Psalms Chapter 106

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns 48 Verses

What is Psalms 106 about?

One hundred fifty inspired poems and hymns — Israel's prayer book, spanning lament and praise, confession and trust. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1Praise ye Jehovah. Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; For his lovingkindness [endureth] forever.
2Who can utter the mighty acts of Jehovah, Or show forth all his praise?
3Blessed are they that keep justice, And he that doeth righteousness at all times.
4Remember me, O Jehovah, with the favor that thou bearest unto thy people; Oh visit me with thy salvation,
5That I may see the prosperity of thy chosen, That I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, That I may glory with thine inheritance.
6We have sinned with our fathers, We have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.
7Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; They remembered not the multitude of thy lovingkindnesses, But were rebellious at the sea, even at the Red Sea.
8Nevertheless he saved them for his name`s sake, That he might make his mighty power to be known.
9He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up: So he led them through the depths, as through a wilderness.
10And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, And redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
11And the waters covered their adversaries; There was not one of them left.
12Then believed they his words; They sang his praise.
13They soon forgat his works; They waited not for his counsel,
14But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tempted God in the desert.
15And he gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul.
16They envied Moses also in the camp, [And] Aaron the saint of Jehovah.
17The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, And covered the company of Abiram.
18And a fire was kindled in their company; The flame burned up the wicked.
19They made a calf in Horeb, And worshipped a molten image.
20Thus they changed their glory For the likeness of an ox that eateth grass.
21They forgat God their Saviour, Who had done great things in Egypt,
22Wondrous works in the land of Ham, [And] terrible things by the Red Sea.
23Therefore he said that he would destroy them, Had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, To turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy [them].
24Yea, they despised the pleasant land, They believed not his word,
25But murmured in their tents, And hearkened not unto the voice of Jehovah.
26Therefore he sware unto them, That he would overthrow them in the wilderness,
27And that he would overthrow their seed among the nations, And scatter them in the lands.
28They joined themselves also unto Baal-peor, And ate the sacrifices of the dead.
29Thus they provoked him to anger with their doings; And the plague brake in upon them.
30Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment; And so the plague was stayed.
31And that was reckoned unto him for righteousness, Unto all generations for evermore.
32They angered him also at the waters of Meribah, So that it went ill with Moses for their sakes;
33Because they were rebellious against his spirit, And he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
34They did not destroy the peoples, As Jehovah commanded them,
35But mingled themselves with the nations, And learned their works,
36And served their idols, Which became a snare unto them.
37Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto demons,
38And shed innocent blood, Even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, Whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with blood.
39Thus were they defiled with their works, And played the harlot in their doings.
40Therefore was the wrath of Jehovah kindled against his people, And he abhorred his inheritance.
41And he gave them into the hand of the nations; And they that hated them ruled over them.
42Their enemies also oppressed them, And they were brought into subjection under their hand.
43Many times did he deliver them; But they were rebellious in their counsel, And were brought low in their iniquity.
44Nevertheless he regarded their distress, When he heard their cry:
45And he remembered for them his covenant, And repented according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.
46He made them also to be pitied Of all those that carried them captive.
47Save us, O Jehovah our God, And gather us from among the nations, To give thanks unto thy holy name, And to triumph in thy praise.
48Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, From everlasting even to everlasting. And let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye Jehovah. BOOK V Psalm 107

What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“Praise ye the Lord, etc.] Or “hallelujah”; which, according to the Arabic version, is the title of the psalm; and so it stands in the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Ethiopic versions. Several psalms following begin in like manner; it begins as the former ended, and ends as it begins; praise being due to God at all times, and on all occasions. O give thanks unto the Lord: always, for all things, temporal and spiritual, since not worthy of any: or, confess unto the Lord f1515; his great goodness, and your unworthiness; and all your sins and transgressions committed against him, who only can pardon. For he is good;…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Although the general theme of this Psalm may have been suggested by God's special favor to the Israelites in their restoration from captivity, it must be regarded as an instructive celebration of God's praise for His merciful providence to all men in their various emergencies. Of these several are given--captivity and bondage, wanderings by land and sea, and famine; some as evidences of God's displeasure, and all the deliverances as evidence of His goodness and mercy to them who humbly seek Him. (Psa. 107:1-43) This call for thankful praise is the burden or chorus (compare Psa 107:8, Psa 107:15, &c.).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Praise ye the Lord - Margin, “Hallelu-jah.” The two Hebrew words mean, “praise ye the Lord.” They are the same words with which the previous psalm closes, and are here designed to indicate the general duty illustrated in the psalm. O give thanks unto the Lord - See the notes at Psalms 105:1. For he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever - See Psalms 100:5, note; Psalms 107:1, note; where the language in the Hebrew is the same. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 4
“Me - He speaks here in the name, and on the behalf of the whole nation. With - With those favours which thou dost usually and peculiarly give to thy people. Psalms 106:5”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“Ps 106 The Israelite community in exile confessed the Lord’s goodness and justice and their own historic sinfulness. From the humble state of exile, they pleaded for redemption and restoration, asking to be gathered back from all the places the Lord had scattered them in his wrath. The psalm does not end in despair but with the memory of the Lord’s former mercy and the hope that his mercy will be renewed (106:44-48). Israel failed, but the Lord is constant. • Verses 1, 47-48 (along with Pss 96; 105:1-15) are included in David’s song of praise recorded in 1 Chr 16:1-43. 106:1 Praise the Lord! This refrain (Hebrew…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“(Title), As part of the preceding Psalm is found in 1Chr. 16, so the first and two last verses of this are found in the same place; and it is highly probable this was composed upon the same occasion as the former, to which it seems to be a continuation; for as that celebrates the mercies of God to Israel, so this confesses and deplores the rebellions of Israel against Jehovah. Praise ye the Lord: Heb. Hallelujah, Psa 105:45 O give: Psa 100:4, Psa 100:5, Psa 107:1, Psa 118:1, Psa 136:1; Ch1 16:34; Ezr 3:11; Jer 33:11; Th1 5:18 for he: Psa 103:17, Psa 119:68; Mat 19:17; Rom 5:20, Rom 5:21 Psalms 106:2”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“The Psalm begins with the liturgical call, which has not coined for the first time in the Maccabaean age (1 Macc. 4:24), but was already in use in Jeremiah's time ( Psa 33:11). The lxx appropriately renders טּוב by χρηστός, for God is called "good" not so much in respect of His nature as of the revelation of His nature. The fulness of this revelation, says Psa 106:2 (like Psa 40:6), is inexhaustible. גּבוּרות are the manifestations of His all-conquering power which makes everything subservient to His redemptive purposes ( Psa 20:7); and תּהלּה is the glory (praise or celebration) of His self-attestation in…”
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