Psalms 106:8

KJV

Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.

KJV (with Strong's)

Nevertheless he saved {H3467} them for his name's {H8034} sake, that he might make his mighty power {H1369} to be known {H3045}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Yet he saved them for his own name's sake, to make known his mighty power.

Berean Standard Bible

Yet He saved them for the sake of His name, to make His power known.

American Standard Version

Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, That he might make his mighty power to be known.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 106:8 profoundly articulates the unchanging basis of God's redemptive acts: His own divine character and glory, rather than the merit or faithfulness of His people. Despite Israel's persistent rebellion and unworthiness, God intervened to save them, motivated by His commitment to uphold His covenant reputation and to powerfully demonstrate His omnipotence to the world. This verse underscores the sovereign, unmerited grace of God, whose salvation is ultimately for the praise of His own glorious name.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 106 is a historical psalm, serving as a national confession of sin and a lament over Israel's repeated rebellion against God throughout their history, from the Exodus to the Babylonian exile. It stands in stark contrast to Psalm 105, which recounts God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. While Psalm 105 focuses on God's unwavering fidelity, Psalm 106 chronicles Israel's continuous cycle of grumbling, idolatry, and disobedience. Verse 8 specifically harks back to the foundational Exodus event, particularly God's miraculous deliverance of Israel at the Red Sea, as described in [Exodus 14](/exodus/14 "Exodus 14 - The Parting of the Red Sea"). The preceding verses (106:7) explicitly state Israel's forgetfulness and rebellion even at the Red Sea, making God's subsequent act of salvation in verse 8 a powerful and unmerited demonstration of His grace and steadfast love, setting the stage for the rest of the psalm's narrative of divine patience amidst human failure. This verse serves as a crucial theological anchor, explaining *why* God continued to save despite Israel's unworthiness.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for Psalms 106:8 is the miraculous deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, a pivotal event that shaped Israelite identity and theology. The Exodus was not merely a physical rescue but the birth of a nation under God's covenant. In the ancient Near East, the "name" of a god or king was synonymous with their character, reputation, authority, and inherent power. For God to act "for his name's sake" meant that His actions were consistent with His revealed nature and His covenant promises, demonstrating His unique sovereignty over all other gods and nations. The display of "mighty power" (Hebrew: *gĕbûratô*) at the Red Sea was a public declaration of Yahweh's supremacy, intended not only for Israel but also for the Egyptians and surrounding nations, as seen in [Exodus 9:16](/exodus/9-16 "Exodus 9:16 - God's Power Displayed to Pharaoh"). This act established God's reputation as the supreme deliverer and faithful covenant-keeper, a reputation He was committed to upholding.

* **Key Themes:** Psalms 106:8 encapsulates several profound theological themes central to the biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Initiative and Unmerited Grace**, powerfully conveyed by the adversative "Nevertheless." God's salvation is not earned but flows from His sovereign will and steadfast love, an act of pure grace in the face of Israel's utter unworthiness and rebellion, a theme powerfully echoed in [Deuteronomy 7:7-8](/deuteronomy/7-7 "Deuteronomy 7:7-8 - God's Love Not Based on Merit"). Secondly, the verse emphasizes **God's Name and Glory as His Primary Motivation**. The phrase "for his name's sake" signifies that God acts to uphold His own character, reputation, and covenant promises. His honor and fidelity are at stake, not because He needs validation, but because He is inherently glorious and faithful, a concept reiterated throughout Scripture, such as when God declares, "[I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake](/ezekiel/36-22 "Ezekiel 36:22 - God's Holy Name")" ([Ezekiel 36:22](/ezekiel/36-22 "Ezekiel 36:22 - God's Holy Name")). Thirdly, the verse points to the **Demonstration of Mighty Power**. God's salvation is a vivid display of His omnipotence, serving as a testimony to His control over creation and history, proving that the God of Israel is the one true God, as seen in the [miracles of the Exodus](/exodus/7 "Exodus 7 - The Plagues Begin").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Saved (Hebrew, _yâshaʻ_):** This primitive root signifies to be open, wide, or free, and by implication, to be safe. Causatively, it means to free or succor, encompassing concepts like defending, delivering, helping, preserving, rescuing, or bringing salvation. In this context, it refers to God's miraculous and decisive intervention to free Israel from Egyptian bondage and particularly from the imminent threat at the Red Sea, emphasizing God's active and powerful role as the deliverer, independent of human merit.
* **Name's sake (Hebrew, _shêm_):** The Hebrew word *shêm* refers to an appellation, a mark, or a memorial of individuality. By strong implication, it denotes honor, authority, character, fame, renown, or report. When God acts "for his name's sake," it means His actions are driven by His intrinsic character, His revealed attributes, His covenant promises, and His reputation. It underscores that God's honor and integrity are bound up in His redemptive deeds, ensuring that His character is vindicated and magnified through His actions.
* **Mighty power (Hebrew, _gᵉbûwrâh_):** This feminine noun, derived from a root related to "gibbor" (mighty one), refers to force, strength, or might, whether literally or figuratively. It implies valor, victory, mastery, and powerful deeds. In the context of the Exodus, *gᵉbûwrâh* points to God's omnipotent ability to act decisively and supernaturally in history, as demonstrated through the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and the destruction of Pharaoh's army, all undeniable proofs of Yahweh's absolute sovereignty and unmatched strength over all creation and human resistance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Nevertheless he saved them":** This opening phrase functions as a powerful adversative conjunction, highlighting the stark contrast between Israel's unworthiness and God's gracious action. Despite their rebellion, grumbling, and lack of faith, as recounted in the preceding verse (106:7), God chose to deliver them. This underscores the unmerited nature of God's salvation, emphasizing His sovereign initiative and boundless mercy. It is a profound declaration that God's faithfulness is not contingent on human merit or obedience.
* **"for his name's sake":** This crucial clause reveals the profound and ultimate motivation behind God's saving act. God's primary reason for saving Israel was not their inherent goodness or deservingness, but His own character, reputation, and covenant fidelity. His covenant promises and His revealed identity as the faithful, powerful God were at stake. He acted to preserve His honor and to demonstrate His consistency with who He had declared Himself to be, ensuring that all glory for salvation redounds to Him alone.
* **"that he might make his mighty power to be known":** This final clause articulates the ultimate purpose and public consequence of God's salvation. The deliverance was not merely for Israel's benefit but also to reveal God's omnipotence to a wider audience—Israel, Egypt, and indeed all nations. The spectacular display of power at the Red Sea served as an undeniable testament to God's sovereignty over nature and human empires, establishing His unique identity as the one true God who controls history and fulfills His purposes.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 106:8 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound theological message. The most prominent is **Contrast**, immediately established by the word "Nevertheless," which sets God's unwavering faithfulness and gracious intervention against Israel's persistent unfaithfulness and rebellion. This highlights the radical and unmerited nature of divine grace. The phrase "for his name's sake" functions as a powerful **Idiom**, encapsulating the entirety of God's character, reputation, and covenant integrity as the driving force behind His actions. The verse also serves as a concise **Theological Statement**, a declarative truth about God's motivation for salvation, asserting that His actions are intrinsically linked to His glory and power, rather than human deservingness. Furthermore, the entire psalm, of which this verse is a part, utilizes **Historical Recounting** to illustrate theological truths through narrative examples of God's interaction with His people, making abstract concepts concrete through historical precedent.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 106:8 provides a foundational theological truth: God's redemptive work is rooted in His own character and glory, not in human merit. This principle permeates the entire biblical narrative, emphasizing divine sovereignty and grace. It means that God is not merely reacting to human need or deservingness, but actively pursuing His eternal purposes for His own glory. This understanding safeguards against any notion of human boasting in salvation and magnifies the unmerited favor of God. It assures believers that God's commitment to His own name guarantees His continued faithfulness, even when His people stumble. This divine motivation ensures the stability and certainty of His covenant promises and His ultimate victory, providing immense comfort and a call to worship.

* [Ezekiel 36:22-23](/ezekiel/36-22-23 "Ezekiel 36:22-23 - God's Holy Name Vindicated Among the Nations")
* [Isaiah 48:11](/isaiah/48-11 "Isaiah 48:11 - God Acts for His Own Sake")
* [Psalm 23:3](/psalms/23-3 "Psalm 23:3 - God Leads for His Name's Sake")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 106:8 offers immense comfort and a profound challenge to our understanding of God and ourselves. It reminds us that our salvation, and indeed much of God's work in the world, is ultimately a demonstration of His power and faithfulness, designed to bring Him glory, not to validate our worthiness. This truth should cultivate deep humility within us, recognizing that any good in us or done through us is a result of His unmerited grace. It should also inspire unwavering trust: when we fail, when we are unfaithful, God's commitment to His own name and His plan for His glory ensures His continued grace and intervention. We are called to live lives that reflect this truth, seeking to glorify His name in all things, knowing that He acts consistently with His perfect character. This perspective frees us from the burden of earning His favor and invites us into a deeper, more worshipful relationship based on His steadfast love and sovereign purpose.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding that God saves "for his name's sake" impact your view of your own salvation and worthiness?**
* **In what areas of your life are you tempted to rely on your own merit rather than God's unmerited grace?**
* **How can you more intentionally live in a way that makes God's "mighty power to be known" to those around you?**
* **What specific actions can you take to glorify God's name in your daily life, knowing that He acts for His own sake?**

### FAQ
**Why does God act "for His name's sake" rather than for our merit?**

Answer: God acts "for His name's sake" because His ultimate motivation is His own glory and the vindication of His holy character. This concept, central to biblical theology, means that God's actions are consistent with who He is and what He has revealed Himself to be, particularly through His covenant promises. If God were to act based on human merit, salvation would be earned, and humanity would have reason to boast, thereby diminishing God's glory. Instead, by acting for His name's sake, God ensures that all praise and honor belong to Him alone, demonstrating His sovereign grace and faithfulness in the face of human sinfulness. This principle is explicitly stated in passages like [Ezekiel 36:22-23](/ezekiel/36-22-23 "Ezekiel 36:22-23 - God's Holy Name Vindicated Among the Nations"), where God declares He will act for His holy name, not for Israel's sake, so that the nations will know He is the Lord. This also guarantees the certainty and immutability of His salvation, as it depends on His unchanging nature, not on our fluctuating obedience or worthiness.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 106:8, with its declaration that God saved "for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known," finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The entire redemptive narrative culminates in Christ, who is the supreme demonstration of God's power and the perfect embodiment of His name's glory. God's "mighty power" was most fully revealed not merely in the parting of a sea, but in the incarnation of His Son, His sinless life, His atoning death on the cross, and supremely in His resurrection from the dead, which shattered the power of sin and death ([Romans 1:4](/romans/1-4 "Romans 1:4 - Declared Son of God by Resurrection")). Through Christ's sacrifice, God's righteousness was upheld, and His mercy extended, demonstrating that He is both just and the justifier of those who believe ([Romans 3:25-26](/romans/3-25-26 "Romans 3:25-26 - God's Righteousness Displayed in Christ")). Jesus Himself prayed that the Father would "glorify your name" ([John 12:28](/john/12-28 "John 12:28 - Jesus Prays for God's Name to be Glorified")), and His entire mission was to reveal the Father and bring Him glory ([John 17:4](/john/17-4 "John 17:4 - Jesus Glorifies the Father")). Thus, God's saving act "for his name's sake" is perfectly accomplished in Christ, through whom God's character is fully vindicated and His omnipotent power made known to all who believe, leading to the exaltation of Christ's name above every name ([Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9-11 "Philippians 2:9-11 - Jesus' Name Exalted")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 9:16

And in very deed for this [cause] have I raised thee up, for to shew [in] thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

Ezekiel 20:9

But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they [were], in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

Ezekiel 20:14

But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.

Romans 9:17

For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

Ezekiel 20:44

And ye shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

Jeremiah 14:21

Do not abhor [us], for thy name's sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.

Ezekiel 20:22

Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.