Psalms 107:4
They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
Original Language Analysis
תָּע֣וּ
They wandered
H8582
תָּע֣וּ
They wandered
Strong's:
H8582
Word #:
1 of 8
to vacillate, i.e., reel or stray (literally or figuratively); also causative of both
בַ֭מִּדְבָּר
in the wilderness
H4057
בַ֭מִּדְבָּר
in the wilderness
Strong's:
H4057
Word #:
2 of 8
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
דָּ֑רֶךְ
way
H1870
דָּ֑רֶךְ
way
Strong's:
H1870
Word #:
4 of 8
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
עִ֥יר
no city
H5892
עִ֥יר
no city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
5 of 8
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
מ֝וֹשָׁ֗ב
to dwell
H4186
מ֝וֹשָׁ֗ב
to dwell
Strong's:
H4186
Word #:
6 of 8
a seat; figuratively, a site; abstractly, a session; by extension an abode (the place or the time); by implication, population
Cross References
Deuteronomy 32:10He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.Numbers 14:33And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness.Ezekiel 34:6My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.Ezekiel 34:12As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
Historical Context
This scenario may describe exiles traveling through dangerous, barren regions returning from Babylon. It also echoes Israel's 40-year wilderness wandering (Psalm 105-106). The image of wandering seeking a city appears in Hebrews 11:10, 13-16, where the patriarchs sought 'a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.' The 'city to dwell in' ultimately is the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21-22), the eternal home for God's redeemed people.
Questions for Reflection
- In what ways do people today 'wander in wilderness' seeking purpose and home?
- How does the longing for 'a city to dwell in' reflect the human need for God?
- What does the New Jerusalem represent as the ultimate fulfillment of finding a dwelling place?
Analysis & Commentary
This verse begins the first of four rescue scenarios. 'They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way' describes lostness and desolation. 'Wilderness' (midbar, מִדְבָּר) is uninhabited wasteland. 'Solitary way' (derek yeshimon, דֶּרֶךְ יְשִׁימוֹן) means a desolate, pathless place—emphasizing both physical and existential lostness. 'They found no city to dwell in' means no habitation, no security, no home. This describes the literal experience of exiles journeying home and Israel's wilderness wandering, but also represents spiritual lostness—humanity wandering without God, seeking home but finding none. Augustine's 'our hearts are restless until they find rest in Thee' echoes this condition.