Psalms 106:22

wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist addresses the Israelite community while recounting their history of rebellion and divine rescue. The speaker highlights God’s past interventions immediately before noting Moses’ intercession to halt impending judgment.

The words — The Hebrew נִפְלָאוֹת (nifla'ot) and נוֹרָאוֹת (nor'ot) translate literally to "wonders" and "awesome deeds," paired with בְּאֶרֶץ חָם (be'eretz Cham, "in the land of Ham") and יַם־סוּף (yam-Suf, "Sea of Reeds"). These terms directly render the BSB's phrasing while anchoring the events to specific geographic locations.

The thread — The text connects Egypt and the Red Sea to the broader biblical pattern of deliverance, mirroring Psalms 105:23 and 78:51 where Ham stands for Egypt, and Exodus 14:25 where God acts at the sea. These passages trace a consistent scriptural record of divine rescue preceding covenant failure.

Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to anchor trust in recorded divine action rather than personal memory or emotional state. It demands acknowledgment that God’s past interventions remain the objective basis for faith when human forgetfulness threatens obedience.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

נִ֭פְלָאוֹתNif.la.'otwonders בְּאֶ֣רֶץbe./'E.retzin/ [the] land of חָ֑םChamHam נ֝וֹרָא֗וֹתno.ra.'otawesome [deeds]עַל־'al-at יַם־yam-[the] sea of סֽוּף׃Sufreed[s]

King James Version

Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.

Cross-references

Psalms 78:51 He struck all the firstborn of Egypt, the virility in the tents of Ham.
Psalms 105:23 Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham.
Exodus 14:25 He caused their chariot wheels to wobble, so that they had difficulty driving. “Let us flee from the Israelites,” said the Egyptians, “for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt!”
Exodus 15:10 But You blew with Your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.
Psalms 105:27 They performed His miraculous signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.