Psalms 78:12

KJV

Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, [in] the field of Zoan.

KJV (with Strong's)

Marvellous things {H6382} did {H6213}{H8804)} he in the sight {H5048} of their fathers {H1}, in the land {H776} of Egypt {H4714}, in the field {H7704} of Zoan {H6814}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He had done wonderful things in the presence of their ancestors in the land of Egypt, in the region of Tzo'an.

Berean Standard Bible

He worked wonders before their fathers in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan.

American Standard Version

Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 78:12 serves as a foundational declaration within a historical psalm, asserting God's mighty and awe-inspiring acts of deliverance performed publicly in Egypt, specifically in the prominent region of Zoan, for the generation of Israel's ancestors. This verse sets the stage for a detailed recounting of God's unwavering faithfulness despite Israel's subsequent rebellion, emphasizing the undeniable power and sovereign intervention that initiated their national history.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 78 is a "maskil," an instructive psalm, attributed to Asaph. It is a panoramic historical review, chronicling God's dealings with Israel from the Exodus through the establishment of the Davidic covenant. The psalm begins with an exhortation to the people to hear God's law and remember His works, so that future generations might not forget Him as their ancestors did (e.g., [Psalms 78:1-8](/psalms/78-1 "Psalms 78:1-8 - God's Law and Past Deeds")). Verse 12 immediately introduces the first specific historical event in this grand narrative, setting the stage for the detailed recounting of the plagues, the Exodus, and the wilderness wanderings that follow. It acts as a powerful opening statement, establishing the divine agency and the public nature of Israel's foundational deliverance before delving into the subsequent narrative of their unfaithfulness.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** This verse harks back to the period of the Israelite enslavement in Egypt and their subsequent liberation, commonly known as the Exodus. Egypt at this time was a formidable superpower, and the pharaoh was considered a divine ruler. The "marvellous things" refer to the series of ten plagues and other miracles God performed to compel Pharaoh to release His people. The mention of "the land of Egypt" broadly identifies the setting, while "the field of Zoan" (also known as Tanis) provides crucial geographical precision. Zoan was a significant city in the Nile Delta, often serving as a pharaonic capital or royal residence, particularly during the Ramesside period. Its inclusion underscores that God's wonders were not hidden acts but were performed publicly and demonstrably in the very heart of Egyptian power, in the sight of both the enslaved Israelites ("their fathers") and their Egyptian oppressors, thereby challenging the authority of Pharaoh and the pantheon of Egyptian deities.

* **Key Themes:** This verse immediately establishes several profound theological and narrative themes central to Psalms 78 and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Power and Sovereignty**, showcasing God's absolute control over nations, nature, and history, capable of intervening supernaturally to deliver His people. Secondly, it underscores **God's Faithfulness to His Covenant**, demonstrating that despite Israel's future failures and rebellion, God initiated their relationship with overwhelming power and an unwavering commitment to His promises of deliverance and land. Thirdly, the verse contributes to the theme of **Remembrance and Transmission of God's Works**, as the psalm itself is a call to remember and recount God's past deeds, emphasizing the importance of transmitting these foundational acts of deliverance to future generations (as seen in [Psalms 78:4](/psalms/78-4 "Psalms 78:4 - Teaching Future Generations")). Finally, the phrase "in the sight of their fathers" emphasizes the **Public Display of Miracles**, signifying that these were undeniable, witnessed events, leaving no doubt about their divine origin and serving as a perpetual testament to God's unique power and presence.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Marvellous things (Hebrew, _pele'_):** This word (פֶּלֶא, _pele'_) denotes something extraordinary, wonderful, or miraculous, specifically referring to deeds that are beyond human comprehension or natural explanation. It points to acts that inspire awe and reverence because they are clearly of divine origin, showcasing God's unique power and ability to transcend the ordinary. It is often associated with God's redemptive acts and His display of power over creation and human affairs.
* **Zoan (Hebrew, _Tso'an_):** This specific geographical reference (צֹעַן, _Tso'an_) grounds the miraculous events in a verifiable historical and geographical setting. Zoan, also known as Tanis, was a major city in the northeastern Nile Delta, often serving as a royal capital or significant administrative center during various Egyptian dynasties. Its mention emphasizes that God's powerful acts were not performed in obscurity but in a prominent, public, and politically significant location, directly confronting the power and authority of Pharaoh and the Egyptian empire.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Marvellous things did he":** This opening clause immediately establishes God as the sovereign and active agent. The "marvellous things" refer to the supernatural interventions, primarily the ten plagues and the crossing of the Red Sea, which demonstrated God's unique power and His ability to overcome all human and natural obstacles. This highlights His omnipotence and His direct involvement in the affairs of humanity.
* **"in the sight of their fathers":** This phrase emphasizes the public and undeniable nature of God's acts. The "fathers" refers to the generation of Israelites who personally witnessed these miracles during the Exodus. This direct observation served as a powerful testament to God's reality and power, intended to be remembered and recounted by subsequent generations, ensuring that the foundational acts of their national identity were rooted in verifiable, witnessed events.
* **"in the land of Egypt, [in] the field of Zoan":** This clause provides the precise geographical context for God's interventions. "The land of Egypt" sets the broader stage of Israel's bondage and liberation. The more specific "field of Zoan" (or "region of Zoan") pinpoints the location of these wonders to a significant political and cultural center of ancient Egypt. This specificity underscores that God's power was displayed not in a hidden or remote place, but in the very heart of the world's dominant empire, directly challenging its gods and its ruler, thereby magnifying God's glory and demonstrating His supremacy over all earthly powers.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 78:12 employs several literary devices to enhance its message. The overall psalm is a **Historical Narrative**, recounting God's past deeds to instruct the present and future generations. Within this verse, the phrase "marvellous things" functions as a form of **Hyperbole** or **Emphasis**, underscoring the extraordinary, supernatural, and awe-inspiring nature of God's interventions, which transcended normal human experience. The specific mention of "the land of Egypt" and "the field of Zoan" utilizes **Specificity** to ground the divine acts in a concrete, verifiable historical and geographical context, lending credibility and weight to the account. This **Geographical Precision** also serves to highlight the public and undeniable nature of God's power, as these acts were performed in the very heart of the world's most powerful empire. Furthermore, the phrase "in the sight of their fathers" employs a **Witness Motif**, emphasizing that these events were directly observed, making them undeniable and foundational to the collective memory and identity of Israel.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 78:12 is a powerful theological statement, asserting God's absolute sovereignty and His active, redemptive intervention in human history. It establishes the Exodus as the foundational event of Israel's national identity, demonstrating that their existence as a people was not by chance or human might, but by the direct, miraculous hand of God. The "marvellous things" reveal a God who is not distant or passive, but intimately involved, powerful enough to confront the mightiest empires, and faithful to His covenant promises. This verse sets the stage for the psalm's broader theme: the tension between God's unwavering faithfulness and Israel's persistent rebellion. It reminds us that God's character is unchanging – He is a God of wonders, who acts decisively on behalf of His people, and these acts should serve as a perpetual reminder of His power and goodness, compelling worship and obedience.

* [Deuteronomy 6:20-25](/deuteronomy/6-20 "Deuteronomy 6:20-25 - Explaining the Exodus to Children")
* [Exodus 15:11](/exodus/15-11 "Exodus 15:11 - God's Incomparable Wonders")
* [Psalm 105:27](/psalms/105-27 "Psalm 105:27 - Wonders in Egypt")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 78:12 calls us to a profound reflection on the nature of God and His ongoing work in the world. Just as God performed "marvellous things" for Israel in the past, His character remains unchanged, and He continues to work powerfully in the lives of His people today. This verse encourages us to cultivate a posture of remembrance, actively recalling and meditating on God's past interventions, both in biblical history and in our personal lives. By doing so, our faith is strengthened, our trust in His sovereignty is deepened, and our hope for future deliverance is ignited. It reminds us that no situation is too daunting for our God, who publicly displayed His power over the mightiest empire. Furthermore, it challenges us to follow the psalmist's example, becoming conduits through whom God's "marvellous things" are recounted, ensuring that His legacy of power, love, and faithfulness is transmitted to future generations, inspiring them to trust and obey Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does remembering God's past "marvellous things" strengthen your faith in His present power and ability to act in your life?**
* **In what "fields of Zoan" – areas of significant challenge, opposition, or apparent impossibility – have you personally witnessed God's powerful intervention?**
* **What "marvellous things" has God done in your life or in the life of your community that you should intentionally recount to others, particularly to the next generation?**

### FAQ
**Why is "the field of Zoan" specifically mentioned in this verse?**

Answer: The specific mention of "the field of Zoan" (also known as Tanis) is significant for several reasons. Zoan was a prominent city in the Nile Delta, often serving as a pharaonic capital or a major royal residence, particularly during the Ramesside period, which many scholars associate with the Exodus. By specifying Zoan, the psalmist emphasizes that God's "marvellous things" – the plagues and miracles – were not performed in an obscure or remote location. Instead, they occurred publicly, demonstrably, and powerfully in the very heart of Egyptian political and religious authority. This highlights that God directly confronted the might of Pharaoh and the pantheon of Egyptian deities on their home ground, leaving no doubt about the divine origin of these acts and His supreme power over all earthly rulers and false gods. It underscores the undeniable, witnessed nature of these foundational events for Israel.

**What are the "marvellous things" referred to in Psalms 78:12?**

Answer: The "marvellous things" primarily refer to the series of supernatural interventions God performed to liberate the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. This includes the [ten plagues](/exodus/7-14 "Exodus 7:14 - The First Plague") inflicted upon Egypt, such as the turning of the Nile to blood, the frogs, gnats, flies, livestock disease, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and finally, the death of the firstborn, which culminated in the [Passover](/exodus/12 "Exodus 12 - The Passover"). It also encompasses the miraculous [crossing of the Red Sea](/exodus/14 "Exodus 14 - The Crossing of the Red Sea"), where God parted the waters for Israel to pass through and then brought them back upon the pursuing Egyptian army. These acts were extraordinary displays of divine power over creation and served as God's judgment upon Egypt and its gods, demonstrating His unique sovereignty and His faithfulness to His covenant people.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 78:12, recounting God's "marvellous things" in Egypt, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Exodus, with its powerful acts of deliverance from physical bondage, serves as a profound type and shadow of the greater spiritual exodus accomplished by Christ. Just as God performed wonders in the "field of Zoan" to free His people from the tyranny of Pharaoh, so too did Jesus perform the ultimate "marvellous thing" – His death, resurrection, and ascension – to liberate humanity from the far more pervasive tyranny of sin and death. He is the true [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), fulfilling the Passover sacrifice. His miracles, like those of the Exodus, were public displays of divine power, demonstrating His authority over sickness, nature, and even death itself. Through His atoning work, Christ has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son ([Colossians 1:13](/colossians/1-13 "Colossians 1:13 - Delivered from Darkness")), accomplishing a "new exodus" that frees us from the spiritual "Egypt" of our fallen state. His victory over death and the devil ([Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Christ's Victory Over Death")) is the greatest of all "marvellous things," establishing a new covenant and securing eternal redemption for all who believe, making Him our true [Passover Lamb](/1_corinthians/5-7 "1 Corinthians 5:7 - Christ Our Passover").

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

Numbers 13:22

And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, [were]. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)

Ezekiel 30:14

And I will make Pathros desolate, and will set fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments in No.

Isaiah 19:11

Surely the princes of Zoan [are] fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I [am] the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?

Psalms 135:9

[Who] sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.

Exodus 7:1

¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.

Exodus 12:51

And it came to pass the selfsame day, [that] the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.

Isaiah 19:13

The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, [even they that are] the stay of the tribes thereof.