Psalm 105 27

Psalm 105:27 kjv

They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.

Psalm 105:27 nkjv

They performed His signs among them, And wonders in the land of Ham.

Psalm 105:27 niv

They performed his signs among them, his wonders in the land of Ham.

Psalm 105:27 esv

They performed his signs among them and miracles in the land of Ham.

Psalm 105:27 nlt

They performed miraculous signs among the Egyptians,
and wonders in the land of Ham.

Psalm 105 verses

Psalm 105 27 Meaning

Psalm 105:27 states that God, through His chosen servants Moses and Aaron, displayed His powerful, miraculous "signs" and "wonders" within the nation of Egypt, identified as "the land of Ham." This verse highlights the divine authorship and overt demonstration of God's irresistible power, which served to validate His messengers and initiate the process of liberating His people from bondage, concurrently bringing judgment upon their oppressors and their gods.

Psalm 105 27 Context

Psalm 105 is a hymn recounting God's faithfulness to Israel through their early history, from Abraham to the settlement in Canaan. The psalm functions as a didactic piece, reminding God's people of His covenant promises and the mighty acts by which He fulfilled them. Following the calling of Abraham and Jacob's descent into Egypt, Psalm 105:23-26 describes Israel's increase in number and subsequent enslavement, followed by God sending Moses and Aaron. Verse 27 specifically initiates the core narrative of Israel's deliverance, detailing the beginning of God's direct intervention against Egypt through His appointed servants. The psalm’s overall theme emphasizes God's sovereign control over history, His unfailing loyalty to His covenant, and His demonstrative power in delivering His chosen people.

Psalm 105 27 Word analysis

• They (Moses and Aaron): This plural pronoun explicitly refers back to "Moses His servant, And Aaron whom He had chosen" from Psalm 105:26. These were the two divinely appointed individuals tasked with confronting Pharaoh and leading Israel out of bondage (Ex 3-4). Their agency was fully subordinate to God's will.

• showed / placed (Hebrew: שָׂם - śām): This verb implies action, appointment, or presentation. It denotes that Moses and Aaron didn't merely perform these acts from their own power, but placed or exhibited them by divine command and empowerment. The nuance is that God used them as instruments through whom His works were manifested. It highlights divine authority behind the actions.

• His signs (Hebrew: אֹתֹתָיו - 'ōtōtāw): The root word 'ot (אות) means a sign, mark, or miracle. The plural 'ōtōtāw ("His signs") specifically refers to the ten miraculous plagues brought upon Egypt (Ex 7-12). These "signs" served as irrefutable evidence of Yahweh's existence, power, and justice, testifying to His sovereignty over both nature and other gods. Each plague specifically targeted and humiliated an aspect of the Egyptian pantheon or Pharaoh's claim to divine status.

• among them (Hebrew: בָּם - bāhem): This phrase specifies the recipients of the divine manifestations – the Egyptians. The "signs" were not hidden but openly displayed within Egyptian society, directly impacting them and demonstrating God's supreme power over their land, gods, and Pharaoh. It signifies a public confrontation and declaration.

• And wonders (Hebrew: וּמֹפְתִים - u-mōf'tîm): The term môfēt (מופת) means a wonder or portent. It is frequently paired with 'ot ("sign") throughout the Old and New Testaments. While 'ot emphasizes the evidentiary nature, môfēt stresses the awe-inspiring, extraordinary, and often fearful impact of the miraculous event. Together, "signs and wonders" highlight both the indicative purpose and the overwhelming nature of God's acts.

• in the land of Ham (Hebrew: בְּאֶרֶץ חָם - bĕ'erets ḥām): This is a poetic and ancient biblical designation for Egypt. Ham was one of Noah's sons, and his descendants, particularly Mizraim (Gen 10:6), settled in Egypt. The phrase contrasts this pagan nation, which oppressed God's people, with the promised land (of the covenant) and underscores God's absolute sovereignty extending even over nations that did not acknowledge Him. It highlights God's power active universally.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "They showed His signs... And wonders": This grouping clearly distinguishes between the human instruments ("They" – Moses and Aaron) and the divine source and ownership ("His signs," "wonders"). While Moses and Aaron were the agents, the power and authentication belonged solely to God, underscoring that these were divine operations. The pairing of "signs and wonders" emphasizes the twofold purpose: to provide evidence of God's intervention and to evoke awe and fear.
  • "among them... in the land of Ham": This phrase defines the specific arena of God's majestic display. The plagues were inflicted upon the Egyptians within their own territory. "Land of Ham" reinforces the foreign, idolatrous nature of Egypt, serving as a powerful backdrop for Yahweh to demonstrate His supremacy over all nations and their false deities, ultimately showing that even a mighty empire and its gods are subject to His will.

Psalm 105 27 Bonus section

• The tandem "signs and wonders" (otot u-mofetim) is a consistent biblical idiom, often associated with a display of divine power meant to authenticate a message or messenger (e.g., God working through apostles in Acts 2:43; Heb 2:4).
• Psalm 105 provides God's perspective on the Exodus narrative, focusing on His faithfulness and mighty acts, unlike Psalm 106, which reflects on Israel's disobedience and God's patience during the same period.
• The plagues served a multifaceted purpose: they were instruments of judgment, acts of deliverance, and a profound form of evangelism—showing Egyptians the true God (Ex 12:12), while solidifying Israel's understanding of their God's unique identity and power.

Psalm 105 27 Commentary

Psalm 105:27 marks the beginning of the climactic phase of God's historical deliverance for Israel, highlighting His direct and public intervention in the most powerful nation of the time. The verse is intentionally concise, attributing the miraculous demonstrations—the plagues of Egypt—to God alone, with Moses and Aaron acting as His obedient agents. These "signs and wonders" were not arbitrary displays of power; they were divinely ordained acts of judgment that directly challenged and debunked the myriad of Egyptian gods. Each plague served to demonstrate Yahweh's sovereignty over specific aspects of nature and life that Egyptians deified, thereby dismantling their religious system and humiliating Pharaoh's claims to deity. The objective was not merely Israel's physical liberation but also God's self-revelation: the Egyptians were to "know that I am the LORD" (Ex 7:5). This verse encapsulates the faithfulness of God in remembering His covenant with Abraham, delivering His chosen people, and displaying His glory to all, setting the stage for the miraculous Exodus.