Psalm 136 5

Psalm 136:5 kjv

To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 136:5 nkjv

To Him who by wisdom made the heavens, For His mercy endures forever;

Psalm 136:5 niv

who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever.

Psalm 136:5 esv

to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever;

Psalm 136:5 nlt

Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully.
? His faithful love endures forever.

Psalm 136 verses

Psalm 136 5 Meaning

Psalm 136:5 declares that God, the one true Divine Being, is the sole architect and maker of the heavens. This creation was not random or accidental but orchestrated with profound divine understanding, intelligence, and skillful purpose. The verse underscores that this mighty act of creation, like all of God's deeds, flows directly from and is eternally sustained by His steadfast love and unwavering faithfulness toward His creation.

Psalm 136 5 Context

Psalm 136 is a "Great Hallel" psalm, primarily characterized by its repetitive refrain: "for his steadfast love endures forever." It serves as an antiphonal liturgy, designed for call-and-response worship, likely sung in the temple during major festivals. The psalm systematically enumerates the mighty acts of God, beginning with creation (verses 4-9), transitioning to the deliverance of Israel from Egypt (verses 10-24), and concluding with God's sustained provision (verses 25-26). Each declarative statement about God's deeds is met with the corporate affirmation of His enduring hesed. This structure roots God's power and specific historical actions within the larger context of His unchanging benevolent character. Verse 5 fits directly into the opening segment celebrating God's unparalleled wisdom and power demonstrated in the fundamental act of creating the cosmos. The inclusion of "the heavens" speaks to the grand scale of God's intelligent design.

Historically and culturally, this psalm offers a powerful polemic against the polytheistic cosmologies prevalent in the ancient Near East, which often depicted creation as a chaotic outcome of conflict among various deities. By contrast, Psalm 136 unequivocally attributes creation to YHWH alone, as a deliberate act of understanding and love, establishing Him as the supreme, sovereign, and intelligent Creator distinct from any other claimed deity.

Psalm 136 5 Word analysis

• to him who made (לְעֹשֵׂה - `le’ōśê`): The preposition "le" (`לְ`) signifies attribution or "to/for him who." The root `‘āśāh` (עשה) means "to make, to do, to create." The participle form, `‘ōśêh` (עֹשֵׂה), implies God as the continuous or inherent Maker. This stresses God as the active, sole, and intentional agent of creation, an inherent aspect of His being. It distinguishes Him as the doer behind all existence.
• the heavens (הַשָּׁמָיִם - `hašāmāyim`): `Ha` (`הַ`) is the definite article "the." `Shāmāyim` (`שָּׁמַיִם`) is the Hebrew word for "heavens" or "sky." It is a plural noun, referring to the expanse above the earth—encompassing the firmament, celestial bodies like stars, moon, and sun, and also figuratively the abode of God. The selection of "heavens" specifically highlights the vast, majestic, and intricate scale of God's creative work, beyond human comprehension or replication. It implies cosmic order and structure.
• by understanding (בִּתְבוּנָה - `bitḇûnāh`): The prefix `bi` (`בִּ`) means "by" or "with." `Tevunah` (`תְּבוּנָה`) means "understanding," "discernment," "insight," or "skill." It's derived from `binah` (to discern, comprehend) and often associated with practical, applied intelligence that grasps underlying principles and executes design. This word is pivotal: it reveals that God's creation is not chaotic, arbitrary, or achieved through raw, unthinking power, but is meticulously planned, rationally structured, and perfectly executed with supreme divine intelligence. It points to the intentionality and wisdom embedded in the very fabric of the cosmos, signifying an intelligent design by an intelligent Creator.
• for (כִּי - `kî`): This conjunction can mean "for," "because," "indeed," or "surely." Here, it serves as an explanatory link, connecting the attribute of divine understanding in creation to the ultimate characteristic of God: His steadfast love. It indicates the underlying motivation and essence of God's powerful and wise creative acts.
• his steadfast love (חַסְדּוֹ - `ḥasdô`): `Ḥesed` (`חֶסֶד`) is one of the most profound Hebrew words in the Old Testament, denoting loyal love, steadfast love, mercy, unfailing kindness, or covenant fidelity. It speaks of a love that is active, enduring, and bound by faithfulness, often in the context of a covenant relationship. The possessive suffix `-o` (`וֹ`) means "his," emphasizing that this love is intrinsic to God's character. Applied to creation, `ḥesed` signifies that God's making of the heavens (and all things) is an outpouring of His benevolent, faithful, and committed nature, not merely an act of power or obligation.
• endures forever (לְעוֹלָם - `lə‘ôlām`): The prefix `le` (`לְ`) means "to" or "for." `‘Ōlām` (`עוֹלָם`) denotes eternity, perpetual duration, or forever. Combined with `ḥesed`, it asserts that God's loyal love is without end, eternal, unceasing, and applies to every generation and every situation. It signifies His reliability and constancy as Creator and Sustainer.
• Words-Group: "by understanding made the heavens": This phrase underlines divine intelligence in cosmology. It suggests that the vast, complex, and ordered heavens—from planetary motions to stellar compositions—are products of profound wisdom and foresight, reflecting an intentional design. It implies precision, mathematical order, and ecological balance beyond human capability, yet perfectly calibrated by God's insight. This contrasts sharply with theories of accidental cosmic formation.
• Words-Group: "for his steadfast love endures forever": This iconic refrain grounds God's formidable power and intellect in His unchanging benevolence. It states that His power to create is not wielded capriciously or merely as a demonstration of might, but is fundamentally an expression of His eternal, faithful, and redemptive love (`hesed`). It makes clear that all God does, even establishing the cosmos, serves His good and gracious purposes for creation. This ensures that the created order is a testament to His goodness, not just His grandeur.

Psalm 136 5 Bonus section

• Liturgical Emphasis: The consistent refrain "for his steadfast love endures forever" served as a foundational theological anchor for the worshipping community. This communal declaration solidified their understanding of God's character in response to His powerful deeds, fostering corporate memory and trust in His unceasing goodness.
• Implicit Trinity: While not explicitly Trinitarian in the Old Testament, later New Testament revelations (e.g., John 1:3, Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 1:2) ascribe the creative work, including the heavens, to Jesus Christ, the Living Word. This perspective enriches the "by understanding" phrase, suggesting the inherent wisdom of God personified in Christ, through whom all things were made.
• God's Sovereignty and Providence: The heavens, created with such deliberate understanding, are not merely an initial act but reflect God's ongoing meticulous care and governance. This points to His continuing providence over all creation, ensuring its sustained order and function according to His initial wise design.

Psalm 136 5 Commentary

Psalm 136:5 is a profound theological statement compressed into a few words. It teaches that the intricate, expansive heavens—which themselves evoke awe and wonder—are the deliberate product of God's supreme understanding and skill, not the result of chance or impersonal forces. This understanding (tevunah) denotes not just abstract knowledge but practical, applied intelligence that perfectly designs and executes. This intentional and wise creation then serves as one of the fundamental demonstrations of God's unchanging steadfast love (hesed). The verse establishes that the cosmos itself bears witness to God's inherent character as not only powerful and wise but also eternally benevolent and faithful. The ongoing order and sustenance of the celestial realm thus stand as a continuous declaration of His limitless love, inviting creation to respond with thanksgiving and trust in this unfailing attribute.