Psalms 107:26

They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

They mount up {H5927} to the heaven {H8064}, they go down {H3381} again to the depths {H8415}: their soul {H5315} is melted {H4127} because of trouble {H7451}.

The sailors were raised up to the sky, then plunged into the depths. At the danger, their courage failed them,

They mounted up to the heavens, then sunk to the depths; their courage melted in their anguish.

They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths: Their soul melteth away because of trouble.

Psalm 107:26 vividly portrays the extreme peril and overwhelming despair faced by sailors caught in a violent storm at sea. The imagery of "mounting up to the heaven" and "going down again to the depths" describes the ship being tossed by immense waves, while "their soul is melted because of trouble" conveys the utter loss of courage, strength, and hope in such a terrifying ordeal.

Context

This verse is part of a larger narrative in Psalm 107, which is a psalm of thanksgiving celebrating God's deliverance of various groups from distress. Verses 23-32 specifically focus on those who "go down to the sea in ships" and experience God's mighty works amidst a tempest. The preceding verses describe the rising storm, and this verse marks the peak of their terror and helplessness before they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, leading to His intervention.

Key Themes

  • Extreme Peril and Helplessness: The powerful, almost hyperbolic, language of ascending to the heavens and descending to the depths effectively communicates the violent and disorienting experience of a ship in a storm. It speaks to the feeling of being utterly beyond human control.
  • Profound Despair: The phrase "their soul is melted because of trouble" is a poignant expression of complete emotional and spiritual collapse. It signifies a loss of all fortitude and a descent into hopelessness, a common biblical description of overwhelming fear and distress (e.g., Joshua 2:11).
  • Setting the Stage for Divine Intervention: While this verse highlights human extremity, its placement within Psalm 107 serves to magnify God's power and mercy. It emphasizes that it is precisely when humanity reaches its limit that God's deliverance is most evident. This passage underscores God's sovereignty over the forces of nature.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew term for "melted" (māgōg) carries the sense of dissolving, wasting away, or becoming fluid. When applied to the "soul" (nephesh, which often refers to the whole person, their life-force, or inner being), it powerfully illustrates the complete disintegration of courage and inner strength under overwhelming pressure. The poetic parallelism of "mount up" and "go down" highlights the dizzying, uncontrollable nature of the sea's fury.

Practical Application

Psalm 107:26 resonates deeply with anyone experiencing overwhelming challenges that feel like a storm, whether literal or figurative. It validates the human experience of extreme fear, disorientation, and despair when life's circumstances become uncontrollable. This verse reminds us that even at our lowest point, when our "soul is melted" from trouble, the subsequent verses in Psalm 107 offer hope: God hears the cries of His people and delivers them from their distress. It encourages us to acknowledge our helplessness and turn to God in times of great need, trusting in His power to bring calm to our storms.

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.

  • Psalms 22:14

    I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

  • Psalms 119:28

    ¶ My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.

  • Isaiah 13:7

    Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt:

  • 2 Samuel 17:10

    And he also [that is] valiant, whose heart [is] as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father [is] a mighty man, and [they] which [be] with him [are] valiant men.

  • Nahum 2:10

    She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain [is] in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.

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