Psalm 106 8

Psalm 106:8 kjv

Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.

Psalm 106:8 nkjv

Nevertheless He saved them for His name's sake, That He might make His mighty power known.

Psalm 106:8 niv

Yet he saved them for his name's sake, to make his mighty power known.

Psalm 106:8 esv

Yet he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make known his mighty power.

Psalm 106:8 nlt

Even so, he saved them ?
to defend the honor of his name
and to demonstrate his mighty power.

Psalm 106 verses

Psalm 106 8 Meaning

Psalm 106:8 states that despite the Israelites' inherent unfaithfulness and rebellion, God graciously delivered them. His motivation was not their merit, but to uphold His own holy character, reputation, and covenant integrity, encompassed in His "name," and to conspicuously display His unmatched strength and ability to save.

Psalm 106 8 Context

Psalm 106 is a penitential and historical psalm that recounts Israel's persistent history of rebellion and unfaithfulness against the LORD, contrasting it sharply with God's steadfast love and mercy. It serves as a communal confession of national sin from the time of the Exodus through their wilderness wanderings and later in the Promised Land, culminating in exile. Verse 8 immediately follows a description of the Israelites' disobedience and lack of understanding even after witnessing God's initial wonders in Egypt (v. 7). This verse, therefore, highlights God's unfathomable grace in saving them at the Red Sea despite their immediate spiritual failing, showcasing His nature as driven by His own purposes rather than their performance. Historically, the verse points to the Exodus event (Exod 14) and the Red Sea crossing, where Pharaoh's forces pursued Israel, and Israel complained, yet God miraculously intervened to deliver them.

Psalm 106 8 Word analysis

• "Nevertheless": The Hebrew vayyoshi'em (וַיּוֹשִׁיעֵם), typically rendered "and He saved them," is used here concessively. The English "nevertheless" captures the strong contrast between Israel's rebellious heart, described in the preceding verse (Ps 106:7), and God's unwavering act of salvation. It underscores the surprising, undeserved nature of God's grace.
• "he saved them": Hebrew: vayyoshi'em (וַיּוֹשִׁיעֵם), derived from the verb yasha' (יָשַׁע). This term signifies divine deliverance, rescue, or the act of bringing to a safe and secure state, often from distress, oppression, or danger. It points to God's sovereign and effective intervention to liberate His people.
• "for his name's sake": Hebrew: l'ma'an sh'mo (לְמַעַן שְׁמוֹ).
  • L'ma'an: A preposition meaning "for the sake of," indicating the motivation, cause, or ultimate purpose.
  • Sh'mo: "His name." In the biblical worldview, God's "name" (שֵׁם יְהוָה) encapsulates the entirety of His revealed being—His character, attributes, reputation, glory, and faithfulness to His covenant promises. When God acts for His name's sake, it means His actions are ultimately designed to uphold His own holy nature, demonstrate His divine attributes, and prevent His glory from being diminished or profaned among the nations. This concept foundationaly teaches that God's salvation is driven by His own self-vindication and purposes, not human worthiness.
• "that he might make": Hebrew: l'hodia' (לְהוֹדִיעַ). This is a Hiphil infinitive from the root yada' (יָדַע), "to know." The Hiphil form means "to cause to know," "to make known," "to proclaim," or "to demonstrate." It implies a public and clear revelation or declaration of truth concerning God's actions.
• "his mighty power": Hebrew: gevurato (גְּבוּרָתוֹ), derived from gevurah (גְּבוּרָה). This term denotes divine strength, might, power, valor, or acts of heroic power. It refers to God's inherent omnipotence and the formidable efficacy of His actions in overcoming obstacles and performing miracles. It emphasizes the undeniable demonstration of God's sovereign strength.
• "to be known": This completes the purpose clause, indicating the intended outcome of God's actions. His saving deeds at the Red Sea were not just for the benefit of Israel, but to make His strength evident to all—Israelites and Egyptians alike.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Nevertheless he saved them": This powerful initial clause immediately establishes the core theme of divine grace in the face of human rebellion. It reveals God's initiative in salvation, which originates from His compassionate nature rather than any human merit, underscoring the unconditional aspect of His deliverance.
• "for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known": These intertwined purpose clauses provide the theological underpinning for God's actions. The first defines the ultimate reason for His action (His self-glory), and the second defines the manifestation of that reason (the display of His omnipotence). God's saving acts serve as public declarations of His unique identity and incomparable power, not only for His people but also for the watching nations, implicitly countering the worship of other deities.

Psalm 106 8 Bonus section

The concept of God acting "for His name's sake" is a pervasive motif throughout the Hebrew Bible, particularly prominent in times when Israel was rebellious or faced national crisis. It serves as a reminder that God's covenant faithfulness and redemptive actions are not earned, but are extensions of His own unchallengeable character and commitment to His self-revealed glory. This theme powerfully counters any notion that God is bound by human righteousness or that salvation is a reward for good behavior. Instead, it asserts divine sovereignty and self-sufficiency as the wellspring of all grace. Furthermore, the public display of "His mighty power" through acts like the Exodus was crucial in an ancient world rife with polytheism, offering irrefutable evidence that Yahweh alone possesses true, saving power. This serves both to vindicate His claims to divinity and to instruct His people in trusting in His unique strength.

Psalm 106 8 Commentary

Psalm 106:8 profoundly articulates that God's saving acts are rooted in His unchanging character and divine purposes, rather than being contingent on human performance. Even at the threshold of their deliverance from Egypt, Israel quickly displayed faithlessness and a lack of understanding. Yet, God's plan to save them remained unwavering. His primary motivation was not their deservingness, but the necessity of upholding His own glorious "name" – His very essence and reputation – before the world. The spectacular salvation at the Red Sea was therefore a potent display of His "mighty power." This demonstration served multiple purposes: to establish His exclusive sovereignty, to solidify His covenant relationship with Israel, and to ensure that His renown as the one true God was proclaimed among all peoples. This verse exemplifies a fundamental principle throughout salvation history: God always acts for His own glory, ensuring that His character and power are supremely revealed, thereby drawing attention to Him as the ultimate source of salvation.