The Meaning of Psalms 107:41 Explained

Psalms 107:41

KJV: Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.

YLT: And setteth on high the needy from affliction, And placeth families as a flock.

Darby: But he secureth the needy one on high from affliction, and maketh him families like flocks.

ASV: Yet setteth he the needy on high from affliction, And maketh him families like a flock.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Yet setteth he the poor  on high  from affliction,  and maketh  [him] families  like a flock. 

What does Psalms 107:41 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 107:41 mean?

And yet He sets on high the poor far from affliction and makes like a flock [their] families
וַיְשַׂגֵּ֣ב אֶבְי֣וֹן מֵע֑וֹנִי וַיָּ֥שֶׂם כַּ֝צֹּ֗אן מִשְׁפָּחֽוֹת

וַיְשַׂגֵּ֣ב  And  yet  He  sets  on  high 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׂגַב  
Sense: to be high, be inaccessibly high.
אֶבְי֣וֹן  the  poor 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: אֶבְיׄון  
Sense: in want, needy, chiefly poor, needy person.
מֵע֑וֹנִי  far  from  affliction 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֳנִי  
Sense: affliction, poverty, misery.
וַיָּ֥שֶׂם  and  makes 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
כַּ֝צֹּ֗אן  like  a  flock 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: צֹאן  
Sense: small cattle, sheep, sheep and goats, flock, flocks.
מִשְׁפָּחֽוֹת  [their]  families 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: מִשְׁפָּחָה  
Sense: clan, family.