Psalms 106:9

Authorized King James Version

He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיִּגְעַ֣ר
He rebuked
to chide
#2
בְּיַם
sea
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
#3
ס֭וּף
the Red
a reed, especially the papyrus
#4
וַֽיֶּחֱרָ֑ב
also and it was dried up
to parch (through drought) i.e., (by analogy,) to desolate, destroy, kill
#5
וַיּוֹלִיכֵ֥ם
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
#6
בַּ֝תְּהֹמ֗וֹת
them through the depths
an abyss (as a surging mass of water), especially the deep (the main sea or the subterranean watersupply)
#7
כַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃
as through the wilderness
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert

Analysis

The worship and praise theme here intersects with the broader canonical witness to God's character and purposes. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of progressive revelation that finds its culmination in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's consistent character and purposes.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the Israelite monarchy with its court politics and military conflicts. The author writes to address worshipers in the temple and those seeking God in times of distress, making the emphasis on worship and praise particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection