Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalm doesn't just say "we sinned," but uses three increasingly intense words to describe their actions: "sinned" (a general rebellion), "committed iniquity" (acting wrongly or perversely), and "done wickedly" (a deeper, more active evil). This accumulation of terms highlights the profound depth and unrepentant nature of their sinfulness, not just as isolated acts but as ingrained character.
Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalm begins with a call to praise God for His steadfast love, but immediately shifts to a collective confession of sin. The speaker, representing his generation, acknowledges that they have repeated the same sins as their ancestors, specifically mentioning their unfaithfulness from the time of the Exodus onwards. This confession is a prelude to recounting God's faithfulness despite Israel's persistent rebellion throughout history.
Have you ever felt like you're repeating your parents' mistakes? The psalmist grapples with this, admitting that their generation's sin is not new, but a continuation of a pattern.
The confession in Psalm 106:6 is striking because it uses "we" to encompass both the current generation and their ancestors.
Why use three different words for sin in just one verse? It's not just repetition; it's a powerful emphasis on the depth and breadth of their transgression.
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Psalm 106:6 employs a striking intensity by using three distinct Hebrew words to describe their wrongdoing.
Together, these words paint a comprehensive picture of their sin: it wasn't a single mistake, but a pattern of missing the mark, intentionally deviating from God's ways, and actively engaging in evil.
Understand the original words
chata' · Hebrew Verb
To miss the mark, violate God's law, or fail to live up to His moral standards. It signifies a departure from the path of righteousness and a rupture in the relationship with God.
avon · Hebrew Noun
A twisting or perversion of the right path; denotes moral crookedness or guilt. It suggests a conscious distortion of what is known to be good.
rasha' · Hebrew Verb/Noun
Moral guilt or the act of acting perversely. It encompasses conscious wrongdoing and acting in a way that is contrary to the established order or will of God.
This psalm, likely composed during or shortly after the Babylonian exile, reflects on Israel's persistent pattern of sinning like their ancestors. The confession acknowledges that their current suffering is not a surprise to God, but a consequence of generations of unfaithfulness, even from the very moment of their miraculous deliverance from Egypt.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God delivers the Israelites from slavery in Egypt through miraculous signs and wonders, culminating in the parting of the Red Sea.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Rebellion at the Red Sea
Despite their miraculous deliverance, the Israelites quickly forget God's wonders and rebel, fearing they will perish in the wilderness. This event is a prime example of their early unfaithfulness.
c. 1446 BC - 1406 BC
Wandering in the Wilderness
The Israelites spend forty years in the wilderness, marked by repeated rebellion, grumbling, and disobedience, despite God's provision and guidance.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites enter and conquer the Promised Land, displacing the Canaanite nations.
c. 1400 BC - 609 BC
Period of the Judges
A cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance characterizes this era as Israel repeatedly turns away from God after the conquest.
c. 1000 BC - 586 BC
Monarchy and Divided Kingdom
The establishment of the monarchy, followed by the division into Israel (North) and Judah (South), leads to widespread idolatry and unfaithfulness.
586 BC
Babylonian Exile
The Southern Kingdom of Judah is conquered by Babylon, its temple destroyed, and its people exiled, largely as a consequence of their persistent sin.
This passage echoes the same theme of generational sin and the necessity of confessing iniquity, stating that if people confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, then God will remember the land.
Daniel 9:5-8Daniel's prayer is a profound example of corporate confession, mirroring the psalmist's words by acknowledging 'we have sinned and done wrong,' and confessing the sins of both himself and his people, linking past transgressions to present consequences.
Ezra 9:6-7Similar to Psalm 106, Ezra also offers a prayer of confession that includes 'our iniquities have risen above our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens,' directly connecting national sin with God's judgment and righteous anger.
Nehemiah 9:33This prayer recounts God's faithfulness while acknowledging the people's persistent rebellion, stating 'In all that has come upon us, you have dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly.'
clarkePsalms 106:6: "We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly."
We have sinned - Here the confession begins; what preceded was only the introduction to what follows: Our forefathers sinned, and suffered; we, like them, have sinned, and do suffer.
bensonPsalms 106:6: "We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly."
Psalm 106:6-7 . We have sinned with our fathers — That is, as our fathers did, and have not been made wiser or better by their examples, as we ought to have been. Our fathers understood not — Or, considered not; thy wonders in Egypt — Namely, so as to be rightly affected with them, and to receive from them the instruction they were intended to convey. They saw them, but they did not rightly appre…
The psalm doesn't just say "we sinned," but uses three increasingly intense words to describe their actions: "sinned" (a general rebellion), "committed iniquity" (acting wrongly or perversely), and "done wickedly" (a deeper, more active evil). This accumulation of terms highlights the profound depth and unrepentant nature of their sinfulness, not just as isolated acts but as ingrained character.
The psalm begins with a call to praise God for His steadfast love, but immediately shifts to a collective confession of sin. The speaker, representing his generation, acknowledges that they have repeated the same sins as their ancestors, specifically mentioning their unfaithfulness from the time of the Exodus onwards. This confession is a prelude to recounting God's faithfulness despite Israel's persistent rebellion throughout history.
The psalm begins with a call to praise God for His steadfast love, but immediately shifts to a collective confession of sin. The speaker, representing his generation, acknowledges that they have repeated the same sins as their ancestors, specifically mentioning their unfaithfulness from the time of the Exodus onwards. This confession is a prelude to recounting God's faithfulness despite Israel's persistent rebellion throughout history.
"Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness." — The psalm doesn't just say "we sinned," but uses three increasingly intense words to describe their actions: "sinned" (a general rebellion), "committed iniquity" (acting wrongly or perversely), and "…
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Last reviewed October 2026