Psalms 107:3

And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

And gathered {H6908} them out of the lands {H776}, from the east {H4217}, and from the west {H4628}, from the north {H6828}, and from the south {H3220}.

He gathered them from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the sea.

and gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.

And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south.

Psalm 107:3 is a powerful declaration of God's sovereign power and faithfulness to His people, particularly His ability to gather them from every corner of the earth after periods of dispersion or hardship. This verse is part of a larger psalm of thanksgiving, celebrating the Lord's enduring mercy and deliverance for those who cry out to Him in their trouble.

Context

Psalm 107 opens by calling for thanksgiving to the Lord, "for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever" (Psalm 107:1). The psalm then proceeds to illustrate this enduring mercy through four distinct scenarios of distress and deliverance: wanderers in the wilderness (verses 4-9), prisoners in darkness (verses 10-16), fools afflicted by their sin (verses 17-22), and sailors caught in storms (verses 23-32). Verse 3 serves as an introductory statement, setting the stage for these narratives by highlighting God's initial act of gathering His redeemed people from various lands, often after scattering due to disobedience or exile, such as the Babylonian captivity.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Restoration: The verse emphasizes that it is God Himself who "gathered them." This highlights His active involvement and supreme authority over the destinies of nations and individuals. The scattering was not beyond His control, nor was the subsequent restoration.
  • Comprehensive Deliverance: The specification "from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south" signifies the complete and universal reach of God's redemptive power. No matter how far or wide His people were scattered, His hand could reach them to bring them back. This reflects the broader prophetic theme of God's ultimate restoration of Israel from all lands.
  • God's Faithfulness to His Covenant: Despite the circumstances that led to their dispersion (often their own rebellion), God remains faithful to His covenant promises to Abraham and his descendants. He is a God who remembers His people and acts to deliver them.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "gathered" is 'asafam (אָסַף), which means to collect, assemble, or bring in. It's often used in the context of harvesting or bringing together a dispersed group. This term conveys the deliberate and intentional nature of God's act of regathering His people, not as a random occurrence but as a purposeful divine intervention. The four cardinal directions (mimmizrach - east, umima'arav - west, mitz'tsafon - north, and umiyyam - south, literally "from the sea" referring to the Mediterranean or south) are a common biblical idiom to express totality and universality, indicating that no place was beyond God's reach.

Practical Application

Psalm 107:3 offers profound hope and encouragement today. For individuals who feel lost, scattered, or disconnected from their spiritual home or community, this verse is a powerful reminder that God knows exactly where they are. He has the power and the will to gather them, to bring them back into His fold and into a place of peace and security. It speaks to God's ability to restore what has been broken or dispersed, whether it's a relationship, a sense of purpose, or a community. Just as He gathered His ancient people, He continues to work in the lives of believers, drawing them closer to Himself and to one another. It underscores the Lord's compassion for those in distress and His readiness to save.

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 106:47

    Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, [and] to triumph in thy praise.

  • Isaiah 43:5

    Fear not: for I [am] with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;

  • Isaiah 43:6

    I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;

  • Revelation 5:9

    And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

  • Jeremiah 29:14

    And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

  • Ezekiel 36:24

    For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

  • Jeremiah 31:8

    Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, [and] with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.

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