Psalms 106:44

Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:

Nevertheless he regarded {H7200} their affliction {H6862}, when he heard {H8085} their cry {H7440}:

Still he took pity on their distress whenever he heard their cry.

Nevertheless He heard their cry; He took note of their distress.

Nevertheless he regarded their distress, When he heard their cry:

Commentary

Psalm 106 is a historical psalm, a national confession of Israel's repeated rebellion and God's enduring faithfulness. Verse 44, "Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry," stands as a powerful testament to God's compassionate nature, even in the face of His people's persistent disobedience.

Context

This verse appears towards the end of a lengthy recounting of Israel's history, from their time in Egypt through the wilderness wanderings, the period of the Judges, and into the monarchy. The psalm vividly details their many sins—idolatry, murmuring, forgetting God's works—which often led to divine judgment and oppression by their enemies. Yet, time and again, when their suffering became unbearable, and they cried out to the Lord, He responded with mercy. This verse encapsulates God's consistent pattern of delivering His people despite their unfaithfulness, highlighting His covenant love that transcends their failures. It particularly resonates with the cyclical history described in the Book of Judges, where Israel would sin, be oppressed, cry out, and then be delivered.

Key Themes

  • God's Unfailing Mercy: Despite Israel's repeated sin and rebellion, God's compassion triumphs over His just wrath. This verse emphasizes that His "regarding" of their affliction was not earned but flowed from His inherent goodness.
  • Divine Responsiveness to Prayer: The phrase "when he heard their cry" underscores that God is attentive to the desperate pleas of His people. Even when they are at their lowest point, a sincere cry for help activates His merciful intervention. This theme is echoed throughout scripture, demonstrating God's willingness to answer those who call upon Him.
  • Deliverance from Affliction: The "affliction" (Hebrew: tsarah) refers to the distress, trouble, and anguish Israel experienced as a consequence of their sin. God's act of "regarding" it led to their eventual rescue and restoration.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "he regarded their affliction" uses the Hebrew verb ra'ah (ראה), which means "to see, look upon, perceive." However, in this context, it carries a deeper meaning of active attention, concern, and compassion, implying that God not only observed their suffering but also took it to heart with a view to action. The word for "affliction," tsarah (צרה), often denotes a narrow or constricted place, vividly portraying the desperate circumstances Israel found themselves in. Their "cry," za'aq (צעק), is a strong verb indicating a desperate, urgent plea for help, often used in times of great distress or injustice.

Practical Application

Psalm 106:44 offers profound encouragement for believers today. It reminds us that even when we stumble or stray from God's path, His mercy is always available. Our Heavenly Father is not distant or indifferent to our struggles. When we find ourselves in "affliction" due to our own choices or external circumstances, a humble and sincere "cry" to Him will not go unheard. This verse assures us that God's compassion is boundless, and He is ever ready to extend His hand of deliverance and restoration to those who genuinely turn to Him. It cultivates hope and reinforces the importance of persistent prayer in all seasons of life.

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

  • Judges 3:9

    And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, [even] Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.

  • Judges 4:3

    And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

  • 1 Samuel 7:8

    And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

  • 1 Samuel 7:12

    Then Samuel took a stone, and set [it] between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

  • Judges 6:6

    And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.

  • Judges 6:10

    And I said unto you, I [am] the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.

  • Judges 2:18

    And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.
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