The verse highlights that Israel's rebellion at the Red Sea wasn't just a spontaneous outburst, but stemmed from a fundamental failure to truly grasp God's powerful acts in Egypt and to remember His abundant kindness. This lack of deep reflection turned immediate danger into a crisis of faith, proving that forgetting God's past faithfulness is a direct path to present rebellion.
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. Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage opens a confession of Israel's sinfulness, acknowledging that their ancestors, even from the time in Egypt, failed to truly grasp God's amazing deeds. Despite witnessing numerous miracles, they didn't reflect on God's abundant love, leading them to rebel at the Red Sea, as vividly described in the Exodus account. This act of defiance at a moment of both immense deliverance and danger sets the stage for the psalm's recounting of Israel's recurring faithlessness.
Ever felt like you're just going through the motions, even with amazing things happening around you? The Israelites did, right after God performed incredible miracles for them.
The Trap of Taking God for Granted
The Psalmist points out that Israel 'did not consider your wondrous works' in Egypt. This wasn't about a lack of information; they saw the plagues, the parting of the sea! Instead, it was a failure to truly think about and understand what God was doing.
We all know what it feels like to forget someone's kindness. For the Israelites, forgetting God's 'steadfast love' had devastating consequences.
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The Danger of a Short Memory
The verse continues, 'they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love.' This isn't just about forgetting past favors; it's about forgetting the source and nature of God's persistent goodness.
Imagine being delivered from slavery, with the sea miraculously parting before you. What would you do? The Israelites chose to rebel.
The Ultimate Test of Faith
The climax of this verse is the rebellion 'by the sea, at the Red Sea.' This specific location is crucial.
Understand the original words
marah · Hebrew Verb
A state of active opposition or stiff-necked defiance against God's authority. It is the conscious rejection of His sovereignty and commands.
chesed · Hebrew Noun
The covenantal, loyal, and faithful love of God. It is a deep, committed love that surpasses mere emotion, rooted in God's faithfulness to His promises.
shem · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the reputation, character, and authority of God. Acting for His name's sake signifies that God's primary motivation is to uphold His own glory and reveal His holy character to the world.
geburah · Hebrew Noun
The active, irresistible exercise of divine strength. It points to God's ability to intervene in history and manifest His sovereignty over nature and human affairs.
This psalm reflects on the very beginning of Israel's journey as a nation, highlighting a recurring theme: the failure to remember God's powerful acts, leading to immediate rebellion even after miraculous deliverance.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
Following the ten plagues, God led the Israelites out of their slavery in Egypt under Moses' leadership.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Crossing the Red Sea
God miraculously parted the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to escape Pharaoh's pursuing army, who were then drowned.
c. 1446 BC
Wandering in the Wilderness
The Israelites began a 40-year journey through the Sinai wilderness due to their continued disobedience and lack of faith.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
After 40 years, the Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, began the military campaign to take possession of the Promised Land.
This passage directly describes the Israelites' reaction at the Red Sea, voicing the same lack of consideration for God's works and their immediate fear that is highlighted in Psalms 106:7.
Deuteronomy 32:28-29This song of Moses speaks about Israel's lack of understanding and foresight, directly paralleling the 'understood not' and 'remembered not' themes in Psalms 106:7, showing this was a long-standing character issue.
Nehemiah 9:17This verse echoes the sentiment of Psalms 106:7, explicitly mentioning the Israelites' rebellion at the Red Sea and their refusal to obey, emphasizing the consistent pattern of disobedience.
Psalm 78:42-43This psalm recounts God's mighty acts in Egypt and the subsequent rebellion of the people, much like Psalms 106:7, showing that the people repeatedly failed to recall God's power and mercy.
Isaiah 63:7This passage reflects on God's steadfast love and great kindnesses towards Israel, a stark contrast to the people's failure to remember these mercies as lamented in Psalms 106:7.
clarkePsalms 106:7: "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."
Our fathers understood not - They did not regard the operation of God's hands; and therefore they understood neither his designs nor their own interest. At the sea, even at the Red Sea - Some of the rabbins suppose that the repetition of the words point out two faults of the Israelites at the Red Sea. 1. They murmured against Moses…
pulpitPsalms 106:7: "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."
Verse 7. - Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; rather, considered not - did not give serious thought to them; took them as matters of course, and so were not impressed by them. They remembered not the multitude of thy mercies (comp. Psalm 69:16; Isaiah 63:7; Lamentations 3:32; and infra, ver. 45). But provoked him; rath…
The verse highlights that Israel's rebellion at the Red Sea wasn't just a spontaneous outburst, but stemmed from a fundamental failure to truly grasp God's powerful acts in Egypt and to remember His abundant kindness. This lack of deep reflection turned immediate danger into a crisis of faith, proving that forgetting God's past faithfulness is a direct path to present rebellion.
This passage opens a confession of Israel's sinfulness, acknowledging that their ancestors, even from the time in Egypt, failed to truly grasp God's amazing deeds. Despite witnessing numerous miracles, they didn't reflect on God's abundant love, leading them to rebel at the Red Sea, as vividly described in the Exodus account. This act of defiance at a moment of both immense deliverance and danger sets the stage for the psalm's recounting of Israel's recurring faithlessness.
This passage opens a confession of Israel's sinfulness, acknowledging that their ancestors, even from the time in Egypt, failed to truly grasp God's amazing deeds. Despite witnessing numerous miracles, they didn't reflect on God's abundant love, leading them to rebel at the Red Sea, as vividly described in the Exodus account. This act of defiance at a moment of both immense deliverance and danger sets the stage for the psalm's recounting of Israel's recurring faithlessness.
"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. Yet he saved them for his name’s sake,…" — The verse highlights that Israel's rebellion at the Red Sea wasn't just a spontaneous outburst, but stemmed from a fundamental failure to truly grasp God's powerful acts in Egypt and to remember His…
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Last reviewed October 2026
