Psalm 136:4 kjv
To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 136:4 nkjv
To Him who alone does great wonders, For His mercy endures forever;
Psalm 136:4 niv
to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:4 esv
to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever;
Psalm 136:4 nlt
Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles.
? His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 136 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 15:11 | "Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? ... You are awesome in praises, doing wonders." | God's unique wonder-working among all gods. |
| Deut 4:34 | "Or has any god attempted to go and take a nation... with great wonders?" | God's distinct action with great wonders. |
| Neh 9:6 | "You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens... You preserve them all..." | God's sole creation and sustaining power. |
| Job 9:10 | "who does great things past finding out, and wonders without number." | God's countless, incomprehensible wonders. |
| Ps 71:17 | "O God, from my youth you have taught me... I still proclaim your wondrous deeds." | Declaring God's wonderful works from youth. |
| Ps 72:18 | "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things." | Blessing God for His singular wondrous deeds. |
| Ps 77:14 | "You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples." | God's identity as a wonder-worker. |
| Ps 86:10 | "For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God." | God's greatness and unique divine status. |
| Ps 89:1-2 | "I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations." | God's eternal steadfast love. |
| Ps 100:5 | "For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations." | God's good, eternal steadfast love. |
| Ps 118:1-4 | "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!" | Command to thank God for His eternal love. |
| Ps 145:3-4 | "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised... One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts." | God's great, praiseworthy acts and wonders. |
| Isa 44:24 | "Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: 'I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens...'" | God's sole authorship of creation. |
| Isa 45:5 | "I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides me there is no God." | God's singular existence and deity. |
| Isa 48:11 | "My glory I will not give to another." | God does not share His glory or power. |
| Jer 32:17 | "Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you." | God's omnipotent creation. |
| Jer 32:20 | "who did signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all mankind..." | God's past and ongoing signs and wonders. |
| Lam 3:22-23 | "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." | God's unchanging and renewed steadfast love. |
| Rom 8:38-39 | "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels... nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." | Inseparable nature of God's love. |
| Heb 13:8 | "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." | The eternal constancy of Christ. |
| Rev 15:3 | "Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!" | God's great, amazing deeds revealed. |
Psalm 136 verses
Psalm 136 4 Meaning
Psalm 136:4 proclaims that God alone possesses the unique ability to perform magnificent and astonishing deeds, distinguishing Him from all other beings or deities. This unparalleled capacity for wonder-working is attributed to His steadfast love, which is eternally unfailing and unchanging, serving as the constant foundation and motivation for all His extraordinary acts.
Psalm 136 4 Context
Psalm 136 is part of the "Great Hallel" Psalms (Psalms 113-118 and 136), traditionally sung during Passover and other significant Jewish feasts. It is characterized by its distinctive antiphonal or responsorial structure, with each verse celebrating a particular act or attribute of God, followed by the congregational refrain, "for his steadfast love endures forever." The Psalm offers a concise review of salvation history, starting with creation, moving through the Exodus, wilderness wanderings, and the conquest of the Promised Land, culminating in God's provision for all life.
Historically and culturally, this Psalm likely served as a powerful liturgy of remembrance and worship, reinforcing Israel's unique relationship with YHWH. The repeated refrain acted as both a declaration of faith and a pedagogical tool, imprinting the unchanging nature of God's covenant loyalty (chesed) onto the hearts of the worshippers. By emphasizing that God "alone does great wonders," the Psalm directly challenges and refutes the polytheistic beliefs and practices of surrounding nations, asserting YHWH's unparalleled sovereignty and efficacy above all human-made deities or forces of nature. It asserts that there is no power comparable to God, nor any other being capable of His divine acts.
Psalm 136 4 Word analysis
- To him who: This phrase directs attention singularly to God. It indicates that the praise that follows is due to no one else.
- alone (לְבַדּוֹ, levaddo): This crucial Hebrew term emphasizes divine exclusivity. It signifies "by Himself," "only He." This stresses God's absolute uniqueness and independence. It declares that no other entity—no idol, no pagan deity, no cosmic force—can share in the capacity or glory of performing such deeds. This is a fundamental monotheistic declaration.
- does (עֹשֵׂה, ʻoseh): This is a participle, indicating an active, ongoing, and habitual doing. God is not merely capable of doing wonders; it is part of His continuous character and active nature. He is the doer of wonders.
- great (גְדֹלֹות, g'dolot): Meaning "great, mighty, grand." These wonders are not insignificant or minor; they are majestic, awe-inspiring, and of immense scope and impact. They demonstrate overwhelming power and authority.
- wonders (נִפְלָאֹות, niphlaʼot): Refers to astonishing deeds, marvels, or miracles. These are acts that transcend natural explanation, evoking astonishment and awe because they go beyond human capability or expectation. The root פלא (p-l-a) conveys the sense of being extraordinary or incomprehensible, often associated with divine intervention or supernatural phenomena, such as the plagues in Egypt or the parting of the Red Sea.
- for his steadfast love (כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ, ki l'olam chasdo):
- for (כִּי, ki): A conjunction that functions here as a causal "because" or explanatory "for." It links God's ability to do wonders directly to His essential character—His steadfast love. The wonders are not arbitrary but flow from who He is.
- his steadfast love (חַסְדּוֹ, chasdo): This is the Hebrew word chesed, one of the richest theological terms in the Old Testament. It denotes covenant loyalty, enduring faithfulness, mercy, kindness, and grace. It is not mere sentiment but active commitment, demonstrated consistently within a relationship. It's love shown in fidelity and compassion, often to the undeserving. God's chesed means He is faithful to His promises and merciful in His dealings, even when His people are not.
- endures forever (לְעוֹלָם, l'olam): Emphasizes the eternal, unceasing, and immutable nature of God's chesed. It signifies "to eternity," "forever," "for always." This attributes timelessness and constancy to God's faithful love. It means His love will never cease, fail, or be exhausted.
Psalm 136 4 Bonus section
- The strategic placement of "alone" in the Hebrew text (לְבַדּוֹ, levaddo) right after "to him who" further intensifies the emphasis on God's solitary capacity, reinforcing the message against idolatry prevalent in ancient near Eastern contexts.
- The repetition of the refrain "for his steadfast love endures forever" throughout Psalm 136 acts as a foundational truth and a powerful catechetical device. It ensures that every act of God, whether creation, judgment, or deliverance, is seen through the lens of His unchanging, covenantal love, ensuring His power is understood as benevolent.
- The New Testament echoes of God's great wonders and eternal love are seen profoundly in the person and work of Jesus Christ. His miracles (healing the sick, raising the dead, controlling nature) are clear demonstrations of divine "wonders," all flowing from the Father's steadfast love. The resurrection of Jesus stands as the ultimate "great wonder," affirming God's power over death and His unending chesed poured out for humanity through the New Covenant.
Psalm 136 4 Commentary
Psalm 136:4 profoundly articulates a central truth about God: His unique sovereignty and unmatchable power. The declaration that God "alone does great wonders" elevates Him far above any human invention or created power, showcasing His transcendent nature. These "wonders" are not merely displays of might, but divinely orchestrated interventions that manifest His dominion over creation and history. Crucially, the verse immediately qualifies this awesome power with the unchangeable nature of His "steadfast love" (chesed). This enduring love is the divine attribute that undergirds and informs all of God's mighty deeds. His power is never capricious or tyrannical; instead, it is always wielded with purpose and benevolence, rooted in His covenant faithfulness to His people. Thus, God's wonders are expressions of His eternal commitment, His desire to save, deliver, and bless. This inspires trust, knowing that the One who commands the impossible does so from an endless wellspring of unfailing love. It reinforces the dependabilty of His character, making His acts both awesome and trustworthy.