1 Chronicles 16:34 kjv
O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
1 Chronicles 16:34 nkjv
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
1 Chronicles 16:34 niv
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
1 Chronicles 16:34 esv
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
1 Chronicles 16:34 nlt
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
1 Chronicles 16 34 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Chron 16:41 | "...give thanks to the Lord, for His steadfast love endures forever." | Similar refrain, continued praise |
| 2 Chron 5:13 | "...when they praised the Lord, saying, "For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever."..." | Used in dedication of the temple |
| 2 Chron 7:3 | "...bowed down...and thanked the Lord, saying, "For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever."..." | Response to God's glory at temple dedication |
| Ps 100:5 | "For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever..." | Direct parallel, universal call to worship |
| Ps 106:1 | "Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!" | Call to thanksgiving for God's history |
| Ps 107:1 | "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!" | Praising God for deliverance |
| Ps 118:1 | "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever." | Introduction to a Psalm of triumph |
| Ps 136:1 | "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever." | Repeated refrain, listing God's great deeds |
| Neh 9:5 | "...Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise." | Praise for God's exalted name |
| Jer 33:11 | "...give thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!" | Prophecy of restored worship |
| Ps 119:68 | "You are good and do good; teach me your statutes." | God's inherent goodness and active benevolence |
| Lam 3:22-23 | "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning..." | God's unfailing love and faithfulness |
| Ps 23:6 | "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life..." | God's active pursuit with good and hesed |
| Joel 2:13 | "...return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love..." | Attributes of God's character |
| Jonah 4:2 | "...a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love..." | Echoes Exodus 34:6, emphasizing God's mercy |
| Rom 8:38-39 | "...neither death nor life...will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." | God's eternal love in NT |
| Eph 2:4-5 | "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead..." | God's mercy and love as the basis for salvation |
| Jas 1:17 | "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." | God's unchanging goodness |
| 1 John 4:8, 16 | "God is love." | Foundational statement of God's nature |
| 1 Pet 1:25 | "...the word of the Lord remains forever." | Echo of eternality in God's attributes |
1 Chronicles 16 verses
1 Chronicles 16 34 Meaning
This verse is a direct call to worship and an expression of profound praise, urging all to give thanks to the Lord. It states two fundamental reasons for this thanksgiving: first, because the Lord is inherently and universally good, signifying His character and nature; and second, because His steadfast love, or covenant faithfulness (hesed), endures perpetually, assuring His unchanging loyalty and benevolence through all generations.
1 Chronicles 16 34 Context
1 Chronicles 16 presents a pivotal moment in Israel's worship life under King David. The chapter describes the bringing of the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem and its placement in a tent David had prepared for it. Following sacrifices and blessings, David appoints Levites to minister before the Ark, with music and praise. Verse 34 is part of a grand psalm of thanksgiving (16:7-36) that David delivered into the hand of Asaph and his brothers. This psalm outlines God's covenant faithfulness from Abraham through the Exodus and wilderness wanderings, culminating in His promise to David. It is a liturgical declaration, emphasizing God's glorious nature, His mighty deeds, and His enduring covenant love as the bedrock of Israel's national identity and worship. The verse serves as a powerful call to present and future generations to remember and respond to God's inherent goodness and eternal reliability.
1 Chronicles 16 34 Word analysis
- Oh give thanks: The Hebrew word hodû (הוֹדוּ) is an imperative, plural form derived from the root yadah, meaning to "praise, thank, confess." It signifies an active, vocal expression of gratitude, acknowledgment, and homage. It is a summons for a collective response, urging communal appreciation.
- to the LORD: lYĕhwāh (לַיהוָה). Refers to Yahweh, the covenant name of God revealed to Israel (Exod 3:14-15). This name emphasizes God's self-existence, faithfulness to His promises, and personal relationship with His people. It distinguishes Him as the one true God against any other deities.
- for he is good: kî-ṭōḇ (כִּי־טוֹב). Kî means "for" or "because," providing the reason. Ṭōḇ (טוֹב) signifies goodness, excellent, pleasant, beautiful, benevolent. It denotes God's inherent, unchanging character. His goodness is not just an attribute but part of His very essence, making Him the source of all good things and demonstrating His gracious disposition toward His creation.
- for his steadfast love: kî lĕ‘ôlām ḥasdô (כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ). Kî again means "for." Ḥesed (חֶסֶד) is a crucial Hebrew term with a rich meaning. It is translated as "steadfast love," "loyal love," "lovingkindness," "mercy," "covenant faithfulness," or "grace." It describes God's active, faithful, and persistent loving commitment, especially within the context of a covenant relationship, demonstrating His loyalty and grace often beyond what is deserved.
- endures forever: lĕ‘ôlām (לְעוֹלָם). This phrase translates to "forever," "for all time," "eternally," or "perpetually." It emphasizes the unchanging and never-ending nature of God's ḥesed. This eternality provides complete assurance and security in His promises and character.
Words-group analysis:
- "Oh give thanks to the LORD": This phrase initiates a doxological imperative, commanding praise and gratitude specifically directed to Yahweh, recognizing His unique identity as the covenant God.
- "for he is good": This clause establishes the foundational reason for giving thanks – God's intrinsic and pervasive goodness, which defines His very being and is expressed in all His actions.
- "for his steadfast love endures forever": This clause amplifies the reason for thanksgiving by highlighting a specific, active aspect of God's goodness—His hesed. The declaration that it "endures forever" underscores the reliability, consistency, and eternality of God's commitment to His people, making His love a never-failing source of hope and security.
1 Chronicles 16 34 Bonus section
The phrase "For He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever" appears frequently as a liturgical refrain, especially in the Psalms and in temple dedication contexts (e.g., Ps 106:1, 107:1, 118:1, 136:1; 2 Chron 5:13, 7:3; Jer 33:11). This repetition suggests its central role in Israel's corporate worship, designed to impress upon the worshiper the constancy of God's character and covenant faithfulness. It was likely chanted responsively, reinforcing communal belief and reminding the people of God's reliable nature despite their changing circumstances or national struggles. In a world of fickle gods and uncertain human leaders, this statement offered unparalleled reassurance of God's unswerving character and perpetual care for His chosen people. The "forever" aspect implicitly highlights the eternity of God's promises and purposes, looking beyond temporary trials to His ultimate, unfailing redemption.
1 Chronicles 16 34 Commentary
1 Chronicles 16:34 is a timeless liturgical confession, forming a cornerstone of Israelite worship that resounds throughout the Old Testament. It distills the essence of thanksgiving by pointing to two non-negotiable truths about God: His inherent goodness and His eternal, unchanging covenant loyalty. The call to "give thanks" is not a mere suggestion but a joyful imperative, acknowledging God's worthiness of all praise. His "goodness" speaks to His perfect nature and His benevolent intentions toward His creation. Coupled with this is His "steadfast love" (ḥesed), which highlights His committed and gracious fidelity, especially within His relationship with His people. The emphatic "endures forever" provides profound comfort and stability, asserting that His goodness and loyalty are immutable and will never fail. This verse functions as an anchoring truth for faith, assuring believers across generations that the God they worship is utterly dependable and bound by an everlasting love. It reminds us that our thanksgiving should spring from a deep appreciation of who God is, not merely from what He has done, cementing the foundational response of humanity to the divine.