Psalms 106:21
They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;
Original Language Analysis
שָׁ֭כְחוּ
They forgat
H7911
שָׁ֭כְחוּ
They forgat
Strong's:
H7911
Word #:
1 of 6
to mislay, i.e., to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention
אֵ֣ל
God
H410
אֵ֣ל
God
Strong's:
H410
Word #:
2 of 6
strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the almighty (but used also of any deity)
מוֹשִׁיעָ֑ם
their saviour
H3467
מוֹשִׁיעָ֑ם
their saviour
Strong's:
H3467
Word #:
3 of 6
properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e., (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or succor
עֹשֶׂ֖ה
which had done
H6213
עֹשֶׂ֖ה
which had done
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
4 of 6
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
Cross References
Psalms 106:13They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:Jeremiah 2:32Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.Deuteronomy 10:21He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.
Historical Context
The golden calf was made mere months after the Red Sea crossing and plagues. The generation that witnessed God's greatest Old Testament miracles forgot Him almost immediately. This shows that witnessing miracles doesn't produce lasting faith—only regeneration by the Spirit creates enduring trust. Deuteronomy repeatedly commands 'remember' and 'don't forget' (Deuteronomy 6:12; 8:11-14), recognizing human tendency toward forgetfulness.
Questions for Reflection
- How do believers today 'forget' God despite past experiences of His faithfulness?
- What spiritual disciplines help maintain remembrance of God's saving works?
- Why doesn't witnessing miracles guarantee lasting faith?
Analysis & Commentary
This verse describes the theological amnesia underlying the golden calf sin. 'They forgat God their saviour' uses shakach (שָׁכַח), the same 'forgot' as verse 13. Forgetting God isn't mere mental lapse but willful ignorance and practical atheism. 'God their saviour' (El moshiam, אֵל מוֹשִׁיעָם) emphasizes that the One they forgot was their Redeemer. The verse then catalogs what they forgot: 'great things in Egypt' (the ten plagues), 'wondrous works in the land of Ham' (Ham being Egypt's ancestor, Genesis 10:6), and 'terrible things by the Red sea' (the sea-splitting and army-drowning). Despite these recent, massive demonstrations of power, they forgot. This teaches that human memory of God's works is tragically unreliable without the Spirit's sustaining work.