Psalms 78:43
How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan:
Original Language Analysis
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
1 of 7
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
שָׂ֣ם
How he had wrought
H7760
שָׂ֣ם
How he had wrought
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
2 of 7
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
אֹֽתוֹתָ֑יו
his signs
H226
אֹֽתוֹתָ֑יו
his signs
Strong's:
H226
Word #:
4 of 7
a signal (literally or figuratively), as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc
וּ֝מוֹפְתָ֗יו
and his wonders
H4159
וּ֝מוֹפְתָ֗יו
and his wonders
Strong's:
H4159
Word #:
5 of 7
a miracle; by implication, a token or omen
Historical Context
Zoan/Tanis served as Egypt's capital during the 21st-24th dynasties. The plagues occurred in the Nile Delta region where Israel lived in Goshen. Archaeological evidence confirms Zoan's prominence in the second millennium BC, lending historical credibility to the biblical account.
Questions for Reflection
- How do God's "signs and wonders" in Scripture strengthen your faith in His present-day power?
- What modern "gods" (cultural idols) does God's supremacy challenge in your life?
- Why is it important that biblical miracles occurred in real historical places at real times?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan. ʾÔt (אוֹת, "signs") are authenticating miracles demonstrating divine authority and power. Môpēt (מוֹפֵת, "wonders") emphasizes the supernatural, extraordinary nature. Together they form a standard pair describing the plagues as both evidential (proving God's supremacy) and awesome (displaying His terrible might).
"Zoan" (Ṣōʿan, צֹעַן) was Tanis, the Egyptian delta capital where Pharaoh's court resided—modern San el-Hagar. By naming the specific location, Asaph grounds the plagues in historical geography, not mythology. These weren't legends but witnessed events in a real place and time.
The plagues weren't merely punitive but theological warfare: each targeted an Egyptian deity, demonstrating Yahweh's supremacy over Ra (sun-god), Hapi (Nile-god), Heqet (frog-goddess), etc. Israel was to remember these signs as proof that "the LORD is God; there is none else" (Deuteronomy 4:35).