The Meaning of Psalms 106:23 Explained

Psalms 106:23

KJV: Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.

YLT: And He saith to destroy them, Unless Moses, His chosen one, Had stood in the breach before Him, To turn back His wrath from destroying.

Darby: And he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses, his chosen, stood before him in the breach, to turn away his fury, lest he should destroy them.

ASV: Therefore he said that he would destroy them, Had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, To turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them .

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Therefore he said  that he would destroy  them, had not  Moses  his chosen  stood  before  him in the breach,  to turn away  his wrath,  lest he should destroy  [them]. 

What does Psalms 106:23 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 106:16-33 - Judgment Restrained By Intercession
The strife between the ungodly and the servants of God has characterized all the centuries. These verses record some of its phases. Moses is called God's chosen, Aaron his saint, while Phinehas is held in honor as one to whom his noble deed was counted for righteousness. But such men are always envied, refused, resisted. Men hate them, but God loves and vindicates them for their loyalty and uncompromising righteousness.
It is beautiful to notice how, so far from human hatred inducing such leaders to turn from their persecutors, it seems to drive them to more intense and ceaseless intercession for them. They stand in the breach, to turn away deserved wrath. From the days of Abraham, who prayed for Sodom, right down the stream of time, the people of God have been his remembrancers, giving Him no rest. Let us cultivate the great art of intercession; and if there is need, let us, like Phinehas, not hesitate to strike strongly in the interests of purity. But while thus standing before men, we must cultivate the grace of humility. We are only servants at the most and must not arrogate more to ourselves. Our authority is only delegated. This is where Moses failed, Numbers 20:2-13. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 106

1  The psalmist exhorts to praise God
4  He prays for pardon of sin, as God pardoned the fathers
7  The story of the people's rebellion, and God's mercy
47  He concludes with prayer and praise

What do the individual words in Psalms 106:23 mean?

Therefore He said that He would destroy them not Moses His chosen one Had stood in the breach before Him to turn away His wrath lest He destroy [them]
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לְֽהַשְׁמִ֫ידָ֥ם לוּלֵ֡י מֹ֘שֶׁ֤ה בְחִיר֗וֹ עָמַ֣ד בַּפֶּ֣רֶץ לְפָנָ֑יו לְהָשִׁ֥יב חֲ֝מָת֗וֹ מֵֽהַשְׁחִֽית

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר  Therefore  He  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לְֽהַשְׁמִ֫ידָ֥ם  that  He  would  destroy  them 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַד  
Sense: to destroy, exterminate, be destroyed, be exterminated.
מֹ֘שֶׁ֤ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
בְחִיר֗וֹ  His  chosen  one 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּחִיר  
Sense: chosen, choice one, chosen one, elect (of God).
עָמַ֣ד  Had  stood 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
בַּפֶּ֣רֶץ  in  the  breach 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: פֶּרֶץ  
Sense: breach, gap, bursting forth.
לְפָנָ֑יו  before  Him 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
לְהָשִׁ֥יב  to  turn  away 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
חֲ֝מָת֗וֹ  His  wrath 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חֵמָא 
Sense: heat, rage, hot displeasure, indignation, anger, wrath, poison, bottles.
מֵֽהַשְׁחִֽית  lest  He  destroy  [them] 
Parse: Preposition-m, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁחַת  
Sense: to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay.