Psalm 100 5

Psalm 100:5 kjv

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalm 100:5 nkjv

For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

Psalm 100:5 niv

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100:5 esv

For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 100:5 nlt

For the LORD is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

Psalm 100 verses

Psalm 100 5 Meaning

Psalm 100:5 serves as the profound theological basis for the preceding commands to joyful worship and thanksgiving. It declares three core, immutable attributes of God: His intrinsic goodness, His enduring lovingkindness (mercy), and His unwavering faithfulness. These qualities are not fleeting but are eternal in their duration and span across every human generation, providing an unchanging foundation for all creation to approach and praise the Creator.

Psalm 100 5 Context

Psalm 100 is uniquely titled "A Psalm of Thanksgiving" (Mizmor L'Todah) in the Hebrew, making it a liturgical psalm meant for corporate worship. The preceding verses (1-4) issue an emphatic invitation to "make a joyful noise," "serve the LORD with gladness," "come before His presence with singing," and "know that the LORD, He is God." They declare Him as the Creator and Shepherd of His people. Verse 5 provides the fundamental theological bedrock for these calls to worship, explaining why such joyous praise is due. Historically, psalms like this were likely sung during temple sacrifices and feasts, prompting the congregation to acknowledge God's character. Culturally, it stood in stark contrast to the pagan deities of surrounding nations, whose attributes were often fickle, cruel, or transient; Yahweh's character, as described in this verse, is eternally good, merciful, and faithful, providing stability and hope beyond any temporal circumstances or unreliable human rulers.

Psalm 100 5 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, kî): This Hebrew conjunction introduces the reason or explanation for the commands given in the preceding verses. It asserts that the foundation of worship is based on God's inherent nature, not on transient emotions or circumstances.
• the LORD (יְהוָה, YHVH): Refers to the sacred, unutterable covenant name of God, often transliterated as Yahweh. It emphasizes His personal, self-existent, unchanging nature, distinguishing Him as the one true God who acts in history according to His promises.
• is good (טוֹב, ṭōv): This is more than merely doing good things; it signifies God's inherent, essential character. "Tov" in Hebrew encompasses moral uprightness, benevolence, beauty, pleasantness, and wholeness. It means that everything about God's nature is fundamentally excellent and beneficial. His goodness is the wellspring of all His actions.
• his mercy (חַסְדּוֹ, ḥas'dô): This translates the profound Hebrew term "hesed" (חסד). It denotes more than simple pity; it is steadfast love, loyal love, covenant faithfulness, active benevolence, and unwavering devotion. It speaks of God's faithful love to His covenant people, His unmerited favor, and His persistent kindness, even when they are undeserving. It is a commitment of relational fidelity.
• endures forever (לְעוֹלָם, lə'ōlām): Signifies eternal duration, without end. This attribute underscores the constancy and timelessness of God's hesed. It reassures worshippers that His steadfast love will never cease, providing an everlasting basis for trust and security. This is often sung in repetitive liturgical affirmations (e.g., Psa 136).
• and his faithfulness (אֱמוּנָתוֹ, ’ěmûnātō): This is "emunah" (אמונה), which denotes truth, reliability, steadfastness, firmness, and trustworthiness. It signifies God's absolute consistency between His word and His actions; He is utterly reliable to fulfill His promises and uphold His character. It is the attribute that makes God trustworthy. It shares a root with "amen" (אמן), meaning "so be it" or "truly."
• endures to all generations (וְעַד-דּוֹר וָדוֹר, vəʿad-dōr vā-dōr): This phrase emphasizes the unbroken continuity of God's truthfulness and reliability across historical time, binding past, present, and future generations. It assures believers that God's faithful nature is not confined to one era or one group of people but extends universally through all of human history.

Words-group analysis:

• "For the LORD is good": This initial clause states God's essential nature as the ultimate source of all good, foundational for understanding all His other attributes and actions.
• "his mercy endures forever": This second clause highlights the active expression of God's inherent goodness through His covenantal love and loyal kindness, affirming its ceaseless, eternal duration.
• "and his faithfulness endures to all generations": This final clause underscores the reliability and truthfulness of God, assuring His people that His character and promises remain constant and relevant for every human being across all time periods.

Psalm 100 5 Bonus section

• Psalm 100 is unique in its direct liturgical heading as a "Psalm for Thanksgiving." Its focus on the reason for praise in verse 5 reveals the deep theological motivation behind Israel's worship.
• The three attributes in Psalm 100:5 are intrinsically linked and often found together in scripture, forming a comprehensive picture of God's relational character. His hesed flows from His inherent goodness, and His faithfulness ensures the continuity and reliability of both.
• The repetition of "endures forever" in reference to God's mercy is a frequent liturgical refrain throughout the Psalms (e.g., Psalm 136 repeats it 26 times), deeply embedding this truth in the communal worship and memory of Israel.
• This verse underpins the covenant theology, where God's promises and dealings with humanity are shown to be steadfast and unbroken through all eras, culminating in the person of Jesus Christ who embodies God's ultimate goodness, mercy, and faithfulness (Jn 1:17; Heb 13:8).
• The call for "all the earth" (Psa 100:1) to worship God is directly tied to His universal, unchanging attributes in verse 5, making Him worthy of praise from every nation and generation.

Psalm 100 5 Commentary

Psalm 100:5 presents a triumvirate of God's attributes—goodness, mercy (steadfast love), and faithfulness—as the immovable bedrock for all worship and trust. God's goodness is not just His benevolent actions, but His very essence; He is intrinsically pure, right, and good in His being. Flowing from this goodness is His hesed, an enduring, covenantal love that never quits or fails. This loyal love is not temporary, but "endures forever," assuring His people of a constant, unfailing relationship. Furthermore, His "faithfulness" guarantees His reliability; what He promises, He performs, and His character remains constant. This truth transcends time, extending "to all generations," meaning every human throughout history can depend on the same unchanging God. The verse powerfully contrasts divine immutability with human fickleness and temporal uncertainty, inviting absolute confidence and joy in the Lord. It offers security in the past, stability in the present, and certainty for the future, calling humanity to perpetual thanksgiving.