The big picture
Psalms 106 opens in verse 1 with “Praise ye the LORD . O give thanks unto the LORD ; for he is good: for his mercy…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 24 with “Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:”, and closes in verse 48 with “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, hand, praise, provoked, works. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 48Psalms 106:1-8
1–8: Praise ye the LORD . O give thanks unto the LORD ; for he is good: for…
Psalms 106:1–8 opens with “Praise ye the LORD . O give thanks unto the LORD ; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for…” and reaches “Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 106 develops its own movement around LORD, hand, praise, provoked, works, with particular weight carried by LORD, fathers, good.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Praise ye the LORD . O give thanks unto the LORD ; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” Naming Praise keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 106:1-8
King James Version1Praise ye the LORD . O give thanks unto the LORD ; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD ? who can shew forth all his praise?
3Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.
4Remember me, O LORD , with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;
5That I may see the good 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 mercies; but provoked him 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.
Psalms 106:9-16
9–16: He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through…
Psalms 106:9–16 opens with “He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through…” and reaches “They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD .” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 106 develops its own movement around LORD, hand, praise, provoked, works, with particular weight carried by hand, wilderness, Aaron.
Context that brings the passage to life
“He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.” Naming Red keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 106:9-16
King James Version9He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the 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 enemies: 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 the LORD .
Psalms 106:17-24
17–24: The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of…
Psalms 106:17–24 opens with “The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.” and reaches “Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 106 develops its own movement around LORD, hand, praise, provoked, works, with particular weight carried by company, destroy, land.
Context that brings the passage to life
“The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.” Naming Abiram and Dathan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 106:17-24
King James Version17The 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 the molten image.
20Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
21They forgat God their saviour, which 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:
Psalms 106:25-32
25–32: Murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD .
Psalms 106:25–32 opens with “But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD .” and reaches “They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 106 develops its own movement around LORD, hand, praise, provoked, works, with particular weight carried by overthrow, plague, anger.
Context that brings the passage to life
“But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD .” The line’s distinctive content terms include hearkened, LORD, murmured. Its relationship to verses 26 shows what work it does in this passage.
Psalms 106:25-32
King James Version25But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD .
26Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:
27To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to 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 inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.
30Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.
31And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.
32They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:
Psalms 106:33-40
33–40: Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his…
Psalms 106:33–40 opens with “Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.” and reaches “Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 106 develops its own movement around LORD, hand, praise, provoked, works, with particular weight carried by blood, daughters, idols.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Psalms 106:33-40
King James Version33Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
34They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:
35But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.
36And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
37Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,
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 own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.
40Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
Psalms 106:41-48
41–48: He gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them…
Psalms 106:41–48 opens with “And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.” and reaches “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 106 develops its own movement around LORD, hand, praise, provoked, works, with particular weight carried by LORD, everlasting, hand.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.” The line’s distinctive content terms include gave, hand, hated. Its relationship to verses 42 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.” Naming Many keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 106:41-48
King James Version41And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; 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 provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.
44Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:
45And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.
46He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.
47Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.
48Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD .
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 106:1 begins with “Praise ye the LORD . O give thanks unto the LORD ; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 106:23 forms a natural hinge: “Therefore 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.”
The final note
Psalms 106:48 leaves the reader with “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD .”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, hand, praise, provoked, works, blood help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- spake
- spoke
- lest
- so that something does not happen
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.
