Psalms 106:24
Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:
Original Language Analysis
וַֽ֭יִּמְאֲסוּ
Yea they despised
H3988
וַֽ֭יִּמְאֲסוּ
Yea they despised
Strong's:
H3988
Word #:
1 of 6
to spurn; also (intransitively) to disappear
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
4 of 6
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
Cross References
Deuteronomy 1:32Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God,Ezekiel 20:6In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:Numbers 14:31But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.Hebrews 4:6Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:Hebrews 4:2For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.Hebrews 3:12Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.Hebrews 12:16Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.Jeremiah 3:19But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.Matthew 22:5But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:Jude 1:5I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
Historical Context
Numbers 13-14 records the spy incident. Twelve spies explored Canaan for 40 days. Ten brought an 'evil report,' emphasizing the giants and fortified cities. Only Joshua and Caleb trusted God's promise. The people believed the fearful majority, wept all night, and even proposed returning to Egypt. God sentenced that generation to die in the wilderness over 40 years. Their bodies fell in the desert while their children entered the land they despised.
Questions for Reflection
- How does unbelief practically manifest as despising God's gifts and promises?
- What 'pleasant lands' (God's good gifts) do believers today reject through unbelief?
- How can we cultivate faith that trusts God's word over contrary circumstances?
Analysis & Commentary
This verse recounts Israel's refusal to enter Canaan (Numbers 13-14). 'They despised the pleasant land' uses ma'as (מָאַס), meaning to reject, refuse, or despise. The 'pleasant land' (eretz chemdah, אֶרֶץ חֶמְדָּה) was the desirable, delightful Promised Land. To despise God's gift shows contemptible ingratitude. 'They believed not his word' explains the root: unbelief in God's promise to give them the land. Despite all the miracles they'd witnessed, they believed the negative report of ten spies over God's word and the faithful report of Joshua and Caleb. This demonstrates that unbelief is ultimately refusal to trust God's word, preferring human assessment over divine promise.