Psalm 106 1

Psalm 106:1 kjv

Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 106:1 nkjv

Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Psalm 106:1 niv

Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Psalm 106:1 esv

Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 106:1 nlt

Praise the LORD!
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.

Psalm 106 verses

Psalm 106 1 Meaning

Psalm 106:1 serves as a foundational call to worship, urging all to acknowledge and celebrate God. It provides two profound reasons for this call: His inherent goodness and His enduring, steadfast love, often translated as mercy or lovingkindness. This verse sets the stage for the rest of the psalm, which recounts Israel's long history of rebellion and God's consistent faithfulness, thereby proving the very truth proclaimed in this opening statement.

Psalm 106 1 Context

Psalm 106 is a historical psalm, part of Book IV of the Psalms (Psalms 90-106), which often reflects on God's kingdom and Israel's relationship with Him. It immediately follows Psalm 105, which celebrates God's faithfulness to His covenant throughout Israel's history. In contrast, Psalm 106 presents a comprehensive and penitent confession of Israel's repeated sinfulness and rebellion against the Lord, despite His enduring goodness.

Verse 1 serves as an anchor. Its opening call to praise and give thanks for God's inherent goodness and everlasting mercy creates a theological framework. It states upfront the unwavering nature of God's character before diving into the detailed account of Israel's failures (from the Exodus through the wilderness and settlement in Canaan, even hinting at the exile). The psalmist acknowledges God's persistent goodness and covenant loyalty even when His people are consistently disloyal, highlighting that divine mercy endures despite human sin. This intro emphasizes that God is to be praised not because His people were faithful, but because He remained faithful, good, and merciful even when they were not.

Psalm 106 1 Word analysis

• Praise the Lord!

  • Transliteration: Hal'lu-Yah (הַלְלוּ-יָהּ)
  • Meaning: A compound Hebrew imperative, meaning "Praise You Yah." "Hal'lu" comes from the verb halal, which means to praise, boast, commend, or even shine. "Yah" is the shortened, sacred name of God, YHWH.
  • Significance: It's an emphatic, plural command to the congregation, indicating a collective and enthusiastic adoration. It's a public proclamation of God's worthiness, often involving joyous noise and celebratory actions. This form of praise emphasizes a deep-seated spiritual exuberance and acknowledges God's sovereignty. It inherently contrasts with worship of powerless idols by elevating the one true living God.

• Give thanks

  • Transliteration: Hodu (הוֹדוּ)
  • Meaning: Imperative, plural form of yadah, which means to confess, praise, give thanks, or to stretch out the hand in adoration or submission.
  • Significance: Implies public acknowledgment and declaration of gratitude for specific actions or characteristics of God. It's not just a feeling of thanks, but an active expression, often in song or formal liturgical response.

• to the Lord,

  • Transliteration: la-YHWH (לַיהוָה)
  • Meaning: Refers to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel.
  • Significance: Designates the unique, personal, and relational God who reveals Himself and enters into covenant with His people. The praise and thanks are directed specifically to Him, distinguishing Him from any other claimed deity.

• for He is good;

  • Transliteration: ki tov hu (כִּי טוֹב הוּא)
  • Meaning: "Ki" means "for" or "because." "Tov" means good, pleasant, righteous, beautiful, intrinsically excellent. "Hu" means "He is."
  • Significance: This is a fundamental attribute of God. His goodness is not just His actions, but His very nature and essence. It is the basis for His character and all His dealings. This truth is declared as a self-evident fact, an intrinsic quality that serves as the ultimate reason for worship.

• For His mercy

  • Transliteration: ki l'olam chasdo (כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ) - l'olam refers to "forever" but it's intertwined here.
  • Meaning: "Chesed" (חֶסֶד) is a profound Hebrew term often translated as steadfast love, lovingkindness, loyalty, kindness, or mercy. It signifies faithful love that is rooted in a covenant relationship, enduring even when the other party is undeserving. It combines concepts of grace, commitment, and active compassion.
  • Significance: This divine attribute is crucial for understanding God's relationship with humanity. It's not just pity, but an active, committed love that goes beyond simple kindness to demonstrate loyalty to His promises despite human failure. It highlights the divine initiative in maintaining the covenant.

• endures forever.

  • Transliteration: l'olam (לְעוֹלָם)
  • Meaning: "To eternity," forever, perpetually, unchanging.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the unending and unchanging nature of God's chesed. His loyal love is not temporary or contingent on human performance; it flows from His eternal character. This offers profound comfort and assurance, as it means God's character and covenant faithfulness are utterly dependable.

Words-group Analysis

• "Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord,"

  • This phrase presents two parallel, imperative calls to worship. "Praise" focuses on adoration of God's inherent being and character (who He is), while "give thanks" implies gratitude for His actions and benefits (what He does). Both are essential elements of true worship and are directed specifically to Yahweh, the covenant God.

• "for He is good; For His mercy endures forever."

  • These two clauses provide the twin, interconnected justifications for the call to worship. The repetition of "for" (כִּי - ki) emphasizes that these are foundational reasons. God's goodness is His intrinsic quality, from which His mercy (covenantal love, chesed) flows as an enduring manifestation. The parallelism underscores that God's essence (goodness) perfectly aligns with His continuous activity (everlasting mercy). The emphasis on "forever" (l'olam) elevates His mercy beyond a transient act to an eternal attribute.

Psalm 106 1 Bonus section

This verse, "Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His mercy endures forever," served a critical liturgical function in ancient Israelite worship. It was a common refrain in Temple services and festivals, often used as a call and response, where a worship leader would chant the first part, and the congregation would respond with "For His mercy endures forever!" This responsive liturgy embedded the truth of God's everlasting faithfulness into the very fabric of Israelite identity and communal memory. The widespread use of this phrase, particularly its recurrence in other psalms (e.g., Ps 107, 118, 136) and historical accounts (e.g., 1 Chr 16, 2 Chr 5, 2 Chr 7), underscores its theological importance as a core affirmation of God's unchanging nature. The immediate juxtaposition in Psalm 106 of this truth with a lengthy catalogue of Israel's national failures magnifies the concept of chesed – demonstrating that God's covenant love is not contingent on human merit but flows from His own unyielding character, providing a message of hope and sustained grace even amidst deserved judgment.

Psalm 106 1 Commentary

Psalm 106:1 encapsulates the core of Israelite worship, inviting a responsive heart of gratitude to the Lord. The initial command, "Praise the Lord!" (Hal'lu-Yah), is a summons to vibrant, congregational adoration, elevating God above all. This universal call is immediately coupled with "Give thanks," recognizing that worship stems not only from acknowledging God's majesty but also from deep gratitude for His specific benevolent actions.

The foundation for this dual call lies in two immutable truths: God "is good" and His "mercy endures forever." God's goodness is His very nature, an intrinsic perfection from which all blessings flow. This fundamental attribute is distinct from mere sentimentality; it speaks of divine righteousness, faithfulness, and benevolence. Flowing from this goodness is His "mercy" (chesed), which is far more than pity. It denotes a covenantal, loyal love, an unwavering faithfulness that perseveres despite obstacles and especially despite human unworthiness. The declaration that this chesed "endures forever" establishes its timeless and unchanging quality, signifying God's constant commitment to His people, even through their recurring unfaithfulness, as the remainder of Psalm 106 starkly illustrates. Thus, the verse serves as both an doxological introduction and a profound theological statement, asserting God's reliable character as the perpetual wellspring of salvation and grace.

Examples:

1. Individual application: Giving thanks to God even when facing challenges, knowing His goodness and mercy are constant despite present difficulties.
2. Corporate worship: Opening a church service with this verse to unite believers in praise based on God's unwavering character, before communal confession of sin.
3. Parenting: Reminding children of God's constant love and forgiveness when they make mistakes, mirroring His enduring mercy.