Psalm 105 is a powerful hymn of praise that calls God’s people to remember His mighty deeds throughout history. With rich language and a narrative that revisits crucial moments in Israel’s story, this psalm highlights divine faithfulness and the importance of keeping alive the memory of the Lord’s acts.
Psalm 105 Complete
1 Give thanks to the Lord and call upon His name; make His deeds known among the peoples.
2 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; speak of all His wondrous works.
3 Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4 Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually.
5 Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles and the judgments of His mouth.
6 You offspring of Abraham His servant, children of Jacob, His chosen ones.
7 He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth.
8 He remembers His covenant forever, the word He commanded for a thousand generations,
9 the covenant He made with Abraham, His oath to Isaac,
10 and confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
11 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance.”
12 When they were but few in number, very few, and sojourners in it,
13 wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people,
14 He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake He rebuked kings, saying,
15 “Do not touch My anointed ones; do My prophets no harm.”
16 He called down famine on the land and destroyed every source of bread.
17 He sent a man ahead of them—Joseph—who was sold as a slave;
18 they shackled his feet with fetters; he was laid in irons;
19 until the time that his word came to pass; the word of the Lord tested him.
20 The king sent and released him, the ruler of the peoples set him free.
21 He made him master of his household and ruler of all his possessions,
22 to instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom.
23 Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob lived as an alien in the land of Ham.
24 And He made His people very fruitful and stronger than their foes.
25 He turned their hearts to hate His people, to deal craftily with His servants.
26 He sent Moses His servant, and Aaron whom He had chosen.
27 They performed His signs among them and His wonders in the land of Ham.
28 He sent darkness and made it dark; yet they did not rebel against His words.
29 He turned their waters into blood and caused their fish to die.
30 Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the chambers of their kings.
31 He spoke, and swarms of flies came, and gnats throughout their territory.
32 He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.
33 He struck their vines and fig trees and shattered the trees of their territory.
34 He spoke, and locusts came—young locusts without number;
35 they devoured all the vegetation in their land and ate the fruit of their fields.
36 He also struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their strength.
37 Then He brought Israel out laden with silver and gold, and among His tribes not one faltered.
38 Egypt rejoiced when they departed, for dread of them had fallen upon them.
39 He spread a cloud for a covering and fire to give light by night.
40 They asked, and He brought quail, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
41 He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed through the dry places like a river.
42 For He remembered His holy promise and Abraham His servant.
43 He brought out His people with joy, His chosen ones with rejoicing.
44 He gave them the lands of the nations, and they inherited the labor of other peoples,
45 that they might keep His statutes and observe His laws. Praise the Lord.
Verse-by-Verse Explanation
Psalm 105:1
“Give thanks to the Lord and call upon His name; make His deeds known among the peoples.”
The psalm opens with a summons to public praise. The people are urged to honor God and share His marvels with the world, acknowledging Him as Lord.
Psalm 105:2
“Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; speak of all His wondrous works.”
Music and testimony are presented as essential forms of worship. Singing psalms expresses adoration, and recalling God’s wonders reinforces collective faith.
Psalm 105:3
“Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.”
The verse invites believers to take pride in belonging to God. Those who truly seek Him find joy in His presence.
Psalm 105:4
“Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually.”
A call to spiritual consistency. It is not enough to seek God once; it must become a daily practice.
Psalm 105:5
“Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles and the judgments of His mouth.”
Spiritual memory is emphasized as an instrument of faith. Recalling God’s actions helps sustain trust.
Psalm 105:6
“You offspring of Abraham His servant, children of Jacob, His chosen ones.”
The psalmist reminds listeners of their identity: descendants of the patriarchs and God’s chosen, reinforcing their bond with divine promises.
Psalm 105:7
“He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth.”
Affirms God’s sovereignty not only over Israel but over the whole earth. His judgments are universal.
Psalm 105:8
“He remembers His covenant forever, the word He commanded for a thousand generations.”
God’s faithfulness is eternal. He never forgets His promises, even across generations.
Psalm 105:9
“The covenant He made with Abraham, His oath to Isaac.”
Recalls the origin of the divine covenant, established with Abraham and confirmed with Isaac.
Psalm 105:10
“He confirmed it to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant,”
The promise was reaffirmed with Jacob, showing continuity and eternal commitment to Israel.
Psalm 105:11
“Saying, ‘To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance.’”
God promised the land of Canaan to His people as a sign of lasting possession and blessing.
Psalm 105:12
“When they were but few in number, very few, and sojourners in it;”
Though numerically small and foreigners, God blessed and protected them.
Psalm 105:13
“Wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people;”
God’s people lived as nomads, traversing strange lands and facing uncertainties.
Psalm 105:14
“He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake He rebuked kings,”
Even vulnerable, they were under divine protection. God intervened to defend them from the powerful.
Psalm 105:15
“‘Do not touch My anointed ones; do My prophets no harm.’”
A direct command from the Lord to safeguard His chosen servants and His messengers.
Psalm 105:16
“He called down famine on the land and destroyed every source of bread.”
In His sovereignty, God sent famine as part of His larger plan, preparing the way for providence.
Psalm 105:17
“He sent a man ahead of them—Joseph—who was sold as a slave;”
Joseph is presented as God’s instrument, sent ahead to prepare His people’s deliverance.
Psalm 105:18
“They shackled his feet with fetters; he was laid in irons;”
Joseph’s suffering is acknowledged. He was humbled before being exalted.
Psalm 105:19
“Until the time that his word came to pass; the word of the Lord tested him.”
The waiting period served to test Joseph’s faith and fulfill God’s purpose.
Psalm 105:20
“The king sent and released him, the ruler of the peoples set him free.”
Divine intervention freed Joseph through the authority of Pharaoh, showing God’s rule over kings.
Psalm 105:21
“He made him master of his household and ruler of all his possessions;”
Joseph was elevated to governance, proving God can transform any situation.
Psalm 105:22
“To instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom.”
Joseph had authority over Egyptian leaders, fulfilling a role of leadership and wisdom.
Psalm 105:23
“Then Israel entered Egypt, and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.”
Jacob’s family migrated to Egypt, fulfilling the divine plan of preservation.
Psalm 105:24
“And He made His people very fruitful and made them stronger than their enemies.”
Even in a foreign land, the people prospered, growing in number and strength.
Psalm 105:25
“He turned their hearts to hate His people, to deal craftily with His servants.”
The Egyptians’ hatred toward Israel was also under divine control, setting the stage for liberation.
Psalm 105:26
“He sent Moses His servant, and Aaron whom He had chosen.”
God raised up deliverers: Moses and Aaron, instruments of His will.
Psalm 105:27
“They performed His signs among them and His wonders in the land of Ham.”
The miracles in Egypt confirmed God’s presence and power through His servants.
Psalm 105:28
“He sent darkness and made it dark; yet they did not rebel against His words.”
The plagues were signs of God’s judgment, carried out in obedience by the divine envoys.
Psalm 105:29
“He turned their waters into blood and caused their fish to die.”
The first plague demonstrated absolute dominion over nature and Egyptian resources.
Psalm 105:30
“Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the chambers of their kings.”
The plagues reached even noble spaces, showing that no one was immune.
Psalm 105:31
“He spoke, and swarms of flies came, and gnats throughout their territory.”
God’s words had authority to unleash powerful plagues.
Psalm 105:32
“He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.”
Natural elements were used to execute divine judgment with precision.
Psalm 105:33
“He struck their vines and fig trees and shattered the trees of their territory.”
Agricultural destruction struck at Egypt’s economic foundations.
Psalm 105:34
“He spoke, and locusts came—young locusts without number.”
Another wave of devastation, reinforcing God’s power in action.
Psalm 105:35
“They devoured all the vegetation in their land and ate the fruit of their fields.”
Scarcity was completed with the destruction of the crops.
Psalm 105:36
“He also struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their strength.”
The most devastating plague: the death of the firstborn, culminating the series of judgments.
Psalm 105:37
“Then He brought Israel out laden with silver and gold, and among His tribes not one faltered.”
The deliverance was complete and miraculous, with wealth and health for the entire nation.
Psalm 105:38
“Egypt rejoiced when they departed, for dread of them had fallen upon them.”
The fear of God overwhelmed Egypt, which felt relief at the Israelites’ departure.
Psalm 105:39
“He spread a cloud for a covering and fire to give light by night.”
God guided the people day and night, offering protection and direction.
Psalm 105:40
“They asked, and He brought quail, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.”
Divine provision in the wilderness was abundant and supernatural.
Psalm 105:41
“He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed through the dry places like a river.”
Another miracle of providence: water in the desert, showing God’s continual care.
Psalm 105:42
“For He remembered His holy promise and Abraham His servant.”
Divine faithfulness is reinforced: God does not forget His promises.
Psalm 105:43
“He brought out His people with joy, His chosen ones with rejoicing.”
The deliverance was marked by celebration, not merely relief.
Psalm 105:44
“He gave them the lands of the nations, and they inherited the labor of other peoples;”
God gave His people the fruit of other nations, fulfilling His promise.
Psalm 105:45
“That they might keep His statutes and observe His laws. Praise the Lord.”
The purpose of all these blessings is clear: faithfulness to God. The psalm ends as it began, with a call to praise.
The Importance of Remembrance in Psalm 105
The central theme of Psalm 105 is remembrance. From the opening verses, we are called to recall God’s wondrous works, His miracles, and His judgments. This remembrance is not merely an exercise of memory but an act of worship.
The Call to Gratitude
Early on, the psalmist proclaims:
“Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the peoples.”
Gratitude is presented as the natural response to divine action. Psalm 105 shows that giving thanks is more than a feeling: it is a continuous practice.
Memory as a Spiritual Tool
The historical narrative in Psalm 105 reinforces the spiritual identity of the people. By remembering the covenants, the exodus from Egypt, and the desert journey, the psalmist underscores God’s faithfulness amid adversity.
The Deeds of God Throughout History
Psalm 105 offers a panoramic journey through Israel’s history, revealing how God acted with power, protection, and purpose at every stage.
The Covenant with the Patriarchs
The psalm recalls that the covenant made with Abraham was reaffirmed with Isaac and Jacob. The promised land was part of that covenant, and the text emphasizes God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His word even when it seemed impossible.
The Story of Joseph
Joseph’s narrative in Egypt illustrates how God transforms suffering into deliverance. Sold as a slave, Joseph was exalted to governor, enabling him to save his family during the famine. Psalm 105 describes this as a divine plan in action.
The Exodus from Egypt
The psalm details the plagues God sent upon Egypt. Each plague is described as a sign of divine authority over Egypt’s gods. Psalm 105 highlights that all this was done to set the chosen people free.
God’s Faithfulness Is the Focus of Psalm 105
More than a historical account, the psalm is a confession of God’s continual faithfulness. He never fails His people, even when they are weak or ungrateful.
God Keeps His Promises
Psalm 105 makes it clear that God does not forget His word. Even after centuries of waiting, the promise made to Abraham was fulfilled when the Promised Land was possessed. This shows that God’s plans come to pass at the right time.
Protection in the Desert
During the desert journey, God provided food, water, and guidance. Psalm 105 recounts that He led the people with a cloud by day and fire by night, showing that His presence never departed.
How to Apply Psalm 105 to Daily Life
Psalm 105 is not merely a historical text but a practical inspiration for everyday life. It shows us how to handle our memories and how to position ourselves in response to the blessings we receive.
Cultivating Daily Gratitude
Remembering both small and great blessings is a way to live out the spirit of Psalm 105. Gratitude draws us closer to God and helps us see beyond momentary difficulties.
Sharing God’s Deeds
Just as the psalm exhorts us to “make known the deeds of the Lord,” we should tell our stories of faith, inspiring others. Testimony strengthens the community and renews the listener’s faith.
Trusting Even When You Cannot See
In many moments, Psalm 105 depicts situations where it seemed God was silent. Yet, in the end, everything is revealed as part of a greater plan. Trusting God, even in silence, is living this historic and active faith.
Memorable Passages from Psalm 105
The complete text has 45 verses. Some passages stand out for their poetic and spiritual power:
“Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually.”
This verse invites us to perseverance in faith.
“Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles and the judgments of His mouth.”
It is a direct appeal to active spiritual memory.
Literary Structure of Psalm 105
Beyond its theological content, Psalm 105 has a well-defined structure that reinforces its impact.
Hebrew Poetry
The psalm is built with parallelism— a common device in Hebrew poetry. This reinforces ideas and gives rhythm to the hymn.
Sequential Narrative
Unlike more reflective psalms, Psalm 105 follows a timeline, telling events chronologically. This makes reading easier and broadens understanding of the divine plan.
Comparing with Psalm 106
An interesting point is to compare Psalm 105 with Psalm 106. While the former exalts God’s works, the latter confesses the people’s sins. Together they show two facets of the relationship with God: divine faithfulness and human fallibility.
Psalm 105 in Liturgy and Music
Psalm 105 is used in worship services as a song of thanksgiving. Many Christian musicians have adapted it into songs that exalt God’s deeds, especially the opening verses.
Liturgical Applications
Whether in Jewish or Christian liturgies, this psalm reinforces the tradition of remembering divine acts. It is ideal for moments of collective gratitude.
Musical Adaptations
Verses such as “Give thanks to the Lord” are frequently found in hymns and contemporary songs, as they easily connect listeners to the psalm’s central message.
Why Read and Meditate on Psalm 105?
Reading Psalm 105 is a way to renew faith. It does not merely recount an ancient story but rekindles in us trust in a God who acts in history and in our personal lives.
Spiritual Edification
Each verse of the psalm offers an opportunity to learn more about the divine character and to be inspired to live with greater confidence and praise.
Reinforcing Spiritual Identity
Just as Israel was reminded of its origin and destiny, we too are called to remember who we are and who our God is.
FAQ about Psalm 105
What does Psalm 105 mean?
Psalm 105 is a celebration of God’s deeds in Israel’s history. It highlights divine faithfulness, the importance of gratitude, and the power of spiritual remembrance.
Who wrote Psalm 105?
Authorship is traditionally attributed to King David, especially because part of it appears in 1 Chronicles 16 when the Ark of the Covenant is brought back.
What is the purpose of Psalm 105?
The purpose is to lead the people to worship God by remembering His deeds, acknowledging His presence and continuous faithfulness.
How can I apply Psalm 105 in my life?
Practicing gratitude, recalling past blessings, and trusting in God’s actions are practical ways to apply the teachings of Psalm 105.
Is Psalm 105 still relevant today?
Yes. Its content is timeless, for it speaks of God’s faithfulness—a continual source of hope and guidance for the present day.
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