Psalm 106 6

Psalm 106:6 kjv

We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.

Psalm 106:6 nkjv

We have sinned with our fathers, We have committed iniquity, We have done wickedly.

Psalm 106:6 niv

We have sinned, even as our ancestors did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly.

Psalm 106:6 esv

Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness.

Psalm 106:6 nlt

Like our ancestors, we have sinned.
We have done wrong! We have acted wickedly!

Psalm 106 verses

Psalm 106 6 Meaning

Psalm 106:6 is a corporate confession of sin by the psalmist on behalf of the nation of Israel. It declares that the current generation is equally culpable in the pattern of rebellion and wrongdoing as their ancestors. The verse uses a threefold progression of terms for sin, escalating from an initial failure ("sinned") to moral distortion ("committed iniquity") to outright rebellion and defiance against God ("done wickedly"), emphasizing the deep-seated and persistent nature of their disobedience throughout history.

Psalm 106 6 Context

Psalm 106 belongs to a category of psalms known as "history psalms" (along with Ps 78 and Ps 105), which recount the narrative of Israel's relationship with God, particularly their cycles of rebellion and God's persistent faithfulness. This specific Psalm functions as a national lament and corporate confession. It begins with a call to praise (v.1-5) before immediately transitioning to this confession in verse 6, setting the stage for the detailed recounting of Israel's transgressions throughout their history from Egypt to the Babylonian exile.

The historical context is critical: the psalm reflects on Israel's journey, especially their time in the wilderness, during the period of judges, and under the monarchy. The audience would have been aware of their own national history of faithlessness and judgment, culminating in events like the destruction of the Temple and exile. The psalmist here acknowledges that the contemporary generation is not superior to their forefathers but participates in the same sin pattern. This is a profound polemic against any notion of self-righteousness or blaming only past generations; it asserts the present community's shared guilt and inherited tendencies towards disobedience. It prepares the reader to understand why the nation has faced hardship and judgment—because their actions consistently provoked the divine patience and broke the covenant.

Psalm 106 6 Word analysis

• We: The first-person plural pronoun, identifying with the collective, emphasizing a corporate confession rather than an individual one. It signifies shared identity and responsibility with the national body.
• have sinned (חָטָא, ḥaṭa'): This Hebrew word broadly means "to miss the mark," "to fall short," or "to go astray." It speaks of deviation from God's revealed will or standards. It can be unintentional or intentional but highlights the failure to align with righteousness. This is the foundational and most common term for sin in the Hebrew Bible.
• with our fathers (עִם־אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, ʾim-ʾavoteinu): This phrase highlights a continuation and inheritance of sinful patterns. It doesn't imply an excuse for personal sin but rather acknowledges a deep-rooted historical and communal complicity. The present generation has replicated or continued the same errors that plagued previous generations. This connects the psalm's confession directly to the historical narrative that follows.
• we have committed (הֶעֱוִינוּ, heʿewinu): From the root עָוָה (ʿavah), meaning "to bend," "to twist," "to make crooked," or "to distort." "Iniquity" implies a perversion or twisting of moral truth, a departure from the straight path. It often carries the sense of guilt incurred through this distortion, referring to a deeper, more intentional deviation from what is right, signifying moral depravity or wickedness that causes harm or injustice.
• iniquity (often translated ʾavon elsewhere): Here, it is the verb form derived from the root ʿavah. It underscores an act that distorts, perverts, or deviates from righteousness. It moves beyond merely "missing the mark" to actively corrupting or twisting.
• we have done (הִרְשַׁעְנוּ, hirshaʿnu): From the root רָשַׁע (rashaʿ), which means "to be guilty," "to condemn," or "to act wickedly." This is the strongest term in the sequence. It refers to open, deliberate rebellion against God and His laws, indicating a legal and moral culpability. It denotes the conscious act of the "wicked" person who opposes God and seeks their own way.
• wickedly: This adverbial phrase captures the meaning of hirshaʿnu. It implies acting with an evil intent, defying God's justice and authority, and exhibiting a blatant disregard for His commands.

Psalm 106 6 Bonus section

The structure of Psalm 106:6 with its three ascending terms for sin (missing the mark, moral distortion, willful rebellion) is a rhetorical device that highlights the gravity and pervasiveness of Israel's disobedience. This deliberate progression mirrors patterns seen in other lament and confession psalms, demonstrating a profound spiritual introspection. This confession is fundamental to seeking God's favor and liberation from national plight, reflecting a deep understanding that God's judgment, though painful, is always righteous in response to their unrighteousness. The repeated failures also implicitly highlight God's consistent covenant loyalty and extraordinary patience, which allowed Israel to persist despite their repeated turning away.

Psalm 106 6 Commentary

Psalm 106:6 offers a profound confession, not of isolated individual faults, but of systemic, corporate sin deeply embedded within a nation's history. By connecting their current actions to "our fathers," the psalmist is not deflecting blame but acknowledging the enduring human propensity for rebellion that is passed down through generations, culturally and often individually adopted. The climactic progression of "sinned," "committed iniquity," and "done wickedly" portrays an increasing severity of transgression: from an initial failing, to a twisting of moral standards, culminating in outright defiance of God's authority. This progression underscores the depth and breadth of human alienation from the Holy One.

This verse serves as a crucial theological insight: accountability extends beyond personal, isolated acts; it embraces communal and historical patterns of sin. It invites contemporary believers to engage in honest self-examination and corporate repentance, recognizing the ongoing human struggle against sin, and the pervasive nature of its influence. It sets the stage for God's redemptive work, emphasizing the desperate need for His unwavering mercy in the face of persistent human faithlessness.