge my understanding of leadership and accountability within the church or my community?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate greater self-control over my tongue, especially when provoked?**
* **How can I ensure that my actions and words consistently sanctify God's name in the eyes of others?**

### FAQ
**Was Moses's sin truly that severe to warrant being barred from the Promised Land?**

Answer: Yes, from God's perspective, it was. While it might seem minor to us, Moses's sin at Meribah was a direct act of disobedience to God's explicit command ("speak to the rock" vs. striking it), and more importantly, it failed to "sanctify" or honor God in the sight of the Israelites (Numbers 20:12). As the primary mediator between God and Israel, Moses was held to a higher standard. His actions, born of frustration and a momentary lack of faith, misrepresented God's holiness and power to the people, implying that the miracle was due to his own agency or anger rather than God's sovereign provision. This diminished God's glory before the very people He had miraculously sustained.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Psalms 106:33 highlights the tragic failure of Moses, the great law-giver, it also implicitly points to the need for a perfect mediator, one who would never speak unadvisedly or fail to perfectly sanctify God. Jesus Christ is that perfect fulfillment. Unlike Moses, who succumbed to the provocation of the people, Jesus endured far greater provocation and opposition, yet always responded with perfect obedience and grace. When tempted in the wilderness, Jesus consistently responded with the Word of God, refusing to act outside of His Father's will or to leverage His power for personal gain ([Matthew 4:1-11](/matthew/4-1 "Matthew 4:1-11 - Temptation of Jesus")). On the cross, facing the ultimate provocation and suffering, Jesus did not speak unadvisedly but uttered words of forgiveness and submission to His Father's will ([Luke 23:34](/luke/23-34 "Luke 23:34 - Jesus' Prayer for Forgiveness")). Where Moses failed to properly represent God's holiness, Jesus perfectly embodied and revealed it, becoming the ultimate Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), and the faithful High Priest who intercedes for us without blemish or sin ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our High Priest")).

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 20:10

And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

Numbers 20:11

And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts [also].

Psalms 107:11

Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:

Psalms 39:1

¶ To the chief Musician, [even] to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

James 3:2

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same [is] a perfect man, [and] able also to bridle the whole body.

Psalms 78:40

¶ How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, [and] grieve him in the desert!

Psalms 141:3

Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.