Psalm 106:38
ESV
they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood.
NIV
They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood.
NASB
And shed innocent blood, The blood of their sons and their daughters Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; And the land was defiled with the blood.
CSB
They shed innocent blood— the blood of their sons and daughters whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; so the land became polluted with blood.
NLT
They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters. By sacrificing them to the idols of Canaan, they polluted the land with murder.
KJV
And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.
NKJV
And shed innocent blood, The blood of their sons and daughters, Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with blood.
What does Psalm 106:38 mean?
Please see our chapter commentary on Psalm 106, verse-level content coming soon!Psalm 106:34–46 summarizes the book of Judges. When Israel first began the conquest of the Promised Land, all was well. Yet they soon fell short of God's commands and were corrupted by the pagan Canaanites. This began a cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and rescue that continued for many generations (Judges 2:16–19). Through all those trials, the Lord continued to preserve His people—a demonstration of His loyal, merciful love.
The psalmist calls on the people to worship God because of His loyal, merciful love for the nation of Israel. Evidence of this love is given in the form of Israel's many national sins. These included many acts of faithlessness during the exodus from Egypt, and cycles of idolatry during the conquest of Canaan. Even so, the Lord preserved the nation rather than destroying it. The song closes with another prayer for rescue and a blessing directed at God.
