Psalms 106:35 (KJV)

What does Psalms 106:35 mean?

Psalms 106:35 says that the people of Israel mixed with other nations and started following their practices. This verse highlights how the Israelites adopted the customs and behaviors of the surrounding peoples, which led them away from their own distinct way of life.

The psalm is a reflection by an Israelite, recounting the nation's history and their repeated failures to stay faithful to God. In this part of the psalm, the focus is on a time when the Israelites, after entering the land promised to them, did not keep themselves separate from the other groups living there. Instead, they learned and took up the ways of those nations, which often included practices that went against what they had been taught.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 106:35

• "mingled" (עָרַב, ʿarav): This word means to mix or blend together. Here, it suggests not just physical closeness but a blending of lifestyles and values, showing how the Israelites became less distinct from the nations around them.
• "heathen" (גּוֹי, goy): This word means "nations" or "peoples" and is often used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to non-Israelite groups. In this context, it points to the surrounding peoples whose ways the Israelites adopted.
• "learned" (לָמַד, lamad): This means to learn or be taught. The verse uses it to show that the Israelites actively picked up the behaviors and customs of the other nations, not just by accident but by instruction and imitation.
• "works" (מַעֲשֶׂה, ma'aseh): This word refers to deeds, actions, or practices. Here, it highlights that what the Israelites learned were the actual practices and rituals of the other nations, not just their ideas.

Why Psalms 106:35 matters

• Psalms 106:35 clarifies that the Israelites' problem was not just being near other nations, but actually adopting their ways and practices, which led to deeper issues later in the chapter.
• This verse connects to the broader theme of the psalm, which is a confession of national failure and a recounting of how turning away from their distinct identity led to trouble.
• It helps explain the seriousness of "learning" the works of other nations, showing that it was a conscious process of imitation, not just a passive influence.