They did not remember his power or the day when he redeemed them from the foe,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights not just forgetting a day of deliverance, but the specific, potent "day" when God rescued them from their greatest enemy. This singular day, marked by God's powerful intervention, was meant to be a constant reminder of His might and faithfulness, yet it faded from their memory.
They did not remember his power or the day when he redeemed them from the foe,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is a reflection on Israel's history, using it as a lesson for the current generation. The psalmist recounts God's mighty deeds, from the Exodus and wilderness wanderings to settling in the land and David's kingship, emphasizing how often Israel responded to this faithfulness with ingratitude and rebellion. This verse specifically highlights their failure to remember God's power and the pivotal moment He rescued them from Egypt.
The psalm accuses Israel of forgetting something vital about God. What exactly did they fail to recall, and why is it so significant?
The phrase 'his hand' isn't just a poetic flourish; it's a direct reference to God's tangible power and active intervention in history. When the psalmist says they 'remembered not his hand,' he's pointing to a deep spiritual amnesia about God's active might. This wasn't about forgetting a historical fact, but forgetting the living God who acted decisively for them.
Divine Intervention
Israel forgot 'the day' God delivered them. What makes a specific 'day' so crucial to remember, and what does it represent?
The 'day' mentioned here is more than just a date on a calendar; it's a pivotal moment of redemption. It signifies the singular, defining act where God moved to rescue His people from insurmountable odds.
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The Redemptive Moment
Understand the original words
‘ōz · Hebrew Noun
The ability to bring about an effect, often associated with God's sovereign strength and ability to intervene in history to accomplish His redemptive purposes.
pādāh · Hebrew Verb
The act of setting someone free from bondage, debt, or slavery, typically through the payment of a price. In Scripture, it is a primary image for God's deliverance of His people from oppression or sin.
This psalm reflects on Israel's repeated pattern of forgetting God's powerful acts of deliverance, particularly during the tumultuous periods following the Exodus and leading up to the exiles. The author uses historical memory, or the lack thereof, to rebuke the present generation, highlighting how a failure to recall God's past faithfulness breeds present disobedience and invites future judgment.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God dramatically rescues the Israelites from slavery in Egypt through a series of plagues and the parting of the Red Sea.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Wilderness Wanderings
The Israelites journey through the Sinai desert for 40 years, experiencing God's provision and discipline.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites begin to conquer and settle in the Promised Land.
Period of the Judges
Cycle of Disobedience and Deliverance
Israel repeatedly falls into sin, leading to oppression by surrounding nations, followed by God raising up judges to deliver them.
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom Established
David becomes king over all Israel, establishing Jerusalem as the capital and ushering in a period of national strength and religious focus.
Post-division of Kingdoms
Northern Kingdom (Israel) Dominates
The Northern Kingdom of Israel, often led by the tribe of Ephraim, experiences periods of both prosperity and significant religious unfaithfulness, eventually leading to its downfall.
8th-5th centuries BC— this verse
Assyrian and Babylonian Exiles
The Northern Kingdom is conquered by Assyria (722 BC), and the Southern Kingdom of Judah is later exiled by Babylon (586 BC), scattering the people and destroying their homeland.
This passage directly follows the Song of Moses at the Red Sea, highlighting Israel's initial remembrance of God's mighty acts and then immediately contrasts it with their later forgetfulness, echoing Psalm 78's theme.
Deuteronomy 6:10-12This text warns the Israelites against forgetting the Lord after they enter the promised land and enjoy His blessings, mirroring the psalmist's concern that they have forgotten God's power and deliverance.
Nehemiah 9:16-17This prayer recounts God's faithfulness, including the Exodus, but laments the people's stubbornness and forgetfulness, showing a similar historical perspective to Psalm 78 where past mercies are met with present ingratitude.
Isaiah 43:16-17This passage speaks of God's power in parting the Red Sea and destroying Pharaoh's army, reminding the people of His past acts of deliverance to encourage trust, which directly contrasts with the forgetfulness described in Psalm 78:42.
1 Corinthians 10:5The Apostle Paul directly references Israel's experience in the wilderness, specifically mentioning their 'displeasing God' as a result of their forgetfulness, linking their history in Psalm 78 to a warning for New Testament believers.
ellicottPsalms 78:42: "They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy."
(42) The reminiscence of the plagues that follows is not a complete enumeration, and does not proceed in the order of the historic narrative.
expositorsPsalms 78:1-72: "Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth."
Psalm 78:1-72 THIS psalm is closely related to Psalm 105:1-45 ; Psalm 106:1-48 ; Psalm 107:1-43 . Like them, it treats the history of Israel, and especially the Exodus and wilderness wanderings, for purposes of edification, rebuke, and encouragement. The past is held up as a mirror to the present generation. It has been one long succession of miracles of mercy met by equally continu…
The verse highlights not just forgetting a day of deliverance, but the specific, potent "day" when God rescued them from their greatest enemy. This singular day, marked by God's powerful intervention, was meant to be a constant reminder of His might and faithfulness, yet it faded from their memory.
This psalm is a reflection on Israel's history, using it as a lesson for the current generation. The psalmist recounts God's mighty deeds, from the Exodus and wilderness wanderings to settling in the land and David's kingship, emphasizing how often Israel responded to this faithfulness with ingratitude and rebellion. This verse specifically highlights their failure to remember God's power and the pivotal moment He rescued them from Egypt.
This psalm is a reflection on Israel's history, using it as a lesson for the current generation. The psalmist recounts God's mighty deeds, from the Exodus and wilderness wanderings to settling in the land and David's kingship, emphasizing how often Israel responded to this faithfulness with ingratitude and rebellion. This verse specifically highlights their failure to remember God's power and the pivotal moment He rescued them from Egypt.
"They did not remember his power or the day when he redeemed them from the foe," — The verse highlights not just forgetting a day of deliverance, but the specific, potent "day" when God rescued them from their greatest enemy. This singular day, marked by God's powerful interventi…
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Last reviewed October 2026