The Meaning of Psalms 107:35 Explained

Psalms 107:35

KJV: He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.

YLT: He maketh a wilderness become a pool of water, And a dry land become fountains of waters.

Darby: He maketh the wilderness into a pool of water, and the dry land into water-springs;

ASV: He turneth a wilderness into a pool of water, And a dry land into watersprings.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He turneth  the wilderness  into a standing  water,  and dry  ground  into watersprings. 

What does Psalms 107:35 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 107:33-43 - The "loving-Kindnesses Of The Lord"
The measure changes here. From Psalms 107:33 the psalmist drops the refrain and describes, not deliverance from peril or pain, but the sudden alternations wrought by God's providence. Lands pass from fertility to barrenness, and human lives from prosperity to trouble, and back again. But through all these vicissitudes runs the same loving-kindness, as is clearly discerned by those who have eyes to see and hearts to take heed. How little did Joseph's brethren realize that behind all the strange experiences they had with his steward, in his house, and in the matter of the cup, a brother's heart was yearning to reach a moment when all disguise might be laid aside! Similarly we fail to believe that Love is above and through and in all things.
Life resembles this psalm, so full is it of change and trying experiences. Few enjoy unbroken years of prosperity. We are poured from vessel to vessel, and are forbidden to settle on our lees. Our nests are stirred up to teach us how to fly. For most there is the wilderness, the cell, sickness, and the tossing of the ocean waves. But always believe in the love of God. Do not forget to cry; and when your cry has brought an answer of peace, do not forget to praise. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 107

1  The psalmist exhorts the redeemed in praising God to observe his manifold providence
4  Over travelers
10  Over captives
17  Over sick men
23  Over sailors
33  And in diverse varieties of life

What do the individual words in Psalms 107:35 mean?

He turns a wilderness into ponds of water and land dry into water-springs
יָשֵׂ֣ם מִ֭דְבָּר לַֽאֲגַם־ מַ֑יִם וְאֶ֥רֶץ צִ֝יָּ֗ה לְמֹצָ֥אֵי מָֽיִם

יָשֵׂ֣ם  He  turns 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
מִ֭דְבָּר  a  wilderness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִדְבָּר 
Sense: wilderness.
לַֽאֲגַם־  into  ponds 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אֲגַם 
Sense: pool, troubled pool.
מַ֑יִם  of  water 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
וְאֶ֥רֶץ  and  land 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
צִ֝יָּ֗ה  dry 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: צִיָּה  
Sense: dryness, drought, desert.
לְמֹצָ֥אֵי  into 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מֹוצָא  
Sense: act or place of going out or forth, issue, export, source, spring.
מָֽיִם  water-springs 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.