Psalms 106:2
Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise?
Original Language Analysis
מִ֗י
H4310
מִ֗י
Strong's:
H4310
Word #:
1 of 7
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
גְּבוּר֣וֹת
the mighty acts
H1369
גְּבוּר֣וֹת
the mighty acts
Strong's:
H1369
Word #:
3 of 7
force (literally or figuratively); by implication, valor, victory
יְהוָ֑ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֑ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
4 of 7
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
יַ֝שְׁמִ֗יעַ
who can shew forth
H8085
יַ֝שְׁמִ֗יעַ
who can shew forth
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
5 of 7
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
Historical Context
Psalm 106 contrasts God's faithfulness with Israel's chronic rebellion, recounting Israel's wilderness failures. This verse opens by acknowledging that even recounting God's mercies in that difficult period cannot capture their full extent. For post-exilic Israel, this rhetorical question reminded them that even after generations of unfaithfulness, God's mercy remained beyond full description.
Questions for Reflection
- How does recognizing the inexhaustibility of God's praiseworthy acts affect our worship?
- What 'mighty acts' of God in your life deserve more meditation and thanksgiving?
- How should the impossibility of fully praising God shape our eternal perspective?
Analysis & Commentary
This rhetorical question emphasizes the impossibility of fully declaring God's mighty works. 'Utter' (malal, מָלַל) means to speak or declare. 'Mighty acts' translates geburot (גְּבוּרוֹת), God's mighty deeds of power. 'Shew forth all his praise' acknowledges that God's praiseworthy acts are inexhaustible—no human can fully catalog or adequately praise them all. This verse establishes human limitation in worship: we can never fully express God's worthiness. It also invites continuous, lifelong meditation on God's works, knowing we'll never exhaust their depths. This anticipates eternal worship, where redeemed saints forever discover new reasons to praise (Revelation 4-5).