Psalms 106:33
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spoke unadvisedly with his lips.
American King James Version (AKJV)
Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spoke unadvisedly with his lips.
American Standard Version (ASV)
Because they were rebellious against his spirit, And he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
For they made his spirit bitter, and he said unwise things.
Webster's Revision
Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spoke unadvisedly with his lips.
World English Bible
because they were rebellious against his spirit, he spoke rashly with his lips.
English Revised Version (ERV)
Because they were rebellious against his spirit, and he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
Clarke's Psalms 106:33 Bible Commentary
They provoked his spirit - המרו himru, from מרה marah, to rebel: they brought it into a rebellious state; he was soured and irritated, and was off his guard.
So that he spake unadvisedly with his lips - For this sentence we have only these two words in the Hebrew, ויבטא בשפתיו vayebatte bisephathaiv, he stuttered or stammered with his lips, indicating that he was transported with anger. See the notes on Numbers 20:10-12 (note).
Barnes's Psalms 106:33 Bible Commentary
Because they provoked his spirit - literally, "They made his spirit bitter," or they embittered his soul. They threw him off his guard, so that instead of manifesting the meekness and gentleness which so eminently characterized him in general (see Numbers 12:3), he gave way to expressions of anger. See Numbers 20:10.
So that he spake unadvisedly with his lips - Passionately; in a severe, harsh, and threatening manner. He did not bear with them as he should have done; he did not refer to God, to his power, and to his goodness as he should have done; he spake as if the whole thing depended on him and Aaron: "Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?" The word rendered "spake unadvisedly" - בטא bâṭâ' - means properly to "babble;" and then, to talk idly, or unadvisedly; to utter that which has no meaning, or an improper meaning. Let us not harshly blame Moses, until we are placed in circumstances similar to his, and see how we would ourselves act. Who is there that would not have been provoked as he was, or even to a greater degree? If there are any such, let them "cast the first stone."