The psalmist confessed that Israel had been unfaithful to God. This was true of his generation as it had been true of former generations. This confession introduced a review of specific iniquities and wickedness. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Psalms 106:1-15 - Unfailing Loving-Kindness
Who can utter? That is an unanswered question. Not even the leader of the heavenly choir can answer it. But what blessedness it brings to the heart of one who begins to recite the goodness and loving-kindness of God! When prayer goes heavily, begin to praise.
The theme of this psalm is God's redeeming grace. It contains a gruesome catalogue of sin. We have sinned"¦ we have committed iniquity"¦ our fathers understood not"¦ they remembered not"¦ but provoked"¦ they soon forgat"¦ they waited not"¦ but lusted exceedingly"¦ and tempted God. But side by side were the divine love and mercy: "Nevertheless He saved them for His name's sake," Psalms 106:8. God is bound to keep His Covenant, even to the children's children. He must act worthily of Himself. "Truth" is another spelling of "troth." When God has pledged His troth, as He did to Abraham, and has also to us, He cannot fail.
Notice the pathetic prayer of Psalms 106:4. Though we are more or less implicated in the sins of those around us, we, as Christians, may claim special favor and help, in order to be placed in a stronger position when we come to intercede for others. [source]
Chapter Summary: Psalms 106
1The psalmist exhorts to praise God 4He prays for pardon of sin, as God pardoned the fathers 7The story of the people's rebellion, and God's mercy 47He concludes with prayer and praise
What do the individual words in Psalms 106:6 mean?
We have sinnedwithour fatherswe have committed iniquitywe have done wickedly
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: חָטָא
Sense: to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness.