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Psalm 106:39
Thus they were defiled with their works, and prostituted themselves in their deeds.
37Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.
38They shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan. The land was polluted with blood.
39Thus they were defiled with their works, and prostituted themselves in their deeds.
40Therefore the LORD burned with anger against his people. He abhorred his inheritance.
41He gave them into the hand of the nations. Those who hated them ruled over them.
Notice
The word “defiled” follows the killing of children, making Israel’s unfaithfulness to God inseparable here from the harm done through their worship of idols.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What do the words “their works” and “their deeds” emphasize about Israel’s responsibility?
Write on thisHow does the shedding of innocent blood shape your reading of the prostitution metaphor?
Write on thisWhere, if anywhere, do your actions conflict with the faithfulness to God you profess?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Numbers 15:39It shall be to you for a fringe, that you may see it, and remember all the LORD’s commandments, and do them; and that you don’t follow your own heart and your …Both use prostitution language for unfaithfulness expressed in conduct, with Numbers urging remembrance and obedience to the LORD’s commandments.
Judges 8:27Gideon made an ephod out of it, and put it in Ophrah, his city. Then all Israel played the prostitute with it there; and it became a snare to Gideon and to his …Both describe Israel’s idolatry through prostitution language; Judges names Gideon’s ephod as the object that became a snare.
Ezekiel 20:18I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Don’t walk in the statutes of your fathers. Don’t observe their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols.Both connect defilement with idolatrous conduct, while Ezekiel warns children against following their fathers’ practices.
Hosea 1:2When the LORD spoke at first by Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, “Go, take for yourself a wife of prostitution and children of unfaithfulness; for the land …Both use sexual unfaithfulness as an image for religious betrayal; Hosea names that betrayal as forsaking the LORD.
Leviticus 20:5then I will set my face against that man and against his family, and will cut him off, and all who play the prostitute after him to play the prostitute with …Both describe idolatry as prostitution and place it in a setting of God’s judgment against those who practice it.
Leviticus 17:7They shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to the goat idols, after which they play the prostitute. This shall be a statute forever to them throughout their …Both connect prostitution imagery with forbidden sacrifices: goat idols in Leviticus and demons in the psalm’s surrounding lines.
Ecclesiastes 7:29Behold, I have only found this: that God made mankind upright; but they search for many inventions.”Both concern human wrongdoing, though Ecclesiastes speaks of mankind’s pursuits in general while the psalm names Israel’s defiling deeds.
Deuteronomy 31:16The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, you shall sleep with your fathers. This people will rise up and play the prostitute after the strange gods of the land where …Both describe Israel’s pursuit of other gods as prostitution; Deuteronomy names it as forsaking God and breaking his covenant.
Psalm 73:27For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.Both speak of unfaithfulness to God, with judgment stated in Psalm 73 and described in Psalm 106’s surrounding lines.
Ezekiel 20:30–31“Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Do you pollute yourselves in the way of your fathers? Do you play the prostitute after their …Both pair pollution with prostitution imagery to describe Israel’s participation in practices that betray God.
Hosea 9:1Don’t rejoice, Israel, to jubilation like the nations; for you were unfaithful to your God. You love the wages of a prostitute at every grain threshing floor.Both use prostitution imagery for Israel’s unfaithfulness to God, with Hosea locating that betrayal at grain threshing floors.
Revelation 17:1–6One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here. I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who sits on …Both use prostitution imagery in settings of judgment, though Revelation’s opening line does not identify the deeds described in Psalm 106.
Where this verse fits
Guilt and confession. injustice and anger. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
God’s anger in the surrounding lines takes the children’s bloodshed with full seriousness. Belonging to his people does not make these deeds less evil.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).