Psalm 77:12 kjv
I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
Psalm 77:12 nkjv
I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds.
Psalm 77:12 niv
I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds."
Psalm 77:12 esv
I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.
Psalm 77:12 nlt
They are constantly in my thoughts.
I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.
Psalm 77 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 105:5 | Remember his wonderful works that he has done, his miracles… | Remember God's past works. |
| Ps 143:5 | I remember the days of old; I meditate on all your works… | Meditating on God's historical works in distress. |
| Isa 51:9 | Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord… Are you not the one who cut Rahab… | Remembering God's past acts of deliverance. |
| Exod 15:11 | Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? | God's unique power in doing wonders. |
| Deut 4:9 | Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen… | Command to remember God's works. |
| Deut 8:2 | You shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you… | Remember God's leading and provision. |
| Jer 2:5 | What fault did your fathers find in me that they went far from me…? | Forgetting God's wonders leads to turning away. |
| Joel 2:26 | You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you… | God deals wondrously; calls for praise. |
| Ps 78:4 | We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. | Committing to pass on the memory of God's deeds. |
| Josh 4:6 | When your children ask… What do these stones mean to you? | Stones as a memorial to God's works. |
| 1 Chr 16:12 | Remember his wonderful works that he has done, his miracles… | Exhortation to remember God's mighty acts. |
| Ps 42:6 | Why are you cast down, O my soul…? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. | Shift from despair to hope through faith. |
| Heb 13:8 | Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. | God's unchanging nature underscores His past works' relevance. |
| Heb 10:32 | Recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings… | Remembering past endurance strengthens present faith. |
| 1 Pet 1:13 | Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you… | Minds fixed on future hope, grounded in God's faithfulness. |
| Rom 15:4 | For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. | Old Testament accounts provide instruction and hope. |
| Phil 4:6 | Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. | Remembrance fosters thankfulness over anxiety. |
| Lam 3:21 | But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: | Remembrance as a source of hope in distress. |
| Ps 77:11 | I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. | Directly precedes this verse, showing resolve. |
| Ps 103:2 | Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. | Not forgetting God's good deeds. |
| Isa 43:18-19 | Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old… I am doing a new thing. | Paradoxically, while remembering His nature, God also moves forward in new ways. |
Psalm 77 verses
Psalm 77 12 Meaning
Psalm 77:12 declares the psalmist's intentional resolve to recall and meditate upon the divine acts of power and faithfulness exhibited by God throughout history. It is a pivot in a psalm of lament, moving from an anguished focus on present suffering to a hopeful remembrance of God's mighty interventions. This remembering is not mere intellectual assent but an active, faith-building process of dwelling on God's past demonstrations of wonder-working power.
Psalm 77 12 Context
Psalm 77 is a Maskil, often interpreted as an instructive poem. It opens with the psalmist, Asaph, crying out to God in deep distress and emotional turmoil. The first ten verses express intense internal struggle, unanswered prayer, and a questioning of God's faithfulness ("Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his tender mercies?" Ps 77:9). The psalmist remembers former times, but this remembrance initially intensifies his distress as it highlights the contrast with his current suffering. Verse 10 marks a turning point where the psalmist identifies his current suffering as "my infirmity" (referring to his weak faith or misunderstanding) and deliberately chooses to shift his focus. Psalm 77:11-20 then reflects a deliberate redirection of the psalmist's mind to actively recall God's historical acts of salvation, particularly the Exodus. This verse (77:12) is part of that conscious shift, moving from despair to a deliberate remembrance of God's power and character, ultimately leading to renewed trust and confidence. The cultural context emphasizes God's redemptive history as central to Israel's identity and hope, particularly the monumental wonder of the Exodus which underscored YHWH's uniqueness as a sovereign deliverer.
Psalm 77 12 Word analysis
- I will remember:
- Hebrew: zakhar (זָכַר). This is more than mere cognitive recall. It implies a mindful, deliberate act of bringing to mind, dwelling upon, and internalizing. It often has a volitional and active connotation, encompassing meditation and reflection. It means to "make present" what happened in the past, to let it inform current reality and hope. It’s a decision to re-engage with past divine revelation.
- the deeds:
- Hebrew: ma'aleel (מַעֲלָל) or ma'aseh (מַעֲשֶׂה), though 77:12 specifically uses ma'alalei for 'deeds'. Ma'alel refers to doings, practices, acts, or exploits, particularly implying the magnitude and character of the actions. In this divine context, it refers to God's interventions and powerful acts in history, demonstrating His nature and will.
- of the Lord:
- Hebrew: Yah (יָהּ). This is a shortened, poetic form of the personal covenant name of God, YHWH. Its use here adds a solemn, worshipful tone and reinforces the personal and unchanging character of the God of Israel who performed these historical deeds.
- yes, I will remember:
- This repetition of zakhar ("I will remember") functions as an emphatic declaration. The psalmist reiterates his resolve, underscoring the determination to choose faith over despair, to actively pivot his focus. It shows an intentional mental discipline.
- your wonders:
- Hebrew: pele' (פֶּלֶא). Refers to extraordinary, marvelous, astounding, or miraculous acts that evoke awe and wonder because they transcend natural laws or human capability. These are acts that reveal God's unique power and purpose. In the context of the Exodus, these would be the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and wilderness provisions.
- of old:
- Hebrew: miqqedem (מִקֶּדֶם). Means from ancient times, from antiquity, long ago. It points to God's historical and continuous operation in the past, often referencing formative events like the Exodus or even creation. It anchors the present hope in a proven record of divine activity stretching back through history.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "I will remember the deeds of the Lord": This phrase asserts personal, deliberate engagement with God's historical activity. It's a statement of faith and intellectual effort to counteract spiritual amnesia or current emotional distress. It implies that remembering God's actions is essential for maintaining faith and perspective.
- "yes, I will remember your wonders of old": The second part reinforces and expands upon the first. The repetition of "I will remember" strengthens the psalmist's resolve. "Your wonders of old" specifically points to miraculous, awe-inspiring acts from the foundational history of God's interaction with His people, reminding the psalmist and reader of God's undeniable power and faithfulness shown in those pivotal moments. The shift from "the Lord" (Yah) to "your" is a direct address, deepening the personal commitment to recall God's personal, wondrous involvement.
Psalm 77 12 Bonus section
The choice of "Yah" (יָהּ) for "Lord" in this verse, a poetic short form of YHWH, is significant. It subtly evokes the song of Moses in Exod 15:2, where "Yah" is used in celebratory praise for the Red Sea deliverance, the quintessential "wonder of old." This specific word choice deepens the connection to Israel's foundational act of salvation, the Exodus, making the psalmist's decision to remember particularly poignant and powerful in his lament. It reminds that the very same powerful "Yah" who delivered Israel then is still active and sovereign now. This active remembrance functions as an act of reorientation, transforming the psalmist's focus from his overwhelming distress to the steadfast nature and omnipotence of God, allowing truth to combat feeling.
Psalm 77 12 Commentary
Psalm 77:12 represents a critical shift in a soul grappling with distress. It moves beyond self-pity and questions about God's absence to a conscious, willed act of recalling God's proven track record. This remembrance is not sentimental nostalgia but a robust theological exercise. By focusing on Yah's deeds and pele (wonders), the psalmist reframes his current pain within the larger narrative of God's powerful and benevolent sovereignty. This verse asserts that faith can be bolstered, and even forged, by looking back at God's unchanging character revealed through His historical acts. It encourages believers to combat present doubt by actively meditating on God's past demonstrations of power and love, thereby finding a stable ground for hope.