Psalms 136 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
Psalm 136 KJV
1 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalms Chapter 136 continued
4 To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
10 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
11 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:
12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
More Psalms Chapter 136 continued
13 To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:
14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:
15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.
16 To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.
17 To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
18 And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
19 Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:
20 And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:
21 And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:
22 Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.
23 Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:
24 And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.
25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 136:1
Verse: הוֹדוּ לַיהוָה כִּי-טוֹב
Transliteration: Hodu la-Adonai ki-tov
English: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.”
Focus Word: חֶסֶד (Chesed)
- Root: ח-ס-ד (Chet-Samech-Dalet)
- Meaning: “Steadfast love,” “mercy,” “faithful love.”
- Deeper Insight: Chesed highlights God’s covenantal loyalty, emphasizing His enduring love for His people.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| הוֹדוּ — hodu | Verse 1 — “Give thanks to the LORD…” | “Give thanks,” praise with gratitude. | Hodu (“give thanks”) expresses grateful acknowledgment of God’s goodness. It frames worship as grateful remembrance. The verb opens the litany of everlasting mercy. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon of the Old Testament |
| טוֹב — tov | Verse 1 — “…for He is good.” | “Good,” beneficial, morally excellent. | Tov (“good”) describes divine goodness as essential to His nature. It emphasizes God’s benevolent character. The term grounds the Psalm’s refrain in God’s identity. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms |
| חֶסֶד — chesed | Verse 1 — “…His mercy endures forever.” | “Covenant love,” steadfast mercy. | Chesed (“covenant love”) denotes loyal affection rooted in covenant fidelity. It forms the structural refrain of the Psalm. The word proclaims unchanging divine commitment. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament |
| נִפְלָאוֹת — nifla’ot | Verse 4 — “Who alone does great wonders…” | “Wonders,” miraculous acts. | Nifla’ot (“wonders”) highlights actions only God can perform. It underscores His incomparable power. The term reinforces divine uniqueness. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| עָשָׂה — asah | Verse 5 — “Who made the heavens…” | “To make,” create. | Asah (“to make/create”) affirms God’s sovereign craftsmanship. It connects His creative power with covenant mercy. The verb supports the Psalm’s theology of creation and redemption. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| קִנְיָן — kinyan | Verse 6 — “Spread out the earth…” | “Formation,” possession. | Kinyan (“formation/possession”) points to the earth as God’s crafted domain. It reinforces His ownership. The term magnifies His creative authority. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| מָאוֹר — ma’or | Verse 7 — “He made great lights…” | “Light,” luminary. | Ma’or (“luminary”) depicts purposeful design in creation. It conveys sustaining power through heavenly lights. The term deepens the Psalm’s cosmic focus. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| חַמָּה — chammah | Verse 8 — “The sun to rule the day…” | “Sun,” shining one. | Chammah (“sun”) represents order and provision. It reflects God’s structured governance. The word emphasizes His role as sustainer. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| יָרֵחַ — yareach | Verse 9 — “The moon and stars…” | “Moon,” lunar body. | Yareach (“moon”) highlights divine orchestration of times and seasons. It contributes to the theme of cosmic order. The term reinforces God’s meticulous care. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| גָּאַל — ga’al | Verse 24 — “And rescued us from our enemies…” | “To redeem,” deliver. | Ga’al (“to redeem”) expresses liberation through divine intervention. It recalls Israel’s repeated deliverances. The term concludes the Psalm with personal and national gratitude. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 136 |
|---|---|---|
| Hugh Binning (University of Glasgow, 1627–1653) | Sermons on the Psalms | This Psalm celebrates enduring divine mercy, and Binning emphasizes the continual acknowledgment of God’s faithfulness through generations. |
| William Lowth (University of Oxford, 1660–1732) | Commentary on the Psalms | Lowth views the repeated refrain as a teaching tool, instilling gratitude and awareness of God’s unchanging love. |
| Johann Albrecht Bengel (University of Tübingen, 1687–1752) | Gnomon Novi Testamenti | Bengel interprets the Psalm as illustrating how God’s historical acts of deliverance reinforce trust in Him. |
| Philip Doddridge (Northampton Academy, 1702–1751) | Family Expositor | The Psalmist’s recounting of God’s mighty works, Doddridge notes, inspires both worship and confidence. |
| James Durham (St Andrews / Edinburgh, 1622–1658) | Commentary on the Psalms | Durham presents the Psalm as a rhythmic affirmation of God’s unwavering presence in the lives of His people. |
Prayer: Thank You, Righteous Father that Your mercy endures forever and through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ we can go boldly before the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace in times of need. Thank You Lord for where you've taken us from and where You're taking us to. Get the glory in our lives, O God. You are awesome and we magnify and honor You in Jesus' Name. Amen!
