Psalms 106:38
And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּֽשְׁפְּכ֨וּ
And shed
H8210
וַיִּֽשְׁפְּכ֨וּ
And shed
Strong's:
H8210
Word #:
1 of 13
to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e., to mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc
בַּדָּמִֽים׃
blood
H1818
בַּדָּמִֽים׃
blood
Strong's:
H1818
Word #:
2 of 13
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe
בַּדָּמִֽים׃
blood
H1818
בַּדָּמִֽים׃
blood
Strong's:
H1818
Word #:
4 of 13
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe
בְּנֵ֘יהֶ֤ם
of their sons
H1121
בְּנֵ֘יהֶ֤ם
of their sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
5 of 13
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וּֽבְנוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם
and of their daughters
H1323
וּֽבְנוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם
and of their daughters
Strong's:
H1323
Word #:
6 of 13
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
7 of 13
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
זִ֭בְּחוּ
whom they sacrificed
H2076
זִ֭בְּחוּ
whom they sacrificed
Strong's:
H2076
Word #:
8 of 13
to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice)
כְנָ֑עַן
of Canaan
H3667
כְנָ֑עַן
of Canaan
Strong's:
H3667
Word #:
10 of 13
kenaan, a son a ham; also the country inhabited by him
Cross References
Numbers 35:33So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.Deuteronomy 21:9So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.Isaiah 24:5The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.Isaiah 26:21For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.Isaiah 1:15And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.Jeremiah 2:34Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.Ezekiel 22:3Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD, The city sheddeth blood in the midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh idols against herself to defile herself.Ezekiel 7:23Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.2 Kings 24:4And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.2 Kings 21:16Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.
Historical Context
Jeremiah denounced child sacrifice, declaring God never commanded it nor did it enter His mind (Jeremiah 7:31; 19:5). The prophets identified it as a primary reason for exile. God's patience endured this abomination for generations before bringing judgment. The pollution of the land parallels how Adam's sin corrupted creation (Genesis 3:17-18; Romans 8:20-22). Only exile and restoration could purge the land's defilement, pointing to Christ's blood that ultimately cleanses from all sin.
Questions for Reflection
- How does innocent bloodshed defile a land and cry out for justice?
- What contemporary shedding of innocent blood pollutes our land?
- How does Christ's innocent blood shed on the cross cleanse defilement and satisfy justice?
Analysis & Commentary
This verse expands on child sacrifice's horror. 'They shed innocent blood' emphasizes the victims' innocence. 'Even the blood of their sons and of their daughters' personalizes the tragedy—these were their own children. 'Whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan' identifies the false gods as Canaanite deities like Molech, Baal, and Asherah. 'And the land was polluted with blood' uses chaneph (חָנֵף), meaning profaned, defiled, or polluted. Bloodshed pollutes land, crying out for justice (Genesis 4:10; Numbers 35:33-34). Israel's land became defiled through murder, especially of innocent children, requiring purging through judgment (exile). Innocent blood demands justice.