Psalms 106:39

Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.

Thus were they defiled {H2930} with their own works {H4639}, and went a whoring {H2181} with their own inventions {H4611}.

Thus they were defiled by their deeds; they prostituted themselves by their actions,

They defiled themselves by their actions and prostituted themselves by their deeds.

Thus were they defiled with their works, And played the harlot in their doings.

Psalm 106:39 (KJV) states, "Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions." This verse serves as a concise and powerful summary of Israel's spiritual decline, detailing the consequences of their persistent disobedience and idolatry as recounted throughout Psalm 106.

Context

Psalm 106 is a historical psalm, a national confession of sin, tracing Israel's repeated rebellion against God from the Exodus through their settlement in Canaan and beyond. Verses 34-38 specifically detail how Israel failed to drive out the pagan nations as commanded, instead mingling with them, learning their ways, and adopting their detestable practices, including the horrific sacrifice of their own children to idols. Verse 39 encapsulates the profound spiritual state resulting from these actions: deep defilement and unfaithfulness.

Key Themes

  • Idolatry and Spiritual Unfaithfulness: The phrase "went a whoring with their own inventions" is a vivid metaphor for Israel's spiritual adultery. God had entered into a covenant relationship with Israel, likening Himself to a husband; their turning to other gods was seen as an act of infidelity. This theme is prevalent throughout the Old Testament, emphasizing God's exclusive claim on His people's worship and warning against the dangers of idolatry.
  • Self-Inflicted Defilement: "Defiled with their own works" underscores that Israel's impurity was not imposed by an outside force but was a direct result of their choices and actions. Their "works" (their deeds, their rituals, their adopted pagan practices) rendered them spiritually unclean and separated from God's holiness. This highlights the internal corruption that arises from disobedience.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The verse highlights the inevitable negative outcomes of rejecting God's commands. Their "inventions" – human-made religious practices and idols – led them away from the true God and into moral and spiritual corruption. This serves as a timeless warning against substituting human wisdom or desires for divine revelation.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "defiled" (טָמֵא - tame) signifies ritual and moral impurity, rendering one unfit for sacred service or communion with God. It speaks to a deep corruption that permeated their spiritual being. The phrase "went a whoring" comes from the Hebrew root זָנָה (zanah), which literally means "to commit fornication" or "to be a harlot," but is consistently used in prophetic literature to describe Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness to Yahweh through idolatry. "Inventions" (מַעֲשֶׂה - ma'aseh, meaning 'work' or 'deed', often used here to refer to human-made idols or practices) emphasizes the human origin of their false worship, contrasting sharply with God's divine commands.

Practical Application

Psalm 106:39 offers profound lessons for believers today. It calls us to examine our own lives for "inventions" – anything we create or embrace that draws us away from pure devotion to God. This could include:

  • Modern Idolatry: Placing ultimate trust or value in possessions, careers, relationships, or even personal achievements over God.
  • Self-Reliance in Faith: Relying on human traditions, philosophies, or emotional experiences instead of the clear teachings of God's Word.
  • Compromise with Culture: Adopting worldly values or practices that contradict biblical principles, leading to spiritual defilement.
The verse reminds us that true spiritual purity comes from steadfast faithfulness to God alone and obedience to His commands. It underscores the importance of guarding our hearts against anything that would cause us to stray from the living God and become defiled by our own choices.

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.

  • Ezekiel 20:18

    But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:

  • Numbers 15:39

    And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:

  • Leviticus 17:7

    And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.

  • Revelation 17:1

    ¶ And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

  • Revelation 17:6

    And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

  • Ezekiel 20:30

    Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?

  • Ezekiel 20:31

    For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back