Psalm 44 20

Psalm 44:20 kjv

If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;

Psalm 44:20 nkjv

If we had forgotten the name of our God, Or stretched out our hands to a foreign god,

Psalm 44:20 niv

If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,

Psalm 44:20 esv

If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,

Psalm 44:20 nlt

If we had forgotten the name of our God
or spread our hands in prayer to foreign gods,

Psalm 44 verses

Psalm 44 20 Meaning

Psalm 44:20 states a categorical denial of apostasy or idolatry on the part of the supplicant community. It presents a hypothetical scenario—forgetting the identity or presence of their God, or actively engaging in the worship of foreign deities—and implicitly asserts that such actions have not been committed. This declaration is a foundational part of the psalm's communal lament, as the community faces suffering not understood as divine judgment for their unfaithfulness, but rather as an inexplicable trial despite their adherence to the covenant. It emphasizes their faithfulness, making their current distress a profound theological challenge to God's covenantal promises.

Psalm 44 20 Context

Psalm 44 is a deeply emotive communal lament, one of Israel's collective pleas to God during a severe national crisis, likely a military defeat or widespread oppression. The preceding verses (Psa 44:1-16) recount God's past mighty acts on behalf of His people, contrasting them with their current dire situation where they feel abandoned and shamed. They attribute past victories to God alone, not their own strength. Verses 17-22 mark a crucial shift where the community asserts their faithfulness, declaring they have not forsaken God or His covenant, making their suffering profoundly perplexing. Verse 20 directly precedes their passionate denial of wrongdoing in verse 21 ("All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten you... If we had forgotten the name of our God...") and sets the stage for their direct questioning of God in the concluding verses (Psa 44:23-26), imploring Him to awaken and deliver them. The historical setting is debated but points to a time of severe distress where the conventional wisdom of sin leading to punishment seems broken from the community's perspective. It highlights the theological tension of suffering endured by those who believe themselves to be righteous, directly confronting any contemporary belief that national misfortune always implies specific national apostasy.

Psalm 44 20 Word analysis

• If: Hebrew: ’im (אִם). This word introduces a conditional clause. It sets up a hypothetical premise, which the psalmist intends to deny in the subsequent verses. It's a rhetorical device to underscore their innocence.
• we have forgotten: Hebrew: shākhaḥnu (שָׁכַחְנוּ), from the root shākhaḥ (שָׁכַח). This verb means "to forget," but in a biblical context, it often implies more than a mere lapse of memory. It suggests neglecting, forsaking, abandoning, or ceasing to acknowledge, often with a nuance of disloyalty or spiritual amnesia regarding God's acts or identity. It denotes a deliberate turning away or a persistent lack of awareness in action.
• the name of our God: Hebrew: shēm ʾĕlōhēnû (שֵׁם אֱלֹהֵינוּ).
  • Name (shēm): In ancient Near Eastern thought and biblical theology, a "name" signifies much more than a label; it embodies character, reputation, authority, presence, and identity. Forgetting God's name means forgetting His nature, His power, His covenant, His promises, and ultimately, His very identity as their sovereign Lord.
  • our God (ʾĕlōhēnû): This possessive suffix ("our") emphasizes the covenantal relationship between God and Israel, highlighting God's specific election and their special relationship with Him.
• or: Hebrew: wə (וְ). A conjunction used here to introduce an alternative, second condition, completing the comprehensive scope of potential disobedience being denied.
• stretched out our hands: Hebrew: pāras yadênû (פָּרַשְׂנוּ יָדֵינוּ), from the verb pāras (פָּרַשׂ) "to spread out" and yad (יָד) "hand." Stretching out hands is a common gesture in prayer or worship, signifying adoration, supplication, or allegiance. Here, it specifically denotes the act of active worship or pledging allegiance.
• to a foreign god: Hebrew: ləʾēl zār (לְאֵל זָר).
  • to (lê): A preposition indicating direction or object of the action.
  • a god (ʾēl): A generic term for a deity, but used here in the context of the nations surrounding Israel.
  • foreign (zār): Means "strange," "alien," "not one's own," implying a deity from another nation or a deity unknown to Israel in the context of their covenant with YHWH. This phrase directly targets idolatry, the breach of the First and Second Commandments.

Words-group analysis

• "If we have forgotten the name of our God": This phrase speaks to an internal, spiritual lapse—a failure of remembrance, loyalty, and recognition of who YHWH truly is to them and His covenant relationship. It encompasses a potential shift in heart and mind, a silent, internal drift from the true God. This could involve neglect of His laws, His testimonies, or His historical acts of deliverance, leading to a diminished awareness of His sovereignty.
• "or stretched out our hands to a foreign god": This part describes an external, overt act of rebellion and idolatry. "Stretching out hands" implies an active, public act of worship or pledge of allegiance to a false deity. This is a direct violation of the foundational commandments, acknowledging or serving other gods, a stark betrayal of the covenant with YHWH. The use of "or" shows that both internal neglect and external idolatry are comprehensively denied, demonstrating the psalmist's strong assertion of loyalty on both fronts.

Psalm 44 20 Bonus section

The juxtaposition of "forgetting the name of our God" and "stretching out our hands to a foreign god" provides a powerful picture of comprehensive covenant fidelity. The former points to an inward spiritual decline—a lack of devotion, a diminished recognition of God's character and claims. The latter points to outward acts of worship given to false deities. By denying both internal spiritual lapse and external ritual apostasy, the psalm sets an extremely high bar for their asserted innocence. This strong declaration is critical for understanding the emotional intensity of the psalm, as it posits that the nation is enduring undeserved affliction, leading to a crisis of faith that God must intervene to resolve. The use of "name" (shem) highlights the intimate relationship and identity linked to the Lord God; to forget His name is to lose sight of Him entirely, functionally removing Him from their active thought and allegiance, making space for other influences.

Psalm 44 20 Commentary

Psalm 44:20 stands as a crucial theological declaration within the psalm's communal lament. It is not a hypothetical question about sin, but a strong assertion of the community's faithfulness to the covenant, designed to frame their subsequent complaint. The verse divides Israel's potential spiritual offenses into two categories: a more subtle internal drifting ("forgetting the name of our God") and overt external idolatry ("stretched out our hands to a foreign god"). By denying both, the psalmist emphasizes that their current severe suffering is not a just consequence of overt sin or apostasy, challenging the typical biblical framework of cause-and-effect regarding blessing and cursing in the covenant. This denial elevates their suffering to an inexplicable paradox from their perspective, shifting the burden of understanding (and action) back onto God. It underpins the bold request in the concluding verses, effectively asking God why He seems to have abandoned them despite their fidelity.

This verse challenges comfortable assumptions about divine judgment. It underscores that God's people can indeed suffer immensely despite their faithfulness, raising profound questions about God's ways that are explored throughout the wisdom literature (e.g., Job) and later in the New Testament concerning suffering in Christ (Rom 8:36, Psa 44:22 being quoted). It highlights the depths of sincere devotion, even amidst inexplicable distress.