Psalm 107 1

Psalm 107:1 kjv

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

Psalm 107:1 nkjv

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

Psalm 107:1 niv

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

Psalm 107:1 esv

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

Psalm 107:1 nlt

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

Psalm 107 verses

Psalm 107 1 Meaning

Psalm 107:1 is a universal call to thanksgiving directed towards the covenant God of Israel, YHWH. It establishes the foundational reasons for this praise: His inherent goodness and the eternal, unfailing nature of His loyal love. The verse serves as an invocation, urging all to acknowledge God's benevolent character and enduring faithfulness, setting the stage for the narrative of His delivering acts described throughout the rest of the psalm.

Psalm 107 1 Context

Psalm 107 initiates the fifth and final book of the Psalms (Psalms 107-150). It serves as a majestic call to communal worship, emphasizing the enduring steadfast love of the LORD demonstrated through various acts of deliverance. The opening verse establishes the psalm's central theme and provides the primary motivation for the subsequent recounts of God's saving grace. Historically, while applicable to any individual's experience of God's salvation, the psalm is often seen as a national hymn of thanksgiving, perhaps composed in light of the return of the exiles from Babylon. It broadens the scope of God's intervention to universal scenarios—those lost in the wilderness, captives in prison, those afflicted by illness, and sailors in perilous storms—all finding rescue through divine intervention, prompting repeated calls for "Let them give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men."

Psalm 107 1 Word analysis

• Oh give thanks (הוֹדוּ, `Hodu`): This is an imperative verb, a command, urging immediate and earnest action. The Hebrew root `yadah` (יָדָה) literally means "to throw" or "to cast," and in the Hiphil stem, as here, it signifies "to laud," "to praise," "to confess," or "to give thanks." It implies an open, public, and hearty acknowledgment, often accompanied by outstretched hands or actions of reverence. It's not a mere polite acknowledgment but a deep, declarative gratitude.
• to the LORD (לַיהוָה, `la-YHWH`): `YHWH` is the sacred, ineffable covenant name of God, often translated "LORD" (in small capitals) in English Bibles. This name reveals God's self-existence and His personal, redemptive relationship with His people, particularly as the God who makes and keeps covenants. The call to give thanks is specifically to Him, the faithful God who acts in history.
• for He is good (כִּי טוֹב, `ki tov`):
  • for (כִּי, `ki`): This conjunction is causal, meaning "because" or "indeed." It introduces the fundamental reasons for giving thanks, emphasizing the truth of God's character. Its repetition (`ki... ki...`) underscores the certainty and importance of these reasons.
  • He is good (טוֹב, `tov`): This describes God's inherent nature and character. "Good" implies moral perfection, beneficence, and a benevolent disposition. God is fundamentally kind, righteous, and beneficial to His creation. This "goodness" is not conditional or earned but flows from His very being. It’s tied to the divine verdict in Genesis after creation (Gen 1:31), indicating His creation reflects His perfect and orderly nature.
• for His steadfast love endures forever! (כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ, `ki le-olam hasdo`):
  • for (כִּי, `ki`): Again, introducing a foundational reason.
  • His steadfast love (חַסְדּוֹ, `hasdo`): This is a crucial Hebrew theological term, often translated as "lovingkindness," "mercy," "unfailing love," or "loyal love." It refers to God's faithful, covenantal love that goes beyond mere sentiment to involve concrete action, commitment, and loyalty, especially in the context of His covenant with Israel. It is an active, dependable, and merciful love.
  • endures forever! (לְעוֹלָם, `le-olam`): This adverbial phrase means "for eternity," "everlasting," "without end." It stresses the eternal duration and immutability of God's steadfast love. It's a love that does not waiver, expire, or diminish across generations or circumstances. It signifies that His covenant promises are perpetually secure and reliable.

Words-group Analysis

• "Oh give thanks to the LORD": This imperative opens the psalm with an urgent, communal command to praise the specific covenant God of Israel. It emphasizes that the call to gratitude is directed towards YHWH, highlighting His unique relationship with His people.
• "for He is good": This clause provides the first primary reason for thanksgiving—God's intrinsic character. His goodness is not an occasional attribute but an essential, unchanging aspect of who He is. This foundation reassures the worshiper of God's benevolent intent.
• "for His steadfast love endures forever!": This second clause offers another fundamental and eternal reason. The repetition of "for" (`ki`) stresses the dual, inseparable basis for praise: God's inherent goodness and His eternal, covenant-keeping love. The endurance of `hasdo` guarantees His ongoing commitment, compassion, and faithfulness to His people, irrespective of their failures or changing circumstances. This is the cornerstone of hope and security for the psalmist and the community.

Psalm 107 1 Bonus section

This introductory verse is not just a polite suggestion but a summons to an active posture of worship. The "thanksgiving" it calls for involves more than just words; it implies a confession of God's faithfulness and a recounting of His saving acts, which is precisely what the rest of Psalm 107 unfolds. The chiastic structure sometimes observed in these verses (A - praise, B - for goodness, B' - for steadfast love, A' - forever) further emphasizes the central, unwavering nature of God's hesed. This truth is not merely theological doctrine but a deeply practical reality for all who have experienced God's deliverance in their lives, moving them to perpetual praise. The combination of God's universal tov (goodness to all creation) and His specific, covenantal hasdo (steadfast love to His people) provides a comprehensive scope for gratitude, encompassing both general blessings and specific redemptive acts.

Psalm 107 1 Commentary

Psalm 107:1 is a clarion call to grateful praise, rooted deeply in the unchangeable character of God. It sets the tone for the entire psalm by declaring the two ultimate reasons for all human praise and reliance: God’s inherent, unchanging goodness and His perpetually enduring steadfast love (חסד, hesed). This verse acts as a summary of the covenant God’s nature, emphasizing His benevolent disposition (tov) and His unwavering covenant loyalty (hesed). The call to "give thanks" (hodu) is not optional but an essential response to the Giver of all good things and the Keeper of promises. It is an acknowledgment that His mercies are fresh every morning and His faithfulness is eternal, providing an unshakeable foundation for hope and trust amidst all the various forms of human distress described in the subsequent verses of the psalm. This verse, with its familiar phraseology echoed throughout Scripture, anchors praise in theological truth rather than fleeting emotion.