Psalm 111:4 kjv
He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
Psalm 111:4 nkjv
He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; The LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
Psalm 111:4 niv
He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate.
Psalm 111:4 esv
He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful.
Psalm 111:4 nlt
He causes us to remember his wonderful works.
How gracious and merciful is our LORD!
Psalm 111 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 34:6-7 | "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth..." | God's self-revelation of His gracious nature. |
| Num 14:18 | "The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love..." | Reiteration of God's patient compassion. |
| Deut 8:2 | "And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness..." | Command to remember God's wilderness provision. |
| Josh 4:7 | "...these stones shall be a memorial to the children of Israel forever." | Physical memorial of God's crossing of Jordan. |
| Ps 78:4 | "We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works..." | Command to pass on remembrance of God's works. |
| Ps 86:5 | "For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You." | God's abundance in mercy and willingness to forgive. |
| Ps 86:15 | "But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth." | Repeats the Exodus 34:6 character statement. |
| Ps 103:2 | "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits." | Call to remember God's good deeds. |
| Ps 103:8 | "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy." | Similar declaration of God's compassionate character. |
| Ps 105:5 | "Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth." | Exhortation to recall God's great acts. |
| Ps 145:8 | "The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy." | Near identical phrasing of God's character. |
| Joel 2:13 | "...for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness..." | Prophet Joel appeals to God's compassionate nature. |
| Jonah 4:2 | "For I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm." | Jonah's acknowledgment of God's mercy. |
| Luke 22:19 | "Do this in remembrance of Me." | Christ instituting the memorial of the Lord's Supper. |
| 1 Cor 11:24-25 | "This do in remembrance of Me." | Lord's Supper as a lasting memorial of Christ's sacrifice. |
| Heb 1:3 | "...when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high..." | Christ's completed redemptive work, worthy of remembrance. |
| Rev 15:3 | "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty!" | Heavenly beings declare God's great works. |
| Ps 19:1 | "The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork." | God's creative works as a testimony to His nature. |
| Isa 63:7 | "I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord and the praises of the Lord...according to His mercies and according to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses." | Remembering God's mercy as a source of praise. |
| Jer 31:3 | "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you." | God's works motivated by everlasting love. |
Psalm 111 verses
Psalm 111 4 Meaning
Psalm 111:4 reveals God’s purposeful intention to ensure that His magnificent and extraordinary deeds are not forgotten, but are continually remembered. This verse links these memorable acts directly to the revelation of His inherent character: that the Lord is intrinsically gracious and deeply compassionate. His "wonderful works" serve as ongoing testimonials to His benevolent nature and His unwavering commitment to His covenant people.
Psalm 111 4 Context
Psalm 111 is an acrostic psalm of praise, with each half-line in the original Hebrew beginning with a successive letter of the alphabet. It is part of the Hallel group of psalms (Psalms 111-118), often sung at significant feasts like Passover. The psalm opens with a call to praise Yahweh (v.1), immediately highlighting the "great works" of the Lord (v.2). It sets out to declare God's glorious nature as revealed through His mighty deeds.
Verse 4 flows directly from the preceding verses that extol God's works (v.2-3). While verses 2-3 declare the greatness and splendor of God's work, verse 4 states God’s active role in ensuring these works are preserved in memory. It bridges the gap between God's mighty actions and the revelation of His moral character, serving as a pivot point in the psalm, transitioning from what God does to who He is. The subsequent verses (v.5-10) continue to elaborate on specific aspects of God's faithful provision, righteousness, and redemptive power, culminating in the declaration that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (v.10). The historical context largely relates to God’s acts of creation, covenant formation, and especially the Exodus and wilderness experiences of Israel, which were filled with His wonders and mercies.
Psalm 111 4 Word analysis
- He has caused: Hēkhēr (הֵ֭כֶר). This is from the Hiphil stem of the Hebrew root zakhar (זָכַר), meaning "to remember" or "to make remember." The Hiphil indicates a causative action. Thus, it’s not that His works are simply remembered, but God Himself actively brings about their remembrance. He intends for them to be an enduring memorial. This signifies divine initiative and purposefulness.
- His wonderful works: P'lā'āv (פְּלָאָיו֮). From the Hebrew word pele (פֶּלֶא), which denotes something extraordinary, miraculous, or astonishing—beyond natural human capability. These are acts that inspire awe, wonder, and reverence, demonstrating God's unique power and wisdom in creation, sustenance, and redemption history.
- to be remembered: l'zēkher (לְזֵכֶר). From the noun zēkher (זֵכֶר), meaning a "memorial" or "remembrance." Combined with the causative "He has caused," it means these wonderful works are intended to serve as an enduring memorial—a lasting witness for all generations to testify to God's character and power.
- The Lord: Yahweh (יְהוָ֣ה). The personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Israel. It emphasizes that these attributes and actions belong to the one true God, the Self-Existent One, who acts sovereignly in history.
- is gracious: Ḥannun (חַנּ֣וּן). This adjective is derived from the root ḥānan (חָנַן), meaning "to be gracious," "to show favor," or "to pity." It speaks of God's free, unmerited favor and benevolence, especially towards the needy or those who do not deserve it. It is an attribute of giving and undeserved blessing.
- and full of compassion: Weraḥum (וְרַח֓וּם). Derived from the root rāḥam (רָחַם), which literally refers to a "womb," hence conveying deep, tender, parental affection and pity. This implies a profound, visceral mercy and kindness that arises from a deep emotional identification with suffering. It speaks to God's tenderheartedness and caring nature.
Words-group Analysis:
- He has caused His wonderful works to be remembered: This phrase underscores God’s intentionality and sovereignty in preserving the memory of His powerful, miraculous deeds. It highlights that these works are not meant to be fleeting but are perpetual reminders and witnesses of His presence and power in the world. They serve as a testament for current and future generations.
- The Lord is gracious and full of compassion: This foundational declaration about God’s character provides the motivation behind His "wonderful works." His actions of power and salvation are rooted not in mere might, but in His intrinsic nature of benevolent favor (gracious) and tender mercy (compassion). This pairing of attributes is a frequently repeated divine self-declaration in the Old Testament, first found in Exod 34:6-7, establishing it as a cornerstone of theological understanding of Yahweh. It assures that His omnipotence is always expressed through His benevolence.
Psalm 111 4 Bonus section
- The dual declaration of "gracious and full of compassion" is a recurring descriptor for Yahweh throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, a formula that reinforces the stability and dependability of God's character. This repetition emphasizes its theological importance.
- The concept of God causing remembrance means He uses various means—such as festivals, Sabbath, Scripture, and direct intervention—to ensure His acts and character are not forgotten by His people. This active divine preservation counters human tendencies to forget or distort divine truths.
- The very act of remembering God’s works should evoke worship and gratitude, reminding believers that divine interventions in history are deeply rooted in God’s inherent kindness rather than being arbitrary displays of power.
Psalm 111 4 Commentary
Psalm 111:4 masterfully links divine action with divine character. God does not merely perform wondrous acts; He deliberately ensures their lasting memory, forming a perpetual memorial to His glory. This is vital because these "wonderful works"—ranging from creation to the specific redemption of His people—are not ends in themselves, but revelations of who God is. The core of this revelation is that "The Lord is gracious and full of compassion." This twin description captures the essence of God’s benevolent nature: He extends unmerited favor and demonstrates a deep, tender, protective mercy. His power and glory, therefore, are not cold or indifferent but are consistently channeled through a heart of kindness towards His creation and His covenant people. Remembering His works leads inevitably to praising His character, inviting a response of trust and adoration.