Psalms 78:42
They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.
Original Language Analysis
לֹא
H3808
לֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
1 of 9
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
זָכְר֥וּ
They remembered
H2142
זָכְר֥וּ
They remembered
Strong's:
H2142
Word #:
2 of 9
properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e., to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 9
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יָד֑וֹ
not his hand
H3027
יָד֑וֹ
not his hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
4 of 9
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
י֝֗וֹם
nor the day
H3117
י֝֗וֹם
nor the day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
5 of 9
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
אֲֽשֶׁר
H834
אֲֽשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
6 of 9
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
פָּדָ֥ם
when he delivered
H6299
פָּדָ֥ם
when he delivered
Strong's:
H6299
Word #:
7 of 9
to sever, i.e., ransom; generally to release, preserve
Cross References
Jeremiah 32:21And hast brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror;Exodus 14:12Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.Judges 8:34And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:Psalms 78:11And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.Exodus 13:9And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD'S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.Isaiah 11:11And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
Historical Context
Asaph transitions to detailed rehearsal of the Exodus plagues (vv. 43-51), the foundation of Israel's national existence. The Passover was to be remembered annually (Exodus 12:14), but memory faded without intentional cultivation. By Asaph's time, Israel needed remedial instruction in their own salvation history.
Questions for Reflection
- What "days of deliverance" in your spiritual journey do you need to remember more actively?
- How can you cultivate practices that prevent spiritual amnesia about God's past faithfulness?
- What connection exists between forgetting God's salvation and present unfaithfulness?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy. While God remembered their frailty (v. 39), they forgot His faithfulness. Zāḵar (זָכַר, "remembered not") means more than mental recall—it means failing to act on remembered truth. Yād (יָד, "hand") represents God's mighty power in action, especially in redemption (cf. "mighty hand and outstretched arm").
"The day" (yôm, יוֹם) likely refers to Passover night, the defining moment of Israel's identity as redeemed people. Pādâ (פָּדָה, "delivered") is redemption language—God paid the price to liberate them from ṣar (צָר, "enemy/oppressor"). Their amnesia wasn't about facts but meaning: they forgot who they were (redeemed) and who God was (Redeemer).
Spiritual amnesia remains the primary threat to God's people. We forget our slavery to sin, Christ's deliverance, and our identity as the redeemed. This is why Scripture commands remembrance—Lord's Supper, baptism, Scripture reading—as guardrails against covenant-breaking forgetfulness.