Bible Strands
Psalms 78:11
They forgot what He had done, the wonders He had shown them.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses Israel, positioning their covenant failure from verse 10 directly before the recounting of God’s past interventions in verse 12. The narrative moment marks the transition from historical record to moral warning.
The words — The Hebrew וַ/יִּשְכְּח֥וּ (va/i.yish.ke.Chu) translates as "and they forgot," paired with עֲלִילוֹתָ֑י/ו (a.li.lo.Ta/v), meaning "his deeds." These terms structure the verse’s plain claim that Israel actively discarded divine acts.
The thread — This pattern of forgetting divine works recurs in Psalms 106:13 and Deuteronomy 32:18, while Psalms 78:7 establishes the contrasting command to remember. The motif ties Israel’s historical amnesia to repeated covenant failure.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that spiritual failure begins with selective memory. It requires the reader to examine what they actively discard and to align present obedience with recorded divine acts.
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
King James Version
And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.
Cross-references
- Psalms 106:13 Yet they soon forgot His works and failed to wait for His counsel.
- Deuteronomy 32:18 You ignored the Rock who brought you forth; you forgot the God who gave you birth.
- Psalms 78:7 that they should put their confidence in God, not forgetting His works, but keeping His commandments.
- Psalms 106:21 They forgot God their Savior, who did great things in Egypt,
- Jeremiah 2:32 Does a maiden forget her jewelry or a bride her wedding sash? Yet My people have forgotten Me for days without number.