ScriptureDepth's study of Psalm 105
“Remember his marvelous works that he has done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth,”
Psalms 105:5
The psalmist calls the descendants of Abraham to remember Yahweh's 'marvelous works', which anchors their identity and history as His chosen people.
What Psalm 105 is about
The psalmist calls the people to give thanks to Yahweh and to make known His doings among the peoples (vv. 1-2). He encourages them to remember the covenant established with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, promising them the land of Canaan (vv. 6-11). God protects His people, keeping them safe from harm and rebuking kings for their sake (vv. 12-15). Joseph is sent ahead as a slave to Egypt, where he endures hardship until God's promise comes to fruition (vv. 16-24). The psalm recounts the plagues that struck Egypt, detailing the miracles that God performed, including turning waters to blood and bringing forth locusts (vv. 25-36). God brings His people out of Egypt, providing for them with silver, gold, and sustaining them in the wilderness (vv. 37-43). Finally, He gives them possession of the lands of the nations as they observe His laws (vv. 44-45).
Praise Yahweh for His enduring covenant and mighty acts on behalf of His chosen people.
Psalm 105 at a glance
- Psalm 105:1–5Call to Thanksgiving and Praise
- Psalm 105:6–11Covenant with the Patriarchs
- Psalm 105:12–15God's Protection of His People
- Psalm 105:16–24Joseph and Israel's Sojourn in Egypt
- Psalm 105:25–36Plagues and Miracles in Egypt
- Psalm 105:37–43The Exodus and God's Provision
- Psalm 105:44–45Possession of the Promised Land
Key verse: Psalms 105:5
One thing to notice
Verses 1 and 45 both contain calls for praise, with the invitation to 'Give thanks to Yahweh!' in v. 1 and the conclusion of 'Praise Yah!' in v. 45. This framing creates a boundary around the psalm's content.
Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.
Chapter text
Read Psalm 105 (WEB)
Call to Thanksgiving and Praise Psalm 105:1–5
1Verse 1. Give thanks to Yahweh! Call on his name!Make his doings known among the peoples.2Verse 2. Sing to him, sing praises to him!Tell of all his marvelous works.3Verse 3. Glory in his holy name.Let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.4Verse 4. Seek Yahweh and his strength.Seek his face forever more.5Verse 5. Remember his marvelous works that he has done;his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth,
Covenant with the Patriarchs Psalm 105:6–11
6Verse 6. you offspring of Abraham, his servant,you children of Jacob, his chosen ones.7Verse 7. He is Yahweh, our God.His judgments are in all the earth.8Verse 8. He has remembered his covenant forever,the word which he commanded to a thousand generations,9Verse 9. the covenant which he made with Abraham,his oath to Isaac,10Verse 10. and confirmed the same to Jacob for a statute;to Israel for an everlasting covenant,11Verse 11. saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan,the lot of your inheritance”;
God's Protection of His People Psalm 105:12–15
12Verse 12. when they were but a few men in number,yes, very few, and foreigners in it.13Verse 13. They went about from nation to nation,from one kingdom to another people.14Verse 14. He allowed no one to do them wrong.Yes, he reproved kings for their sakes,15Verse 15. “Don’t touch my anointed ones!Do my prophets no harm!”
Joseph and Israel's Sojourn in Egypt Psalm 105:16–24
16Verse 16. He called for a famine on the land.He destroyed the food supplies.17Verse 17. He sent a man before them.Joseph was sold for a slave.18Verse 18. They bruised his feet with shackles.His neck was locked in irons,19Verse 19. until the time that his word happened,and Yahweh’s word proved him true.20Verse 20. The king sent and freed him;even the ruler of peoples, and let him go free.21Verse 21. He made him lord of his house,and ruler of all of his possessions;22Verse 22. to discipline his princes at his pleasure,and to teach his elders wisdom.23Verse 23. Israel also came into Egypt.Jacob lived in the land of Ham.24Verse 24. He increased his people greatly,and made them stronger than their adversaries.
Plagues and Miracles in Egypt Psalm 105:25–36
25Verse 25. He turned their heart to hate his people,to conspire against his servants.26Verse 26. He sent Moses, his servant,and Aaron, whom he had chosen.27Verse 27. They performed miracles among them,and wonders in the land of Ham.28Verse 28. He sent darkness, and made it dark.They didn’t rebel against his words.29Verse 29. He turned their waters into blood,and killed their fish.30Verse 30. Their land swarmed with frogs,even in the rooms of their kings.31Verse 31. He spoke, and swarms of flies came,and lice in all their borders.32Verse 32. He gave them hail for rain,with lightning in their land.33Verse 33. He struck their vines and also their fig trees,and shattered the trees of their country.34Verse 34. He spoke, and the locusts came,and the grasshoppers, without number,35Verse 35. ate up every plant in their land;and ate up the fruit of their ground.36Verse 36. He struck also all the firstborn in their land,the first fruits of all their manhood.
The Exodus and God's Provision Psalm 105:37–43
37Verse 37. He brought them out with silver and gold.There was not one feeble person among his tribes.38Verse 38. Egypt was glad when they departed,for the fear of them had fallen on them.39Verse 39. He spread a cloud for a covering,fire to give light in the night.40Verse 40. They asked, and he brought quails,and satisfied them with the bread of the sky.41Verse 41. He opened the rock, and waters gushed out.They ran as a river in the dry places.42Verse 42. For he remembered his holy word,and Abraham, his servant.43Verse 43. He brought his people out with joy,his chosen with singing.
Possession of the Promised Land Psalm 105:44–45
44Verse 44. He gave them the lands of the nations.They took the labor of the peoples in possession,45Verse 45. that they might keep his statutes,and observe his laws.Praise Yah!
World English Bible (public domain)
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Main themes in Psalm 105
God's faithfulness
In Psalm 105, the theme of God's faithfulness is apparent through his covenant with the patriarchs, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In verses 8-10, it states that 'He has remembered his covenant forever' and confirms it as 'an everlasting covenant'. This faithfulness is shown in how he remains committed to his promises across generations, ensuring his people are protected and provided for.
Covenant and promise
The covenant and promise made by God play a crucial role in Psalm 105. In verses 9-11, the psalm recounts the covenant made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, where God committed to give them 'the land of Canaan'. This promise is significant as it illustrates God's intention to establish a lasting relationship and inheritance for his chosen people.
Divine guidance and protection
Divine guidance and protection are prevalent throughout Psalm 105 as God actively watches over his people. In verses 14-15, he prevents harm by saying, 'Don’t touch my anointed ones!' This assurance of protection is seen through the narrative as God delivers his people from danger and leads them through trials, emphasizing his attentive presence in their journey.
Remembrance and thanksgiving
The psalm begins with a call to thanksgiving and praise in verses 1-5, inviting the people to actively express gratitude to Yahweh. It encourages them to remember God's marvelous works and to proclaim his deeds among the nations. This passage sets a tone of worship, focusing on recounting God's historical actions and fostering a communal spirit of thankfulness.
Chapter outline
How Psalm 105 unfolds
Psalm 105:1–5 Call to Thanksgiving and Praise
Yahweh is praised and called upon (vv. 1-2), as the psalmist urges people to recount his 'marvelous works' and to rejoice in seeking him (vv. 3-5).
Psalm 105:6–11 Covenant with the Patriarchs
Yahweh affirms Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as his chosen ones, stating in verse 10, 'the covenant which he made with Abraham' and promising 'to you I will give the land of Canaan'.
Psalm 105:12–15 God's Protection of His People
Yahweh protects his people, allowing no one to do them wrong in verse 15, 'Don’t touch my anointed ones! Do my prophets no harm!' as they traveled among nations.
Psalm 105:16–24 Joseph and Israel's Sojourn in Egypt
Yahweh sends a famine while Joseph is sold into slavery; in verse 18, 'They bruised his feet with shackles,' and he later rises to power, leading Israel into Egypt.
Psalm 105:25–36 Plagues and Miracles in Egypt
Yahweh inflicts plagues on Egypt through Moses and Aaron, as seen in verse 27 when he 'sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen' to perform wonders.
Psalm 105:37–43 The Exodus and God's Provision
Yahweh delivers his people from Egypt, bringing them out in verse 37 with 'silver and gold' and providing quail and water, recalling his promise to Abraham.
Psalm 105:44–45 Possession of the Promised Land
Yahweh gives Israel the lands of the nations in verse 44, allowing them to take possession of the labor of peoples to keep his statutes and observe his laws.
Key verses
Psalms 105:5The psalmist calls the descendants of Abraham to remember Yahweh's 'marvelous works', which anchors their identity and history as His chosen people.
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Study questions
Questions for studying Psalm 105
- observeIn v5, what specific 'marvelous works' are the psalmist urging the people to remember?
- observeIn v15, what warning does God give regarding 'my anointed ones'?
- interpretThe mention of Joseph in vv. 16-19: how does this connect to the larger theme of God's plan?
- interpretIn vv. 37-38, why does Egypt feel 'glad' when Israel departs?
- applyWhen have you experienced a moment of joy, similar to Israel's joy in v43?
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Cross-references
Passages that echo Psalm 105
- Psalm 78Psalm 105:41 and Psalm 78:15Both describe God opening the rock: Psalm 105:41 says, 'He opened the rock, and waters gushed out,' while Psalm 78:15 states, 'He split rocks in the wilderness.'
- Hebrews 11Psalm 105:3 and Hebrews 11:6Both encourage seeking God: Psalm 105:3 says, 'Let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice,' while Hebrews 11:6 says, 'he who comes to God must believe that he exists.'
- Acts 7Psalm 105:17 and Acts 7:9Both mention Joseph being sent: Psalm 105:17 says, 'He sent a man before them. Joseph was sold for a slave,' while Acts 7:9 states, 'the patriarchs... sold him into Egypt.'
- Psalm 106Psalm 105:1 and Psalm 106:1Both call for thanks to Yahweh: Psalm 105:1 says, 'Give thanks to Yahweh! Call on his name,' while Psalm 106:1 states, 'Praise Yahweh! Give thanks to Yahweh.'
- Luke 11Psalm 105:3 and Luke 11:9Both encourage seeking God: Psalm 105:3 states, 'Let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice,' while Luke 11:9 says, 'keep seeking, and you will find.'
- Genesis 41Psalm 105:20 and Genesis 41:14Both recount Joseph's release: Psalm 105:20 states, 'The king sent and freed him,' while Genesis 41:14 says, 'Pharaoh sent and called Joseph.'
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