Psalms 106:35

But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.

But were mingled {H6148} among the heathen {H1471}, and learned {H3925} their works {H4639}.

but mingled with the nations and learned to follow their ways.

but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs.

But mingled themselves with the nations, And learned their works,

Psalms 106:35 is a poignant verse from a historical psalm, recounting Israel's repeated failures and God's enduring faithfulness. This specific verse highlights a critical turning point in the nation's spiritual decline after entering the Promised Land.

Context

Psalm 106 is a confessional and historical psalm, reviewing the tumultuous relationship between God and Israel from the Exodus through their settlement in Canaan and subsequent exiles. The psalm serves as a reminder of God's mighty acts and Israel's persistent rebellion, idolatry, and ingratitude. Verse 35 specifically addresses the period following the conquest of Canaan, where Israel failed to fully obey God's clear command to drive out the native inhabitants.

God had explicitly warned Israel against making covenants with the peoples of the land and destroying their altars and idols. The purpose was to prevent spiritual contamination. However, as recounted in books like Judges, Israel disobeyed this command, leading directly to the situation described in this verse.

Key Themes

  • Disobedience and Compromise: The verse directly points to Israel's disobedience to God's command for separation. Instead of remaining distinct, they chose to "mingle" with the very nations God had commanded them to displace or destroy.
  • Spiritual Assimilation and Corruption: The phrase "learned their works" reveals the inevitable outcome of such mingling. Proximity and association led to the adoption of pagan religious practices, moral corruption, and idolatry, which were abhorrent to God. This highlights the danger of allowing worldly influences to seep into one's spiritual life.
  • Consequences of Unfaithfulness: This act of mingling and learning pagan ways was a direct cause of Israel's subsequent spiritual decline, divine judgment, and cycles of oppression, as detailed in the verses that follow in Psalm 106 and throughout the book of Judges (see Judges 2:11-13).

Linguistic Insights

  • "mingled" (Hebrew: 'ārab - עָרַב): This word implies a deep mixing, blending, or intertwining, not just casual interaction. It suggests becoming intimately involved or integrated with. It's the same root used for "mixing" or "intermarrying," indicating a profound lack of distinction.
  • "heathen" (Hebrew: goyim - גּוֹיִם): This term refers to the Gentile nations, often carrying the connotation of pagan, non-worshipping peoples whose customs and gods were contrary to the worship of Yahweh.
  • "works" (Hebrew: ma'aseh - מַעֲשֶׂה): This refers to their deeds, actions, customs, and practices, particularly their religious rites, idolatrous worship, and immoral behaviors.

Practical Application

Psalms 106:35 offers a timeless warning for believers today. Just as ancient Israel was called to be distinct, Christians are called to be "in the world but not of the world."

  • Discernment in Relationships: While engaging with society is essential, this verse cautions against allowing ungodly influences to corrupt one's faith and values. It underscores the importance of choosing associations wisely, particularly concerning spiritual and moral matters. The New Testament warns against being unequally yoked with unbelievers in ways that compromise one's commitment to Christ.
  • Maintaining Spiritual Purity: We are constantly exposed to various "works" of the world through media, culture, and social interactions. This verse serves as a reminder to guard our hearts and minds, ensuring that we do not "learn" or adopt practices that are contrary to God's Word.
  • The Call to Separation: True spiritual growth involves actively choosing to separate from ungodly patterns and embracing God's righteous standards, even when it means standing apart from the majority.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Judges 3:5

    And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites:

  • Judges 3:6

    And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:33

    Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

  • 1 Corinthians 5:6

    Your glorying [is] not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

  • Judges 1:27

    Neither did Manasseh drive out [the inhabitants of] Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.

  • Judges 1:36

    And the coast of the Amorites [was] from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.

  • Judges 2:2

    And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?

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