Psalms 106:22 (KJV)

What does Psalms 106:22 mean?

Psalms 106:22 recalls God’s acts in Egypt and at the Red Sea when the Israelites escaped from slavery. The verse describes those events as astonishing and fearsome displays of power, remembered by Israel long after the escape.

Following the reference to God’s “great things in Egypt” in verse 21, the speaker calls Egypt “the land of Ham.” The verse then moves from the land to the sea, tracing part of the Israelites’ journey out of Egypt.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 106:22

• “works” — פָּלָא (palaʾ): This word carries the sense of doing something extraordinary or wondrous. It emphasizes how remarkable the acts were to those who remembered them.
• “things” — יָרֵא (yareʾ): The word can carry the sense of being fearful or awe-inspiring. The KJV’s “terrible things” points to acts that inspire fear and awe.

Why Psalms 106:22 matters

• “The land of Ham” is another name for Egypt here. Psalm 105:23 uses the same expression alongside the name “Egypt.”
• The verse helps explain what Israel had forgotten. Verse 21 says they “forgat God their saviour,” and verse 22 recalls the deeds behind that description.
• The mention of the Red Sea brings the escape story to mind. Exodus 14 describes the Israelites crossing through the sea and the Egyptian army being overwhelmed by the returning water.