Psalm 106:7 - Printer Friendly

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.

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.

NASB: Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; They did not remember Your abundant kindnesses, But rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.

CSB: Our fathers in Egypt did not grasp the significance of your wondrous works or remember your many acts of faithful love; instead, they rebelled by the sea—the Red Sea.

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.

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.

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 106:6–12 looks back on Israel's fear and doubt before crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:11–12). The nation was rescued from slavery through miracles (Exodus 3:20; 12:41). Yet the people assumed they would die under Egyptian hands. When God intervened (Exodus 14:30–31), the people once again believed.

The psalmist calls on the people to worship God because of His loyal, merciful love for the nation of Israel. Evidence of this love is given in the form of Israel's many national sins. These included many acts of faithlessness during the exodus from Egypt, and cycles of idolatry during the conquest of Canaan. Even so, the Lord preserved the nation rather than destroying it. The song closes with another prayer for rescue and a blessing directed at God.

This is the last entry in what is often called "Book Four" of the psalms (Psalms 90—106). The psalm focuses on confession and humility; many reminders are given about Israel's failures compared to God's faithfulness. Notable mentions are the idol at Horeb (Exodus 32), the first arrival at Canaan (Numbers 14), and the era of Israel's judges (Judges 2:16–19). Despite these sins, the Lord maintained Israel's existence, even as He brought them punishment. Similar confessions appear in Isaiah 63, Ezekiel 20, and Nehemiah 9.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.