Psalm 106 7

Psalm 106:7 kjv

Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.

Psalm 106:7 nkjv

Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; They did not remember the multitude of Your mercies, But rebelled by the sea?the Red Sea.

Psalm 106:7 niv

When our ancestors were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.

Psalm 106:7 esv

Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.

Psalm 106:7 nlt

Our ancestors in Egypt
were not impressed by the LORD's miraculous deeds.
They soon forgot his many acts of kindness to them.
Instead, they rebelled against him at the Red Sea.

Psalm 106 verses

Psalm 106 7 Meaning

Psalm 106:7 asserts that despite witnessing God's powerful wonders in Egypt and experiencing His abundant mercy, the Israelite ancestors failed to understand or internalize these divine acts. Their ingratitude and lack of discernment culminated in immediate rebellion against God at the Sea of Reeds, a place where His greatest salvation was about to unfold. This verse reveals a fundamental spiritual blindness and forgetfulness that plagued God's people from their very inception as a nation, leading them into defiance even after miraculous deliverance.

Psalm 106 7 Context

Psalm 106 is a confessional and historical psalm that recounts Israel's long history of rebellion against God, from the Exodus to the Babylonian exile. It serves as a stark contrast to Psalm 105, which celebrates God's faithfulness and covenant promises. Psalm 106:7 specifically focuses on the generation of the Exodus, setting the stage for the chronic pattern of disobedience that marks Israel's wilderness journey and subsequent history. This verse serves as a crucial point of reflection, revealing that the Israelites' rebellious spirit was present even at the dawn of their national existence, despite fresh and overwhelming demonstrations of God's power and compassion. It reminds a later audience of the dangers of spiritual amnesia and ungratefulness, serving as a cautionary tale of a people who witnessed God's might yet failed to truly know Him or remain faithful.

Psalm 106 7 Word analysis

• Our fathers (אֲבוֹתֵינוּ - ʾǎḇôṯênū): Refers specifically to the generation of Israelites who experienced the Exodus from Egypt and the wilderness journey. It emphasizes a collective, inherited spiritual failing that is part of Israel's national narrative.
• understood not (לֹא־הִשְׂכִּילוּ - lōʾ-hiśkîlū): From the root sākal, meaning "to act wisely," "to understand," "to discern." This isn't just a lack of intellectual comprehension but a failure of discerning wisdom; they didn't grasp the true significance or implications of God's actions and character. It implies a deeper, spiritual insensitivity that prevented them from applying divine truth to their lives.
• your wonders (פְּלָאֶיךָ - pəläʾeḵä): From peleʾ, meaning "a marvel," "a wonder," "a miracle." These are God's supernatural, awe-inspiring acts performed in Egypt, particularly the plagues and the deliverance through the Red Sea. These deeds were meant to reveal God's power and uniqueness.
• in Egypt (בְמִצְרָיִם - bəmiṣrāyim): The setting for the mighty displays of God's power against Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt, meant to be irrefutable proof of Yahweh's supremacy.
• remembered not (לֹא־זָכְרוּ - lōʾ-zāḵərû): From zākar, "to remember," "to be mindful." This indicates more than a cognitive lapse; it's a failure of spiritual retention and gratitude. They did not hold God's mercies dear in their hearts and minds, leading to a neglect of His character and faithfulness.
• the multitude of your mercies (רֹב חֲסָדֶיךָ - rōḇ ḥăsāḏeḵā): "Multitude" (rov) implies abundance. "Mercies" (ḥesed) refers to God's steadfast love, loyal affection, and covenant faithfulness. It describes the rich, deep, and unceasing lovingkindness God consistently showed His people, extending far beyond the initial deliverance. They ignored the depth of God's commitment to them.
• provoked him (וַיַּמְרוּ - wayyamrû): From mārāh, meaning "to rebel," "to be contentious," "to defy." This describes an active, defiant resistance to God's authority and leadership. It signifies a hardened heart and a deliberate rejection of His guidance and goodness.
• at the sea, even at the Red Sea (עַל־יָם בְּיַם־סוּף - ʿal-yām bəyam-sûp̄): Yam suph literally means "Sea of Reeds." This specific location is crucial as it was the very threshold of their miraculous salvation from Egypt, where God would part the waters. Their rebellion occurred at the immediate brink of their deliverance, before the waters were even dry, highlighting the instantaneous nature of their ingratitude and defiance despite being surrounded by His impending power.

• Our fathers... did not understand Your wonders... nor remember the multitude of Your mercies: This phrase powerfully contrasts God's magnificent display of power and covenant love with the human failure to grasp or appreciate it. It reveals a deep-seated spiritual blindness where divine revelation and benevolence are met with unseeing eyes and ungrateful hearts. This dual failure – a lack of discerning wisdom (haskilu) and a lack of remembrance (zakhru) – set the stage for their immediate disobedience.
• But provoked him at the sea, even at the Red Sea: This stark juxtaposition highlights the swiftness and audacity of their rebellion. The act of provoking God (yamru) at the very place where His miraculous deliverance was manifesting demonstrates extreme ingratitude and a direct challenge to the one who was saving them. It indicates that the external witnessing of wonders alone is insufficient without an internal, responsive heart of faith and gratitude.

Psalm 106 7 Bonus section

The concept of "remembering" (zakar) in the Bible is much more profound than simple mental recollection; it often implies an active re-engagement with an event or truth, allowing it to shape one's present actions and attitudes. When the Israelites "remembered not," it suggests not just that the memory slipped their minds, but that they failed to act in accordance with what those divine acts revealed about God and His covenant. This active forgetting contributed to their willingness to rebel. Conversely, for God to "remember" often means for Him to act on His covenant promises. Thus, the verse paints a stark picture: God remembers and acts, but His people fail to remember and thus act contrary to His will. This pattern highlights that the relationship between God and humanity is reciprocal in its responsibilities – God's faithfulness merits a human response of gratitude and obedience.

Psalm 106 7 Commentary

Psalm 106:7 serves as a poignant reminder of humanity's stubborn propensity for rebellion and forgetfulness, even in the face of overwhelming divine evidence. It presents a paradox: the Israelites witnessed God's awe-inspiring "wonders" and experienced the "multitude of His mercies," yet failed to genuinely "understand" or "remember" them. Their understanding was superficial, lacking the wisdom to draw proper conclusions about God's character and intentions. Their remembrance was fleeting, failing to produce lasting gratitude or trust. This led directly to their act of "provoking" God at the "Red Sea"—the very point of their greatest rescue. This rebellion was not an isolated incident but the first manifestation of a persistent spiritual ailment: a hardening of the heart that discredits past deliverances and dismisses present grace. The verse therefore condemns spiritual amnesia and underlines the vital necessity of reflection and gratitude to cultivate an obedient heart towards the Giver of all good.