Psalms 107:35
He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.
Original Language Analysis
יָשֵׂ֣ם
He turneth
H7760
יָשֵׂ֣ם
He turneth
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
1 of 8
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
מִ֭דְבָּר
the wilderness
H4057
מִ֭דְבָּר
the wilderness
Strong's:
H4057
Word #:
2 of 8
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
לַֽאֲגַם
into a standing
H98
לַֽאֲגַם
into a standing
Strong's:
H98
Word #:
3 of 8
a marsh; hence a rush (as growing in swamps); hence a stockade of reeds
מָֽיִם׃
into watersprings
H4325
מָֽיִם׃
into watersprings
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
4 of 8
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
Historical Context
Israel's return from exile and land restoration fulfilled this. God promised 'I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert' (Isaiah 43:19). The restoration wasn't merely political but agricultural—the land would flourish again. Ezekiel's vision of water flowing from the temple (Ezekiel 47:1-12), bringing life wherever it flows, pictures eschatological restoration. Revelation 22:1-2 completes this: the river of life in New Jerusalem, with trees bearing fruit monthly. Complete cosmic restoration.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's transformation of wilderness to watersprings demonstrate redemptive power?
- What do water restoration prophecies teach about new creation and final restoration?
- How does ecological restoration serve as picture of spiritual regeneration and renewal?
Analysis & Commentary
This verse describes God's restorative work, reversing verse 33. 'He turneth the wilderness into a standing water' shows transformation from barren to fertile. 'Wilderness' (midbar, מִדְבָּר) is desert wasteland. 'Standing water' (agam mayim, אֲגַם־מָיִם) is pool or lake—water source. 'And dry ground into watersprings' adds flowing water (motsa mayim, מוֹצָאֵי מָיִם), springs or fountains. This describes restoration after judgment, creating life from death, abundance from scarcity. Isaiah prophesied this restoration: 'I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water' (Isaiah 41:18). God's redemptive work reverses curse and restores blessing.