His Loving Kindness Endures Forever
Psalm 136 summary: what it means
Psalm 136 is a thanksgiving song with a refrain in every verse: for his loving kindness endures forever. The first three verses give thanks to the LORD, the God of gods and the Lord of lords. Verses 4 to 9 praise him as Creator of the heavens, the earth, the great lights, the sun, the moon and the stars. Then the psalm tells Israel's story, from Egypt to the land.
Each event in the story, even the defeat of Pharaoh and of the kings Sihon and Og, is followed by the same line about loving kindness. Near the end the psalm moves from history to the present: God remembered us in our low estate, delivered us, and gives food to every creature. It closes where it began, with thanks to the God of heaven.
Psalm 136: His Loving Kindness Endures Forever
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-136
Psalm 136 commentary: explained verse by verse
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,for his loving kindness endures forever.
O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
The opening line gives the call and the reason together: give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. The refrain that follows, his loving kindness endures forever, is repeated in all 26 verses.
Also read 1 Chronicles 16:34, 1 Chronicles 16:41, 2 Chronicles 7:3, Psalm 107:1
Give thanks to the God of gods,for his loving kindness endures forever.
O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
God is named the God of gods. The title places him above every other power people worship.
Also read Deuteronomy 10:17, Psalm 97:9, Daniel 2:47, Psalm 97:7
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,for his loving kindness endures forever;
O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
The second title is Lord of lords. Together with verse 2 it sets up the whole psalm as thanks to the highest ruler.
Also read Revelation 17:14, 1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 19:16
to him who alone does great wonders,for his loving kindness endures forever;
To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
The psalm begins to list reasons. God alone does great wonders, and the verses that follow name them one by one.
Also read Psalm 72:18, Revelation 15:3, Psalm 86:10, Exodus 15:11
to him who by understanding made the heavens,for his loving kindness endures forever;
To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
The list starts with creation. God made the heavens by understanding, so creation is pictured as an act of wisdom.
Also read Jeremiah 10:12, Proverbs 3:19-20, Psalm 104:24, Psalm 33:6
to him who spread out the earth above the waters,for his loving kindness endures forever;
To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Also read Genesis 1:9, Zechariah 12:1, Psalm 24:2, Psalm 104:2-3
to him who made the great lights,for his loving kindness endures forever;
To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Also read Deuteronomy 4:19, Psalm 74:16-17, Psalm 104:19, Genesis 1:14-19
the sun to rule by day,for his loving kindness endures forever;
The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Also read Jeremiah 31:35, Genesis 1:16, Psalm 148:3, Matthew 5:45
the moon and stars to rule by night,for his loving kindness endures forever;
The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
The creation section ends with the moon and stars ruling the night. Even the night is described as ordered by God.
Also read Psalm 89:36-37, Psalm 8:3, Job 31:26
to him who struck down the Egyptian firstborn,for his loving kindness endures forever;
To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
The story moves to Egypt with a hard event: God struck down the Egyptian firstborn. The same refrain is attached, treating Israel's rescue as an act of loving kindness.
Also read Exodus 12:12, Exodus 12:29, Psalm 78:51, Exodus 11:5-6
and brought out Israel from among them,for his loving kindness endures forever;
And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Also read Psalm 105:37, Psalm 78:52, Exodus 13:3, Exodus 12:51
with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm,for his loving kindness endures forever;
With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Also read Deuteronomy 11:2-4, Exodus 6:6, Jeremiah 32:21, Deuteronomy 4:34
to him who divided the Red Sea apart,for his loving kindness endures forever;
To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:
God divided the Red Sea apart. Verse 14 adds that Israel passed through the middle of it.
Also read Psalm 106:9-11, Psalm 74:13, Psalm 78:13, Psalm 66:5-6
and made Israel to pass through the middle of it,for his loving kindness endures forever;
And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Also read Psalm 106:9, Exodus 14:22, Psalm 78:13
but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,for his loving kindness endures forever;
But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Pharaoh and his army are overthrown in the Red Sea. The refrain follows even here, because in the psalm the defeat of the oppressor is part of the rescue.
Also read Psalm 135:9, Psalm 143:12, Exodus 15:4-5, Luke 1:71-74
to him who led his people through the wilderness,for his loving kindness endures forever;
To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Also read Numbers 9:17-22, Isaiah 63:11-14, Deuteronomy 8:15, Nehemiah 9:19
to him who struck great kings,for his loving kindness endures forever;
To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Also read Joshua 12:1-24, Psalm 135:10-12
and killed mighty kings,for his loving kindness endures forever;
And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Also read Deuteronomy 29:7
Sihon king of the Amorites,for his loving kindness endures forever;
Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Also read Deuteronomy 2:30-36, Numbers 21:21-24, Deuteronomy 29:7
Og king of Bashan,for his loving kindness endures forever;
And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Also read Deuteronomy 3:1-29, Numbers 21:33
and gave their land as an inheritance,for his loving kindness endures forever;
And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Also read Deuteronomy 3:12-17, Nehemiah 9:22-24, Psalm 78:55, Joshua 12:1-7
even a heritage to Israel his servant,for his loving kindness endures forever;
Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Also read Psalm 47:4, Psalm 105:6
who remembered us in our low estate,for his loving kindness endures forever;
Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:
The psalm turns personal with the word us. God remembered us in our low estate, which moves the thanks from the distant story to the people singing.
Also read Psalm 106:43-45, Isaiah 63:9, Ezekiel 16:3-13, 1 Samuel 2:7-8
and has delivered us from our adversaries,for his loving kindness endures forever;
And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Also read Exodus 15:13, Proverbs 23:10-11, Isaiah 63:9, Psalm 107:2
who gives food to every creature,for his loving kindness endures forever.
Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
The scope widens to every creature. God gives food to all of them, so his care reaches beyond Israel to all life.
Also read Psalm 147:9, Psalm 104:27, Psalm 145:15
Oh give thanks to the God of heaven,for his loving kindness endures forever.
O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
The psalm ends as it began, with a call to give thanks, now to the God of heaven. The refrain closes the psalm one last time.
Also read Nehemiah 1:4, Psalm 123:1, Psalm 136:1-3, Revelation 11:13
A prayer from Psalm 136
LORD, I give you thanks, for you are good, and your loving kindness endures forever. You are God of gods and Lord of lords. By understanding you made the heavens. You spread out the earth and made the great lights, the sun to rule by day and the moon and stars by night. You brought your people out with a strong hand and led them through the wilderness. You remembered us in our low estate, and you give food to every creature. I give thanks to you, God of heaven, for your loving kindness endures forever. Amen.
Psalm 136 Bible study questions
- What line is repeated in every verse of the psalm, and how many times does it appear?
- In verses 23 to 25, how does the psalm move from past events to what the LORD does for us and for every creature?
- If you wrote your own version of this psalm, which events from your life would you list before the repeated line?
- What effect does saying the same line twenty six times have on you as a reader or a group?
- Psalm 118:1 begins with the same words as Psalm 136:1. How does each psalm go on from that opening?
Questions about Psalm 136
What is the meaning of Psalm 136?
It is a song of thanks that lists what God has done in creation, in bringing Israel out of Egypt and into the land, and in caring for people now. Every line ends with the refrain for his loving kindness endures forever.
Who wrote Psalm 136?
The psalm has no heading, and the text does not name an author.
Why does every verse of Psalm 136 repeat the same line?
Each verse ends with for his loving kindness endures forever, so every act of God the psalm names is tied to the same reason for thanks. The KJV has for his mercy endureth for ever.
What does Psalm 136:1 say in the KJV?
The King James Version reads: "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."
What is Psalm 136:1-9 about?
The first nine verses give thanks to God as the God of gods and Lord of lords, and as the Creator of the heavens, the earth, the sun, the moon and the stars.
What does Psalm 136:26 mean?
It closes the psalm with a final call to give thanks to the God of heaven, repeating the refrain that his loving kindness endures forever.
Psalm 136 KJV: the King James Version
O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.1
O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.2
O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.3
To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.4
To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.5
To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.6
To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:7
The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:8
The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.9
To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:10
And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:11
With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.12
To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:13
And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:14
But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.15
To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.16
To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:17
And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:18
Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:19
And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:20
And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:21
Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.22
Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:23
And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.24
Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.25
O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.26
Psalm 136 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 הוֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה כִּי־ט֑וֹב כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
2 ה֭וֹדוּ לֵֽאלֹהֵ֣י הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
3 ה֭וֹדוּ לַאֲדֹנֵ֣י הָאֲדֹנִ֑ים כִּ֖י לְעֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
4 לְעֹ֘שֵׂ֤ה נִפְלָא֣וֹת גְּדֹל֣וֹת לְבַדּ֑וֹ כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
5 לְעֹשֵׂ֣ה הַ֭שָּׁמַיִם בִּתְבוּנָ֑ה כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
6 לְרֹקַ֣ע הָ֭אָרֶץ עַל־הַמָּ֑יִם כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
7 לְ֭עֹשֵׂה אוֹרִ֣ים גְּדֹלִ֑ים כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
8 אֶת־הַ֭שֶּׁמֶשׁ לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת בַּיּ֑וֹם כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
9 אֶת־הַיָּרֵ֣חַ וְ֭כוֹכָבִים לְמֶמְשְׁל֣וֹת בַּלָּ֑יְלָה כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
10 לְמַכֵּ֣ה מִ֭צְרַיִם בִּבְכוֹרֵיהֶ֑ם כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
11 וַיּוֹצֵ֣א יִ֭שְׂרָאֵל מִתּוֹכָ֑ם כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
12 בְּיָ֣ד חֲ֭זָקָה וּבִזְר֣וֹעַ נְטוּיָ֑ה כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
13 לְגֹזֵ֣ר יַם־ס֭וּף לִגְזָרִ֑ים כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
14 וְהֶעֱבִ֣יר יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל בְּתוֹכ֑וֹ כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
15 וְנִ֘עֵ֤ר פַּרְעֹ֣ה וְחֵיל֣וֹ בְיַם־ס֑וּף כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
16 לְמוֹלִ֣יךְ עַ֭מּוֹ בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
17 לְ֭מַכֵּה מְלָכִ֣ים גְּדֹלִ֑ים כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
18 וַֽ֭יַּהֲרֹג מְלָכִ֣ים אַדִּירִ֑ים כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
19 לְ֭סִיחוֹן מֶ֣לֶךְ הָאֱמֹרִ֑י כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
20 וּ֭לְעוֹג מֶ֣לֶךְ הַבָּשָׁ֑ן כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
21 וְנָתַ֣ן אַרְצָ֣ם לְנַחֲלָ֑ה כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
22 נַ֭חֲלָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל עַבְדּ֑וֹ כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
23 שֶׁ֭בְּשִׁפְלֵנוּ זָ֣כַר לָ֑נוּ כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
24 וַיִּפְרְקֵ֥נוּ מִצָּרֵ֑ינוּ כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
25 נֹתֵ֣ן לֶ֭חֶם לְכָל־בָּשָׂ֑ר כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
26 ה֭וֹדוּ לְאֵ֣ל הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
Psalm 136 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 135 there.
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1 Praise the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 Praise ye the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
3 Praise ye the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
4 Who alone doth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
5 Who made the heavens in understanding: for his mercy endureth for ever.
6 Who established the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
7 Who made the great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever.
8 The sun to rule over the day: for his mercy endureth for ever.
9 The moon and the stars to rule the night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
10 Who smote Egypt with their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever.
11 Who brought Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever.
12 With a mighty hand and a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
13 Who divided the Red Sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever.
14 And brought out Israel through the midst thereof: for his mercy endureth for ever.
15 And overthrew Pharao and his host in the Red Sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.
16 Who led his people through the desert: for his mercy endureth for ever.
17 Who smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever.
18 And slew strong kings: for his mercy endureth for ever.
19 Sehon king of the Amorrhites: for his mercy endureth for ever.
20 And Og king of Basan: for his mercy endureth for ever.
21 And he gave their land for an inheritance: for his mercy endureth for ever.
22 For an inheritance to his servant Israel: for his mercy endureth for ever.
23 For he was mindful of us in our affliction: for his mercy endureth for ever.
24 And he 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 Give glory to the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
27 Give glory to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 136 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 135.
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1 Alleluja. Confitemini Domino, quoniam bonus, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus.
2 Confitemini Deo deorum, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus.
3 Confitemini Domino dominorum, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus.
4 Qui facit mirabilia magna solus, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus.
5 Qui fecit cælos in intellectu, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus.
6 Qui firmavit terram super aquas, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus.
7 Qui fecit luminaria magna, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus:
8 solem in potestatem diei, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus;
9 lunam et stellas in potestatem noctis, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus.
10 Qui percussit Ægyptum cum primogenitis eorum, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus.
11 Qui eduxit Israël de medio eorum, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus,
12 in manu potenti et brachio excelso, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus.
13 Qui divisit mare Rubrum in divisiones, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus;
14 et eduxit Israël per medium ejus, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus;
15 et excussit Pharaonem et virtutem ejus in mari Rubro, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus.
16 Qui traduxit populum suum per desertum, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus.
17 Qui percussit reges magnos, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus;
18 et occidit reges fortes, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus:
19 Sehon, regem Amorrhæorum, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus;
20 et Og, regem Basan, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus:
21 et dedit terram eorum hæreditatem, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus;
22 hæreditatem Israël, servo suo, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus.
23 Quia in humilitate nostra memor fuit nostri, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus;
24 et redemit nos ab inimicis nostris, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus.
25 Qui dat escam omni carni, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus.
26 Confitemini Deo cæli, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus. Confitemini Domino dominorum, quoniam in æternum misericordia ejus.
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Psalm 136 at a glance
| Verses | 26 |
| Heading in the text | No heading |
| Attributed to | The psalm has no heading, and the text does not name its author. |
| Type | Thanksgiving and Historical |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 135 |
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Psalm 136 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 136 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 136 belongs
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source