Psalms 78:11 — Word Study
WLCוַיִּשְׁכְּח֥וּ עֲלִילוֹתָ֑יו וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶרְאָֽם׃
BSAThey forgotshâkach▸ [completely, utterly, let go out of their memory, ignored] what He had doneʻălîylâh [His mighty acts, wonderful works] the wonderspâlâʼ [miraculous signs, amazing things] He had shown themrâʼâh■ [revealed, made them see, in His providence, care]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיִּשְׁכְּח֥וּ | and they forgot | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| עֲלִילוֹתָ֑יו | deeds his | Noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
| וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו | and wonders his | Conjunction, verb niphal participle (active) feminine plural common, suffix |
| אֲשֶׁ֣ר | which | Particle |
| הֶרְאָֽם׃ | he had shown them | Verb hiphil perfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | They forgot what He had done, the wonders He had shown them. |
| KJV | And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them. |
| ASV | And they forgat his doings, And his wondrous works that he had showed them. |
| YLT | And they forget His doings, And His wonders that He shewed them. |
| WEB | They forgot his doings, his wondrous deeds that he had shown them. |
| BBE | They let his works go out of their memory, and the wonders which he had made them see. |
Where they part company is עֲלִילוֹתָיו — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause is straightforward, with two noun phrases detailing what was forgotten, emphasizing the significance of God's actions.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbשָׁכַח
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 78:11
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Historical Reflection of Israelgenerated
Psalm 78:11 is part of a larger narrative where the psalmist recounts the history of Israel, highlighting their repeated failures to remember God's covenant and His miraculous deeds. This reflection serves as a reminder of the importance of remembering God's actions in the past, especially in the context of their relationship with Him, as seen in the previous verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 78:7 | that they should put their confidence in God, not forgetting His works, but keeping His commandments. |
| 2 | Psalm 106:13–21 | Yet they soon forgot His works and failed to wait for His counsel. |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 32:18 | You ignored the Rock who brought you forth; you forgot the God who gave you birth. |
| 4 | 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. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שָׁכַח, shakachgenerated
The verb שָׁכַח (shakach) means 'to forget' and captures the essence of losing memory or neglecting something important. It can imply a conscious decision to ignore or a passive state of being oblivious to something significant.
In this verse, the use of שָׁכַח emphasizes the severity of Israel's forgetfulness regarding God's mighty acts and wonders, which were pivotal in their history. The parsing as a sequential imperfect indicates an ongoing state of forgetting rather than a one-time event.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is וַיִּשְׁכְּח֥וּ (and they forgot), which governs the entire sentence. It is followed by two noun phrases: עֲלִילוֹתָיו (his deeds) and וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָיו (and his wonders), which serve as the objects of the verb.
The structure emphasizes the act of forgetting and what has been forgotten, highlighting the connection between the people's memory and God's actions.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שָׁכַח as ἐπελάθοντο, which carries a similar meaning of forgetting but can also imply a more active neglect. This choice reflects a broader understanding of forgetfulness that includes the idea of willful disregard.
The LXX maintains the connection to God's deeds and wonders, using αὐτοῦ for both עֲלִילוֹתָיו and וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָיו, indicating these are attributed directly to Him.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 78:11 shows that the people of Israel forgot about the great things God had done for them and the miracles He had shown them. This forgetfulness is a key theme in the psalm, highlighting how they failed to remember His mighty acts.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that the people of Israel neglected to remember the significant acts and miracles God performed, which were meant to strengthen their faith and obedience.
Remembering God's deeds is crucial for maintaining faith and trust in Him, as it reinforces His character and faithfulness throughout history.
We can avoid forgetting by regularly reflecting on Scripture, sharing testimonies of God's faithfulness, and practicing gratitude for His works in our lives.
Examples include the parting of the Red Sea, the miracles of Jesus, and the provision of manna in the wilderness, all showcasing God's power and care for His people.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some ways I can remember and reflect on God's past deeds in my life?
- In what areas of my life do I find myself forgetting God's faithfulness?
- How can I help others remember God's wonders and encourage their faith?
- What practices can I implement to ensure I remain mindful of God's actions in my daily life?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers, such as Augustine, referenced this verse to discuss the importance of remembering God's benefits and works.
"And they forgat His benefits, and the wonderful works of Him which He showed to them; before their fathers the wonderful things which He did" [Psalms 78:11].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 78 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 78:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd forgat his works, and his wonders,.... That is, his wonderful works, the miracles he wrought in their favour, and for their deliverance, afterwards particularly mentioned; these were not only
Read John Gill on Psalms 78 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. -The Israelites failed to realize the high destination which was the very object for which God called them into national existence.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 78 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleForgat; not historically, but practically. They did not so remember them, as to love, and serve, and trust that God of whose infinite power and goodness they had such ample experience. Words of knowledge, such as knowing, remembering, &c., in Scripture use frequently comprehend affection and practice, as hath been oft observed.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 78 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 78:11 And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.Ver. 11. And forgat his works, and his wonders] Forgetfulness is a grave; et ingrato quicquid donatur, deperditur, all is lost that is conferred on an ungrateful person.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 78 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges11. And they forgat his doings, And his wondrous works that he had shewed them (R.V.).
Read Cambridge on Psalms 78 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleAnd forgat his works - The works which he had performed in behalf of the nation. These works are referred to in the verses following.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 78 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
They forgot what He had done, the wonders He had shown them.
They forgot his doings, his wondrous deeds that he had shown them.
They forgot what He had done, the wonders He had shown them.
They forgot what he had done, the amazing things he had shown them.
Tyndale line
And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.
And they forgat his doings, And his wondrous works that he had showed them.
And they forgat his doings, and his wondrous works that he had shewed them.
And forgot his works, and his wonders that he had shown them.
And forgate his Actes, and his wonderfull woorkes that he had shewed them.
Strictly literal
And forgot his doings, and his marvellous works which he had shewn them.
And they forget His doings, And His wonders that He shewed them.
And they forget His doings, || And His wonders that He showed them.
And they forgot his deeds, as also his wonders, which he had permitted them to see.
They forgot his deeds, the wonderful things that he had shown them.
From the Latin
Let the sighing of the prisoners come in before thee. According to the greatness of thy arm, take possession of the children of them that have been put to death.
Simplified
They ignored what he had done, and the amazing things he had shown them—
They let his works go out of their memory, and the wonders which he had made them see.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text states, "וַיִּשְׁכְּח֥וּ עֲלִילוֹתָ֑יו וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶרְאָֽם׃" which translates to, "They forgot His works and the wonders He had shown them." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in meaning, as all five words correspond directly, although the word order and articles differ due to its Greek structure. The Dead Sea Scrolls (11Q8) partially agree, containing two words that match the Masoretic Text, but three words are restored by an editor, indicating some textual variation. Overall, the core message remains consistent across these witnesses.
וַיִּשְׁכְּח֥וּ עֲלִילוֹתָ֑יו וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶרְאָֽם׃
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[וישכחו] [עלילותי׳ו] ונפלאותי׳ו אשר [הרא׳ם]
2 words on the leather — 3 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 78:11
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word שָׁכַח (shakach) means 'to forget' and encompasses various nuances such as ignoring or ceasing to care. It can appear in different forms, including Qal (to forget), Niphal (to be forgotten), and Hiphil (to cause to forget). The entries highlight its primitive root nature and its usage in contexts where memory or attention is lacking.
שָׁכַח 102 vb. forget
Qal 86 forget
Niph. be forgotten
Pi. י׳ hath caused to forget
Hiph. to make my people forget my name
Hithp. they were forgotten in the city.
base
H7911 שָׁכַח forget
7911 shakach shaw-kakh'
or shakeach {shaw-kay'-akh}; a primitive root; to mislay,
i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention:--X
at all, (cause to) forget.
שָׁכַח (sha.khach) — to forget.
1) to forget, ignore, wither
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to forget
1a2) to cease to care
1b) (Niphal) to be forgotten
1c) (Piel) to cause to forget
1d) (Hiphil) to make or cause to forget
1e) (Hithpael) to be forgotten
Aramaic equivalent: she.khach (שְׁכַח "to find" H7912)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vqw3mp
עֲלִילָה (aliylah) refers to wantonness or a deed, often implying negative connotations such as evil practices. It is derived from the root meaning to effect or perform, and can denote an act, work, or occasion. The entries consistently emphasize its association with bad deeds.
עֲלִילָה n.f. wantonness, deed
base
H5949 עֲלִילָה wantonness, deed
5949 `aliylah al-ee-law'
or malilah {al-ee-law'}; from 5953 in the sense of effecting;
an exploit (of God), or a performance (of man, often in a bad
sense); by implication, an opportunity:--act(-ion), deed,
doing, invention, occasion, work.
see HEBREW for 05953
עֲלִילָה (a.li.lah) — wantonness.
1) wantonness, deed, doing
1a) wantonness
1b) deed
1c) practices, evil deeds
N-fp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHNcfpc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word פָּלָא (pala') is a verb that conveys the idea of being extraordinary or wonderful. It can describe actions that are difficult to perform or understand, as well as marvelous acts of God, particularly in judgment and redemption. The word can also refer to making special offerings or showing oneself in a marvelous way.
[פָּלָא] 71 vb. denom. Niph. etc., be surpassing, extraordinary
Niph.
be beyond one's power, difficult to do
be difficult to understand
be extraordinary, wonderful
as subst., marvellous things
= wonderful acts of י׳ in judgement and redemption
Pi. make a special votive offering
Hiph.
do a hard or difficult thing
make wonderful, do wondrously
of God working wonders in doing
Hithp. thou dost shew thyself marvellous (act inexplicably) against me
base
H6381 פָּלָא vb. denom. Niph. etc., be surpassing, extraordinary . . be beyond one's power, difficult to do
. be difficult to understand
. . be extraordinary, wonderful
. as subst., marvellous things
. = wonderful acts of י׳ in judgement and redemption
. make a special votive offering
. . do a hard or difficult thing
. make wonderful, do wondrously
. of God working wonders in doing
. thou dost shew thyself marvellous (act inexplicably) against me
6381 pala' paw-law'
a primitive root; properly, perhaps to separate, i.e.
distinguish (literally or figuratively); by implication, to be
(causatively, make) great, difficult, wonderful:--accomplish,
(arise...too, be too) hard, hidden, things too high, (be, do,
do a, shew) marvelous(-ly, -els, things, work), miracles,
perform, separate, make singular, (be, great, make)
wonderful(-ers, -ly, things, works), wondrous (things,
works, -ly).
פָּלָא (pa.la) — to wonder.
1) to be marvellous, be wonderful, be surpassing, be extraordinary, separate by distinguishing action
1a) (Niphal)
1a1) to be beyond one's power, be difficult to do
1a2) to be difficult to understand
1a3) to be wonderful, be extraordinary
1a3a) marvellous (participle)
1b) (Piel) to separate (an offering)
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to do extraordinary or hard or difficult thing
1c2) to make wonderful, do wondrously
1d) (Hithpael) to show oneself wonderful or marvellous
Conj | V-Niphal | Suff — Conjunction · verb niphal participle (active) feminine plural common · suffixHC/VNrfpc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word אֲשֶׁר (*asher*) is a relative pronoun that can mean 'who,' 'which,' or 'that.' It serves various grammatical functions, including as an adverb or conjunction, indicating relationships between clauses, places, or conditions. Variants like בַאֲשֶׁר (*ba-asher*), מֵאֲשֶׁר (*me-asher*), and כַּאֲשֶׁר (*ka-asher*) expand its usage to specific contexts such as location, causation, and time.
אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.
base
בַאֲשֶׁר
in (that) which
adv. in (the place) where
conj. in that, inasmuch as
on account of whom?
base
מֵאֲשֶׁר
from (or than) that which
adv. from (the place) where
conj. from (the fact) that …, since
base
כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when
according to that which, according as, as
with a causal force, in so far as, since
with a temporal force, when
base
H834a אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause. H834b בַאֲשֶׁר . in (that) which
. adv. in (the place) where
. conj. in that, inasmuch as
. on account of whom?
H834c מֵאֲשֶׁר . from (or than) that which
. adv. from (the place) where
. conj. from (the fact) that …, since
H834d כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when . according to that which, according as, as
. with a causal force, in so far as, since
. with a temporal force, when
834 'aher ash-er'
a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction)
when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X
alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, +
from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which,
wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where
(+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, +
whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is
indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun
expletively, used to show the connection.
אֲשֶׁר (a.sher) — which.
A: 1) (relative part.)
1a) which, who
1b) that which
2) (conj)
2a) that (in obj clause)
2b) when
2c) since
2d) as
2e) conditional if
B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which
2) (adv)
2a) where
3) (conj)
3a) in that, inasmuch as
3b) on account of
C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which
2) from (the place) where
3) from (the fact) that, since
D: Kaph+
1) (conj.), according as, as, when
1a) according to that which, according as, as
1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since
1c) with a temporal force: when
בַאֲשֶׁר (ba.a.sher) — in which.
1) in (that) which
2) (adv)
2a) where
3) (conj)
3a) in that, inasmuch as
3b) on account of
מֵאֲשֶׁר (me.a.sher) — whence.
1) from (or than) that which
2) from (the place) where
3) from (the fact) that, since
כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka.a.sher) — as which.
conj
1) according as, as, when
1a) according to that which, according as, as
HTr — ParticleHTr
רָאָה (ra'ah) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to see' and encompasses a wide range of visual and perceptual actions, including looking, observing, and causing others to see. It can refer to both literal sight and figurative understanding, with various grammatical forms indicating different nuances, such as appearing or being visible. The entries indicate a rich semantic field without significant disagreement among lexicographers.
רָאָה 1315 vb. see
Qal 1141
see, subj.
see, c. acc. rei
see, sq. acc. cl. or phr. of closer design
see, so as to learn to know
abs. see, have (power of) vision
see = perceive
look at, see, by direct volition
of mental observation
c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest
see, c. acc. rei
Niph.
appear
be seen
be visible
Pu. appar. his bones are not detected
Hithp. recipr. look at each other
Hiph.
cause one to see something, shew
cause to experience something
cause to look intently at, to behold
Hoph.
be caused to see, be shewn
be exhibited to
base
H7200a רָאָה see .. . see, subj.
. see, c. acc. rei
. see, sq. acc. + cl. or phr. of closer design
. see, so as to learn to know
. abs. see, have (power of) vision
. see = perceive
. look at, see, by direct volition
. of mental observation
. . c. ב, lit., look into, hence look at with interest
. see, c. acc. rei
. . appear
. be seen
. be visible
. appar. his bones are not detected
. recipr. look at each other
. . . cause one to see something, shew
. cause to experience something
. cause to look intently at, to behold
. . be caused to see, be shewn
. be exhibited to
H7200b רְאוּת look
7200 ra'ah raw-aw'
a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in
numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive,
intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve,
behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have
experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look
(on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up,
upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide,
regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one
another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X
surely, X think, view, visions.
רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: see.
: see/show
1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to see
1a2) to see, perceive
1a3) to see, have vision
1a4) to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out
1a5) to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish
1a6) to look at, gaze at
1a7) to provide, choose
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to appear, present oneself
1b2) to be seen
1b3) to be visible
1c) (Pual) to be seen
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to cause to see, show
1d2) to cause to look intently at, behold, cause to gaze at
1e) (Hophal)
1e1) to be caused to see, be shown
1e2) to be exhibited to
1f) (Hithpael) to look at each other, face
רָאָה (ra.ah) — to see: examine.
: examine/consider
1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to see
1a2) to see, perceive
1a3) to see, have vision
V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms | Suff — Verb hiphil perfect third person masculine singular · suffixHVhp3ms/Sp3mp