And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

PSALMS 107:3KJV
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Psalms 107:3 (KJV)

What does Psalms 107:3 mean?

Psalms 107:3 describes God gathering people from many different lands—specifically from the east, west, north, and south—bringing them together. The verse highlights how God brings scattered people back from all directions, showing His care and power to restore.

The psalmist is speaking about God’s actions for His people, likely reflecting on times when Israelites were scattered or exiled and then brought back home. This gathering is part of a larger song celebrating God’s rescue and faithfulness, reminding listeners that no matter how far people have been spread out, God can bring them back together.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 107:3

  • gathered (קָבַץ, qavats): This word means to collect or assemble, often used for bringing people together from different places. It emphasizes the active role of God in reuniting those who were separated.
  • lands (אֶרֶץ, erets): This word means "land" or "earth," and here it points to various countries or regions where people had been scattered.
  • east (מִזְרָח, mizrach), west (מַעֲרָב, maarav), north (צָפוֹן, tsafon), south (יָם, yam): These words name the four directions. Notably, "south" (יָם, yam) literally means "sea," which for ancient Israelites referred to the Mediterranean Sea to the west, but in this context, it is used to mean "south," showing how directions were sometimes described by landmarks.

Why Psalms 107:3 matters

  • The verse clarifies that God’s care and power are not limited by geography; He can reach and restore people no matter how far they have gone.
  • The mention of all four directions underlines the completeness of God’s gathering, showing that no group is left out.
  • This gathering theme connects to the wider psalm, which celebrates God’s repeated acts of rescue for His people, encouraging trust in His ability to save.

Where else these words appear

“west” Hebrew H4628 · used in 14 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 7:28 And their possessions and habitations were, Bethel and the towns thereof, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with the towns thereof; Shechem also and the towns thereof, unto Gaza and the towns thereof:
  • 1 Chronicles 26:30 And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valour, a thousand and seven hundred, were officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward in all the business of the LORD, and in the service of the king.
  • Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

“east” Hebrew H4217 · used in 71 verses

  • Exodus 27:13 And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits.
  • Joshua 16:5 And the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families was thus: even the border of their inheritance on the east side was Atarothaddar, unto Bethhoron the upper;
  • 1 Chronicles 26:17 Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim two and two.

“gathered” Hebrew H6908 · used in 121 verses

  • Genesis 41:35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
  • 2 Chronicles 32:4 So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?
  • Jeremiah 31:8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.

“north” Hebrew H6828 · used in 141 verses

  • Genesis 13:14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
  • 1 Chronicles 26:14 And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.
  • Ezekiel 21:4 Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north: