Psalm 107 21

Psalm 107:21 kjv

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Psalm 107:21 nkjv

Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

Psalm 107:21 niv

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.

Psalm 107:21 esv

Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!

Psalm 107:21 nlt

Let them praise the LORD for his great love
and for the wonderful things he has done for them.

Psalm 107 verses

Psalm 107 21 Meaning

Psalm 107:21 is a powerful exhortation to all who have experienced God's deliverance and goodness. It calls upon people to express heartfelt, public gratitude to the Lord for two fundamental reasons: His unchanging and covenantal love (His "unfailing love") and His miraculous and extraordinary interventions ("His wonderful deeds"), which He performs for the benefit of humanity. This verse is a direct appeal to acknowledge God's character and His active care shown through powerful actions.

Psalm 107 21 Context

Psalm 107 is a wisdom psalm, categorized as a hymn of communal thanksgiving. It dramatically illustrates God's "unfailing love" and "wonderful deeds" through four vivid scenarios of human distress and divine deliverance. The scenarios include wanderers in the desert (vv. 4-9), prisoners in darkness (vv. 10-16), fools suffering for sin (vv. 17-22), and sailors in a storm (vv. 23-32). In each narrative, the people cry out to the Lord in their trouble, He delivers them, and the refrain (like v. 21) serves as a recurring call to grateful response. The psalm functions as a didactic piece, teaching successive generations about God's faithfulness and eliciting an appropriate response of praise and gratitude. Historically, the psalm may have originated as a liturgy for those who returned from Babylonian exile, but its themes are universal, demonstrating God's consistent care for humanity in various predicaments, emphasizing that His divine acts flow from His enduring love and elicit thanksgiving, leading into reflections on divine providence in a broader societal sense in the latter half of the chapter (vv. 33-43). The emphasis on "wonderful deeds for mankind" speaks to a God who is active and involved in human affairs, unlike the often capricious and limited deities of surrounding cultures.

Psalm 107 21 Word analysis

• "Let them give thanks": (Hebrew: Yôdû, יוֹדוּ from the root yādâ, יָדָה). This word means "to praise," "to thank," or "to confess." It often implies an active, public acknowledgement, frequently associated with extended hands, signifying homage or surrender. It's a call to express gratitude, not merely feel it inwardly, but to vocalize and embody it. This is a communal call, intended for all those who have been recipients of God's saving acts.
• "to the Lord": (Hebrew: la-Yahweh, לַיהוָה). Refers to the personal, covenantal name of God. This specifies that the thanks and praise are directed exclusively to the true and living God, Yahweh, emphasizing His uniqueness as the one who acts with such love and power, unlike the impotent gods of other nations.
• "for His unfailing love": (Hebrew: ləḥas·dōw, לַחַסְדּוֹ). Hesed (חֶסֶד) is a profound and multi-faceted Hebrew theological term, often translated as "lovingkindness," "steadfast love," "mercy," "covenant loyalty," or "faithfulness." It describes a deep, loyal, and committed love, particularly in the context of a covenant relationship. It signifies not just an emotion, but an action-oriented love, characterized by fidelity and consistent help, especially to the vulnerable or those in distress. Its "unfailing" nature emphasizes its enduring, unwavering, and eternal quality, foundational to God's character.
• "and His wonderful deeds": (Hebrew: wəniph·lə’ō·ṯāyw, וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו). From the root pelē’ (פֶּלֶא), meaning "wonders," "marvels," or "miracles." These are extraordinary, incomprehensible, and awe-inspiring acts that demonstrate God's supernatural power and intervention in the world, beyond human capacity or expectation. They are His mighty acts of deliverance, creation, and judgment.
• "for mankind": (Hebrew: libnê ’āḏām, לִבְנֵי אָדָם). Literally, "for the sons of Adam" or "for the children of humanity." This phrase signifies the universal scope of God's beneficence, demonstrating that His unfailing love and wonderful deeds are extended to all human beings, not solely a select group. The situations described in Psalm 107—being lost, imprisoned, ill, or in a storm—are universal human experiences.

Words-group analysis

• "Let them give thanks to the Lord": This phrase functions as a liturgical imperative, a command to respond. It highlights the divine expectation that deliverance should evoke gratitude and public praise. It transforms a personal experience into a corporate testimony.
• "for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds": This phrase succinctly captures the dual motivations for thanksgiving. "Unfailing love" points to God's constant, faithful, and compassionate character, the ultimate source of His actions. "Wonderful deeds" points to the visible, miraculous manifestations of that character. God’s loving nature is demonstrated through His powerful actions, showing that His mercy is not passive but active and interventional. This coupling portrays a comprehensive understanding of divine care: a God whose nature is benevolent, and whose power is exercised on behalf of humanity.

Psalm 107 21 Bonus section

The recurring refrain in Psalm 107 (vv. 8, 15, 21, 31) emphasizes its liturgical significance, indicating it was likely used in communal worship or as a responsive chant after testimonies of God's deliverance. The structure of the psalm itself, moving from distress to deliverance and then to required thanksgiving, functions as a powerful theological and pedagogical tool, instilling the pattern of acknowledging God's hand in all life's crises. The consistent coupling of "unfailing love" (hesed) and "wonderful deeds" (niphl'aot) highlights that God's actions are not random or capricious but flow from His intrinsic, faithful character. This contrasts sharply with pagan deities, whose actions were often perceived as arbitrary or conditional upon appeasement, solidifying Yahweh as the dependable, caring deliverer. The psalm also progresses from individual and group distress to broader societal reflections, implicitly encouraging leaders and people alike to live wisely in light of God's overarching providence, acknowledging His "hesed" that underlies all His interventions.

Psalm 107 21 Commentary

Psalm 107:21 acts as a refrain within a series of vignettes illustrating God's power and compassion in various human predicaments. It serves as a profound call to worship, urging those who have experienced God's deliverance to respond with active thanksgiving. The verse underscores that gratitude is the appropriate and expected response to divine intervention. This thanksgiving is anchored in two essential attributes of God: His hesed—His covenant loyalty, enduring mercy, and faithful love—which forms the immutable foundation of His character; and His niphl'aot—His wondrous, miraculous acts of power that rescue and restore. The connection "for mankind" makes these attributes universally relevant, showing God's active involvement and benevolence towards all humanity. The verse invites reflection on how God’s character drives His actions, leading to practical gratitude in response to specific, tangible deliverances.

• Example: A person healed from a severe illness might give thanks for God’s "unfailing love" which prompted compassion and for the "wonderful deed" of their restoration to health.
• Example: A family reunited after a period of estrangement might give thanks for God's "unfailing love" that preserved relationships and for the "wonderful deed" of reconciliation.