Psalm 136:3 kjv
O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 136:3 nkjv
Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever:
Psalm 136:3 niv
Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:3 esv
Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;
Psalm 136:3 nlt
Give thanks to the Lord of lords.
? His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 136 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 10:17 | For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords... | God's supreme authority over all |
| Rev 17:14 | ...the Lamb will conquer them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings. | Christ's ultimate victory and title |
| Rev 19:16 | On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. | Christ's ultimate sovereignty as Lord |
| 1 Tim 6:15 | ...the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. | God's unique supreme authority over all |
| Psa 95:3 | For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. | God's unparalleled position |
| Psa 96:4-5 | For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised... for all the gods of the peoples are idols... | God's superiority over false gods |
| Dan 2:47 | The king answered Daniel and said, "Truly your God is God of gods and Lord of kings..." | Nebuchadnezzar's recognition of God's power |
| 1 Sam 2:7-8 | The LORD makes poor and makes rich... He raises up the poor from the dust... | God's absolute control over human destiny |
| Prov 21:1 | The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD... | God's control over human rulers |
| Jer 32:27 | "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?" | God's omnipotence and control |
| Isa 45:5-7 | I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God... | Monotheistic declaration, no rival |
| Isa 40:23 | ...He brings princes to nothing and makes the rulers of the earth as naught. | God's humbling of earthly powers |
| Exod 18:11 | Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods... | Jethro's recognition of God's might |
| Psa 115:3 | Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases. | God's sovereign will and execution |
| Psa 145:13 | Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. | God's eternal dominion and rule |
| Phil 2:9-11 | ...God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name... | Christ's exalted name and universal homage |
| Col 1:16 | For by Him all things were created... whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities... | Christ's creative and supreme authority |
| John 1:3 | All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. | Christ as creator, thus ultimate authority |
| Psa 72:11 | May all kings fall down before Him, all nations serve Him! | Prophecy of universal submission to God |
| Psa 103:19 | The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all. | God's universal and supreme rule |
Psalm 136 verses
Psalm 136 3 Meaning
Psalm 136:3, "Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for His steadfast love endures forever," is a direct call to worship and gratitude, acknowledging God's supreme authority over all other rulers, powers, and figures of command. It extols the incomparable majesty and ultimate dominion of the Creator, declaring Him to be the highest and final authority. This profound statement serves as a foundation for why endless thanksgiving is due to Him: because His enduring, loyal, covenantal love is the source and guarantee of His governance.
Psalm 136 3 Context
Psalm 136 is a hymn of thanksgiving, distinctively structured as a litany where each verse concludes with the refrain "for His steadfast love endures forever." It systematically recounts God's benevolent actions, starting from His magnificent works of creation (Psa 136:4-9), progressing to His redemptive acts in Israel's history (Psa 136:10-24), and concluding with His provision for all living things (Psa 136:25). Verse 3 fits within the opening three verses, which establish foundational reasons for gratitude based on God's unique identity: first as "good" (v. 1), then as "God of gods" (v. 2), and finally as "Lord of lords" (v. 3). This progression asserts God's ultimate nature against any potential rivals—be they the deities of other nations (polemic against polytheism) or the most powerful human rulers and empires of the ancient Near East (polemic against claims of imperial divine authority). The psalmist's community would have understood "lords" to include both earthly kings and possibly even divine beings worshipped by surrounding cultures, positioning Yahweh as unequivocally supreme.
Psalm 136 3 Word analysis
- Give thanks (הוֹדוּ, hodú): A plural imperative verb, signifying a command or invitation for all to offer praise and acknowledgment. From the root yādâ, meaning "to thank," "praise," or "confess." It's not just polite gratitude but a recognition of a superior's beneficence and rightful claim to praise.
- to the Lord (לַאדֹנֵי, la'adōné): The preposition "to" (la) directs the thanks. "Lord" ('adōnay) is here in the construct form. While 'adōnay can often be a direct substitute for the Tetragrammaton YHWH (Yahweh) to show reverence, its use in the phrase "Lord of lords" uses the plural of 'ādôn (master, lord). This emphasizes His comprehensive, ultimate lordship, making it a title of ultimate authority.
- of lords (הָאֲדֹנִים, ha'adōnîm): The definite article hā makes "lords" specific ("the lords"). This is the plural form of 'ādôn, meaning "master," "lord," or "owner." The construct phrase "Lord of lords" is a superlative construction, emphasizing that God's sovereignty is absolute over every other possible lord or master, whether human rulers, earthly powers, spiritual forces, or even false gods. This linguistic construction inherently elevates Yahweh above all purported powers, explicitly dismantling polytheistic notions and claims of divine right by human monarchs prevalent in the ancient world. It denotes a qualitative superiority, not just a quantitative one.
Psalm 136 3 Bonus section
The titles "God of gods" (v. 2) and "Lord of lords" (v. 3) in Psalm 136 are examples of Hebrew superlatives, much like "Holy of Holies," conveying ultimate degree or highest excellence. They function as absolute statements of YHWH's incomparability and uniqueness. The structure of Psalm 136, with its consistent refrain, is sometimes called a "Great Hallel" (along with Psalms 113-118) and would have been used responsively in communal worship, allowing the assembly to affirm God's enduring love in response to His majestic attributes and deeds. The verse also hints at the truth revealed more fully in the New Testament: that this Lord of lords is Jesus Christ (Rev 17:14, 19:16), through whom all things were created and upheld, showing His co-equality and co-supremacy with the Father. The act of "giving thanks" here isn't merely an emotional response but an act of obedient worship, recognizing divine authority and allegiance to the One true and sovereign God.
Psalm 136 3 Commentary
Psalm 136:3 emphatically calls for gratitude to the "Lord of lords," underscoring God's ultimate and unparalleled authority. This title complements "God of gods" from the preceding verse, together proclaiming that no entity—human ruler, pagan deity, or any other power—holds any true comparison to the Creator. This theological declaration directly refutes polytheism and any claims of absolute power by earthly potentates. The verse asserts God's sovereignty over every dimension of existence, grounding His right to receive continuous thanksgiving not only in His intrinsic worth but also in His steadfast, faithful, and enduring covenantal love (hesed), which extends to His creation and His people forever. This foundational truth assures believers of God's unwavering control and benevolent purpose amidst all circumstances, providing perpetual reason for worship and trust.