What Does Psalm 107:36 Mean in the King James?
And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The same Hebrew root makes the hungry dwell and names the city as a dwelling: those given a place become able to establish one.
THE MEANING
Your need does not leave you only receiving. You are brought into a place to dwell, and from that settled ground you help establish a city fit for habitation.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse undoes the belief that hunger leaves you without a place or agency: the hungry are given a dwelling and become city-makers.
THE ROOT
וַיּוֹשֶׁב
vayyoshev
GROWS FROM
י־ש־ב
yashav
To sit down, remain, or dwell.
The verb means that he causes the hungry to dwell; the word translated “habitation” is מוֹשָׁב (moshav), from this same root. English gives “dwell” and “habitation” different forms, while Hebrew links being settled with the dwelling that can be established.
ALSO GROWS
yashav: To sit, remain, or dwell.
יָשַׁב
This is the root beneath “maketh … to dwell,” showing that the hungry are settled into a place.
moshav: A dwelling, settlement, or place to sit.
מוֹשָׁב
This is the word translated “habitation”; it shares the root of “dwell” in the same verse.
yoshev: One who sits or dwells; an inhabitant.
יֹשֵׁב
This branch names the person who belongs in a dwelling, extending the verse’s movement from being settled to having a place.
THE PATTERN
Provision moves people in need into settled belonging and gives them a place from which life can be established.
God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.THE THREAD
And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.The phrase “city of habitation” uses מוֹשָׁב (moshav, dwelling), the same root as “dwell” and “habitation” in verse 36. There the city is a destination; here the hungry are settled and establish a city of their own.
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