Psalm 116 5

Psalm 116:5 kjv

Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.

Psalm 116:5 nkjv

Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful.

Psalm 116:5 niv

The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.

Psalm 116:5 esv

Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful.

Psalm 116:5 nlt

How kind the LORD is! How good he is!
So merciful, this God of ours!

Psalm 116 verses

Psalm 116 5 Meaning

Psalm 116:5 declares the intrinsic nature of the Most High, revealing three foundational aspects of His character: His graciousness, righteousness, and mercy. This verse serves as a profound theological statement, asserting that God's benevolent actions, particularly His deliverance and preservation of life, flow directly from these inherent perfections. The psalmist expresses deep gratitude and trust, founded upon the unshakeable truth of God's unchanging and compassionate attributes, experienced in personal salvation from death.

Psalm 116 5 Context

Psalm 116 is an individual psalm of thanksgiving, arising from a profound personal deliverance from near-fatal affliction, whether from illness, distress, or mortal danger. The preceding verses (1-4) detail the psalmist's desperate plea to the Lord during his distress and the Lord's attentive hearing and compassionate rescue. Verse 5 acts as a theological explanation for God's merciful intervention. It pivots from the specific act of salvation to the immutable character of God Himself, identifying His inherent graciousness, righteousness, and mercy as the underlying reasons for His benevolent response. This establishes a universal truth about God that validates His saving acts. The subsequent verses (6-19) then further elaborate on the specific deliverance experienced, the psalmist's renewed commitment, and his public vows of thanksgiving and praise in the presence of the gathered congregation, all testifying to the consistent nature of the God described in verse 5. Historically, such psalms were deeply embedded in the worship life of ancient Israel, reflecting a personal relationship with Yahweh, the covenant God.

Psalm 116 5 Word analysis

• Gracious (חַנּוּן - Channun): This Hebrew term implies a willing, unmerited favor, showing compassion, and actively displaying kindness, often regardless of desert. It describes God's inherent disposition to act benevolently, to lean in favor towards His creatures, and to provide help freely. This attribute highlights His benevolence as a spontaneous act of love rather than a response to human merit.
• is the Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH): The covenant name of God, revealing Him as the self-existent, eternal, and personal God who enters into relationship and keeps His promises. Attributing these qualities to YHWH anchors them in the living God of Israel, the One who acts powerfully in history for His people. It connects His attributes directly to His faithful character and saving deeds.
• and righteous (וְצַדִּיק - VeTzaddiq): From the root meaning justice and conformity to a moral standard. God's righteousness signifies His moral perfection, integrity, and His absolute adherence to what is good and right. He is inherently just and acts in accordance with His own flawless character. This means His graciousness and mercy are not arbitrary but flow from a perfect, holy nature that establishes true justice, even as it offers salvation.
• yes, our God (וֵאלֹהֵינוּ - Ve'Eloheinu): The conjunction "yes" or "indeed" (emphatic waw) strongly affirms and intensifies the preceding declaration. "Our God" (אֱלֹהֵינוּ) uses Elohim, a generic term for God, but with a possessive suffix, "our," emphasizing the intimate, personal, and covenantal relationship between God and His people. It shifts from a universal declaration about "the Lord" to a personal confession of faith. He is specifically their God, personally committed and faithful to them.
• is merciful (רַחוּם - Rachum): Derived from a root related to "womb" (reḥem), suggesting a deep, profound, tender compassion or pity, like a parent's affection. It speaks of God's deep empathy, His long-suffering nature, and His profound tenderness towards the weak, afflicted, or culpable. This attribute signifies a willingness to forgive, to restore, and to deliver out of heartfelt pity for suffering.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Gracious is the Lord, and righteous": This phrase unites God's loving benevolence (grace) with His perfect moral character (righteousness). It highlights that God's favor is not unholy or inconsistent with justice, but rather, His gracious acts are perfectly righteous acts. His benevolence is deeply rooted in His truth and moral perfection.
• "yes, our God is merciful": The addition of "merciful" strongly affirms the depth of God's compassion and His deep desire to alleviate suffering and forgive. The shift to "our God" makes these divine attributes personally relevant and reassuring for the individual believer, indicating that the all-powerful and righteous God is intimately concerned with their well-being and extends tender pity.

Psalm 116 5 Bonus section

• The particular combination of "gracious," "righteous," and "merciful" (חַנּוּן, צַדִּיק, רַחוּם) in Psalm 116:5 highlights a unique and powerful theological statement, echoing and expanding upon earlier self-revelations of God such as Exodus 34:6-7, which emphasizes "merciful and gracious, slow to anger." The inclusion of "righteous" in this specific triumvirate underscores that God's loving attributes are not arbitrary but are grounded in His holy justice and integrity.
• This verse stands as a testament against any pagan understanding of deity as indifferent, solely punitive, or requiring endless appeasement for capricious favor. Instead, it presents Yahweh as consistently benevolent, morally perfect, and deeply invested in the well-being of His covenant people.
• Understanding these divine attributes provides the basis for confident prayer and steadfast hope in affliction. Because God is gracious, righteous, and merciful, His people can be assured that when they call upon Him, He will respond with wisdom, justice, and compassion, transforming their suffering into opportunities for testimony to His unfailing character.

Psalm 116 5 Commentary

Psalm 116:5 concisely defines the very character of God as perceived by one who has directly experienced His intervention. The psalmist attributes his deliverance not to chance or human merit, but to the Lord's inherent nature. God is described first as "gracious" (Channun), denoting His free, unearned favor and active benevolence that motivates His acts of salvation. This grace is not whimsical, for He is also "righteous" (Tzaddiq), signifying His perfect justice and unwavering adherence to truth and moral order. His actions are always just and faithful to His own holy character. The culmination, "yes, our God is merciful" (Rachum), emphasizes His tender compassion and deep pity towards those in distress or sin. This threefold description—gracious, righteous, merciful—illustrates a harmonious divine character where grace does not negate justice, nor does justice overshadow compassion. Instead, His mercy flows from His grace, both expressions of His righteousness. This verse serves as the foundation for the psalmist's renewed trust and worship, providing the unchanging basis for reliance on the Lord. It reassures believers that when they call upon God, they appeal to a Being whose very nature compels Him to respond with unfailing kindness, justice, and profound empathy.