The Meaning of Psalms 106:21 Explained

Psalms 106:21

KJV: They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;

YLT: They have forgotten God their saviour, The doer of great things in Egypt,

Darby: They forgot God their Saviour, who had done great things in Egypt,

ASV: They forgat God their Saviour, Who had done great things in Egypt,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They forgat  God  their saviour,  which had done  great things  in Egypt; 

What does Psalms 106:21 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 106:16-33 - Judgment Restrained By Intercession
The strife between the ungodly and the servants of God has characterized all the centuries. These verses record some of its phases. Moses is called God's chosen, Aaron his saint, while Phinehas is held in honor as one to whom his noble deed was counted for righteousness. But such men are always envied, refused, resisted. Men hate them, but God loves and vindicates them for their loyalty and uncompromising righteousness.
It is beautiful to notice how, so far from human hatred inducing such leaders to turn from their persecutors, it seems to drive them to more intense and ceaseless intercession for them. They stand in the breach, to turn away deserved wrath. From the days of Abraham, who prayed for Sodom, right down the stream of time, the people of God have been his remembrancers, giving Him no rest. Let us cultivate the great art of intercession; and if there is need, let us, like Phinehas, not hesitate to strike strongly in the interests of purity. But while thus standing before men, we must cultivate the grace of humility. We are only servants at the most and must not arrogate more to ourselves. Our authority is only delegated. This is where Moses failed, Numbers 20:2-13. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 106

1  The psalmist exhorts to praise God
4  He prays for pardon of sin, as God pardoned the fathers
7  The story of the people's rebellion, and God's mercy
47  He concludes with prayer and praise

What do the individual words in Psalms 106:21 mean?

They forgot God their Savior who had done great things in Egypt
שָׁ֭כְחוּ אֵ֣ל מוֹשִׁיעָ֑ם עֹשֶׂ֖ה גְדֹל֣וֹת בְּמִצְרָֽיִם

שָׁ֭כְחוּ  They  forgot 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: כָּשַׁח 
Sense: to forget, ignore, wither.
אֵ֣ל  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
מוֹשִׁיעָ֑ם  their  Savior 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: יָשַׁע 
Sense: to save, be saved, be delivered.
עֹשֶׂ֖ה  who  had  done 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
גְדֹל֣וֹת  great  things 
Parse: Adjective, feminine plural
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
בְּמִצְרָֽיִם  in  Egypt 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרַיִם  
Sense: a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows adj Egyptians = “double straits”.