Psalms 106:1-12

1 Praise the LORD.[a]Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
2 Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORDor fully declare his praise?
3 Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right.
4 Remember me, LORD, when you show favor to your people, come to my aid when you save them,
5 that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may share in the joy of your nation and join your inheritance in giving praise.
6 We have sinned, even as our ancestors did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly.
7 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.[b]
8 Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, to make his mighty power known.
9 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; he led them through the depths as through a desert.
10 He saved them from the hand of the foe; from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.
11 The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them survived.
12 Then they believed his promises and sang his praise.

Psalms 106:1-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 106

This psalm is without the name of its author, as the Syriac interpreter observes. Aben Ezra, on Ps 106:47, says, that one of the wise men of Egypt (perhaps Maimonides) was of opinion that it was written in the time of the judges, when there was no king in Israel; and another, he says, thought it was written in Babylon: but he was of opinion it was wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, or by a prophetic spirit, concerning their present captivity; and so Kimchi. The petition in Ps 106:47, "gather us from among the Heathen", has led most interpreters to conclude that it was written either in the Babylonish captivity, or, as some, in the times of Antiochus: but by comparing it with 1Ch 16:7, it appears that it was written by David, at the time of the bringing up of the ark to Zion; since the first and two last verses of it are there expressly mentioned, in the psalm he gave Asaph to sing on that occasion, Ps 106:34-36, who therein might have respect to the Israelites that had been taken captive by some of their neighbours, as the Philistines, and still retained; though there is no difficulty in supposing that David, under a prophetic spirit, foresaw future captivities, and represents those that were in them. As the preceding psalm treats of the mercies and favours God bestowed upon Israel, this of their sins and provocations amidst those blessings, and of the goodness of God unto them; that notwithstanding he did not destroy them from being a people; for which they had reason to be thankful.

Cross References 30

  • 1. S Psalms 22:23; S Psalms 103:2
  • 2. S Psalms 119:68; Psalms 100:5; Psalms 105:1
  • 3. S Ezra 3:11; Psalms 136:1-26; Jeremiah 33:11
  • 4. S Psalms 71:16; Psalms 145:4,12
  • 5. Psalms 112:5; Hosea 12:6
  • 6. Psalms 15:2
  • 7. Psalms 25:6,7; Psalms 119:132
  • 8. S Psalms 77:7
  • 9. S Genesis 50:24
  • 10. S Deuteronomy 30:15; Psalms 1:3
  • 11. S Psalms 105:6
  • 12. Psalms 20:5; Psalms 27:6; Psalms 47:5; Psalms 118:15
  • 13. S Exodus 34:9
  • 14. S 1 Kings 8:47; S Romans 3:9; Daniel 9:5
  • 15. S 2 Chronicles 30:7
  • 16. Nehemiah 1:7
  • 17. S Judges 3:7
  • 18. Psalms 78:11,42
  • 19. Exodus 14:11-12
  • 20. Exodus 14:30; S Psalms 80:3; Psalms 107:13; Isaiah 25:9; Joel 2:32
  • 21. S Exodus 9:16; S Psalms 23:3
  • 22. S Exodus 14:31
  • 23. Psalms 18:15; Isaiah 50:2
  • 24. S Exodus 14:21; Nahum 1:4
  • 25. Psalms 78:13; Isaiah 63:11-14
  • 26. Exodus 14:30; Psalms 107:13
  • 27. S Psalms 78:53
  • 28. Psalms 78:42; Psalms 107:2; Isaiah 35:9; Isaiah 62:12
  • 29. S Exodus 14:28; Exodus 15:5
  • 30. Exodus 15:1-21; S Psalms 105:43

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Hebrew "Hallelu Yah" ; also in verse 48
  • [b]. Or "the Sea of Reeds" ; also in verses 9 and 22
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