Psalm 117 2

Psalm 117:2 kjv

For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 117:2 nkjv

For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!

Psalm 117:2 niv

For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.

Psalm 117:2 esv

For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!

Psalm 117:2 nlt

For his unfailing love for us is powerful;
the LORD's faithfulness endures forever.
Praise the LORD!

Psalm 117 verses

Psalm 117 2 Meaning

Psalm 117:2 articulates the divine reasons for the universal praise exhorted in verse 1. It states that God's "merciful kindness" (His covenant loyalty and steadfast love) is exceedingly great "toward us," demonstrating His overwhelming benevolence. Furthermore, the "truth of the LORD" (His faithfulness, reliability, and unchanging character) endures forever, establishing an eternal foundation for trust and worship. These two profound attributes—His great steadfast love and His everlasting truth—provide the compelling grounds for all people to offer Him praise.

Psalm 117 2 Context

Psalm 117 is the shortest psalm in the Psalter, comprising only two verses. It stands as a powerful and concise doxology. Verse 1 is a universal call to praise, explicitly summoning "all ye nations" and "all ye people" to extol the Lord. Verse 2 provides the foundational reasons for this widespread adoration. Historically, Psalm 117 is part of the "Egyptian Hallel" (Psalms 113-118), recited during significant Jewish festivals such as Passover, Pentecost, and Sukkot. Its recitation served to commemorate God's steadfast deliverance and faithfulness throughout Israel's history, particularly the Exodus. Within this context, the psalm transforms the historical experience of a single nation into a call for global acknowledgment of God's character. The brevity and global scope implicitly challenge polytheistic beliefs by declaring the singular YHWH as the sole recipient of eternal praise, based on His unique attributes of unfailing love and absolute truth, contrasting sharply with transient or capricious deities worshipped by surrounding cultures.

Psalm 117 2 Word analysis

• For (כִּֽי - ki): A causal conjunction, meaning "because" or "for indeed." It directly links the command to praise (v.1) with the compelling reasons provided in v.2. It establishes a logical, theological foundation for worship.
• His merciful kindness (חַסְדּוֹ - ḥas'do): Derived from the Hebrew word ḥesed, which is rich in meaning. It denotes steadfast love, loyal love, covenant faithfulness, lovingkindness, and mercy. It describes God's unwavering devotion and compassionate action, particularly within the framework of His covenant relationship with humanity. The possessive suffix "-o" signifies "His."
• is great toward us (עָלֵינוּ גָּבַר - ʻalenu gābar):
  • ʻalenu means "upon us" or "toward us," indicating direction and experience. It specifies that this divine quality is not abstract but personally applied and tangibly received.
  • gābar means "to be strong," "to prevail," "to be mighty," "to increase," or "to overpower." It suggests the overwhelming, effective, and conquering nature of God's ḥesed. It's not merely "great" in size but "mighty" in its operation and impact on human lives, surpassing all challenges.
• and the truth (וֶאֱמֶת - we'emet):
  • waw ("we") is a conjunction meaning "and," linking God's ḥesed and emet as equally vital attributes.
  • emet signifies truth, faithfulness, firmness, reliability, and immutability. It speaks to the absolute integrity of God's character, His trustworthiness, and the certainty of His promises.
• of the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): This is the personal, covenant name of God, often transliterated as Yahweh. It identifies the self-existent, eternal God who reveals Himself and enters into covenant relationship. Its use here reinforces that these attributes belong uniquely to the sovereign God of Israel, not to any other deity.
• endureth for ever (לְעוֹלָם - le'olam): "To eternity" or "forever." This phrase underscores the perpetual and unchanging nature of God's truth and, by extension, His ḥesed. It guarantees that His reliability is not time-bound or conditional, providing an enduring basis for hope and praise across all generations.
• Praise ye the LORD (הַלְלוּ־יָהּ - Halaluyah): An imperative verb meaning "Praise!" coupled with the shortened divine name "Yah." It functions as both a call to worship and a joyful acclamation. In KJV and some other translations, it appears as a concluding exhortation for the entire psalm, encapsulating the primary response to God's revealed character.

Words-group analysis:

• "His merciful kindness is great toward us": This phrase highlights God's active and benevolent disposition towards humanity. The ḥesed described here is not passive; it is great and prevailing on our behalf. It speaks to a divine loyalty that actively benefits and embraces us, offering protection, provision, and deliverance. It contrasts with pagan deities whose favors might be fickle or transactional.
• "and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever": This reinforces God's unchanging nature and reliability. It signifies that God's faithfulness and consistency are eternal, ensuring His promises will never fail and His character will never deviate. This timeless truth provides unwavering security and confidence in God's word and covenant. The pairing of ḥesed and emet (lovingkindness and truth/faithfulness) is a recurring and fundamental theological pairing throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Exod 34:6-7, Ps 89:14), emphasizing the holistic integrity of God's character. His love is not soft and devoid of conviction; His truth is not cold and lacking compassion. They are inextricably linked, demonstrating a perfect blend of loyal love and absolute trustworthiness.
• "Praise ye the LORD": This universal command summarizes the only appropriate response to God's incomparable nature. It frames the entire psalm as a powerful declaration of God's worthiness of praise by all of creation.

Psalm 117 2 Bonus section

As part of the Egyptian Hallel, Psalm 117 would have been recited during significant feasts, imbuing it with particular resonance regarding liberation and divine sustenance. Its very brevity highlights its impactful summary of theological truth: that God's steadfast love and faithfulness are the ultimate reasons for His global exaltation. The inclusion of "all ye nations" in verse 1 (then grounded in verse 2's attributes) speaks to the inherent missionary heart of God from the earliest stages of revelation (e.g., God's promise to Abraham in Gen 12:3 to bless "all the families of the earth"). This psalm therefore anticipates the New Covenant expansion where God's saving acts, rooted in His unchangeable character, are offered to people from every tribe, tongue, and nation, demonstrating a continuity of God's global redemptive plan.

Psalm 117 2 Commentary

Psalm 117:2 succinctly presents the dual pillars upon which the worship of God rests: His immense, powerful, and steadfast love (ḥesed) for humanity, and His unchanging, eternal truth (emet). God's ḥesed is described as not merely existing, but being gābar—overwhelming, mighty, and prevailing on our behalf, indicating a profound and active care that surmounts all challenges. This personal, experienced love is coupled with His immutable emet, affirming that God's very nature is absolute truth and faithfulness, consistent and reliable across all ages. This assures us that His promises and covenant will endure forever, making Him perfectly dependable. The "toward us" makes His love deeply personal, while "for ever" expands His truth to universal, eternal scope. The call to "Praise ye the LORD" becomes the logical, joyous, and necessary response to a God who is utterly benevolent and perpetually true, serving as the constant motivation for the worship of both Israel and the Gentiles alike. For instance, in our lives, recognizing God's enduring steadfast love through past blessings or difficult seasons and knowing His word is always true can lead us to praise Him in times of plenty and also in moments of uncertainty.