Psalms 106:39 (KJV)

What does Psalms 106:39 mean?

Psalms 106:39 says that the people of Israel made themselves unclean through what they did. The psalm describes their conduct as unfaithfulness to God, using a blunt image to show how serious their actions were.

After the shedding of innocent blood in verse 38, the speaker turns to the people’s own condition: their actions have stained them. “Went a whoring” compares their pursuit of other gods to sexual unfaithfulness.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 106:39

• “defiled” — טָמֵא (ṭameʾ): This word carries the sense of becoming unclean or polluted. Here the people are described as bearing the stain of their own actions.
• “inventions” — מַעֲלָל (maʿalal): This word can mean deeds or practices. In the KJV, “inventions” points to what the people did, rather than necessarily to objects they created.

Why Psalms 106:39 matters

• The verse places responsibility on the people themselves. The repeated phrase “their own” connects their condition to their own works and practices.
• The image of unfaithfulness belongs to a passage about serving other gods. Verse 36 says that the people served the gods of the surrounding nations, which became a trap for them.
• The passage connects the people’s conduct with harm to others. Verses 37–38 describe them sacrificing their sons and daughters and shedding innocent blood.