Psalm 40 5

Psalm 40:5 kjv

Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

Psalm 40:5 nkjv

Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.

Psalm 40:5 niv

Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.

Psalm 40:5 esv

You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.

Psalm 40:5 nlt

O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
I would never come to the end of them.

Psalm 40 verses

Psalm 40 5 Meaning

Psalm 40:5 proclaims the abundance and incomprehensibility of God's wonderful works and His caring thoughts towards humanity. It extols the uniqueness of the Lord, emphasizing that His divine acts and provident designs are so numerous and profound that they cannot be fully recounted or adequately grasped by human understanding, thus establishing His incomparable majesty and intimate concern for His people.

Psalm 40 5 Context

Psalm 40 is a "mixed psalm," beginning as a lament of personal affliction (vv. 1-3) and a cry for help (vv. 11-17), but primarily transforming into a song of thanksgiving and trust for divine deliverance (vv. 4-10). The psalmist, David, recalls God's faithfulness in rescuing him from a "pit of destruction" (v. 2). Verse 5 sits within the thanksgiving section (vv. 4-10), serving as an expression of overwhelmed gratitude and praise for God's character and actions. Having experienced God's salvific work firsthand, David moves from a testimony of personal rescue to a broader declaration of God's majestic and numerous interventions and benevolent thoughts towards His people. It is a foundational statement of God's active, personal, and overwhelming care, laying the groundwork for David's commitment to do God's will (v. 8).

Psalm 40 5 Word analysis

• Many (רָב – rab): Denotes an overwhelming quantity or abundance, not just a few. It highlights the vastness and multitude of God's deeds and thoughts, making them beyond full comprehension or enumeration.
• O LORD my God (יְהוָה אֱלֹהָי – Yahweh Elohim): Yahweh (LORD) is the covenant name of God, revealing His personal, relational, and unchanging nature. Elohim (God) emphasizes His power and sovereignty as Creator. The possessive suffix "my" (-ay) signifies an intimate, personal relationship between the psalmist and God, underscoring that these numerous wonders are personally experienced and directed.
• You have done (עָשִׂיתָ – asita): A completed action, indicating God's past and ongoing active involvement. It's not passive reflection but active execution of His will and purpose. God is the divine agent, initiating and accomplishing.
• Your wonderful deeds (נִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ – niphla'oteykha): From pala (פלא), meaning to be distinct, extraordinary, wonderful, or miraculous. These are acts that defy human expectation or explanation, inspiring awe and wonder. They include creation, historical deliverances, personal salvations, and providence, all pointing to God's unique power and intervention.
• And Your thoughts (וּמַחְשְׁבֹתֶיךָ – umachash'votecha): From machashav (מחשב), referring to intentions, purposes, plans, designs, or mental deliberations. This word speaks to the internal disposition and wisdom of God. His actions are not random; they stem from deliberate, wise, and benevolent counsel. It's not just what God does, but why and how He plans it.
• Toward us (אֵלֵינוּ – eleinu): Signifies direct orientation and application. God's thoughts and deeds are not abstract; they are specifically directed towards His people, indicating His personal concern and care for their welfare, redemption, and flourishing. It is an expression of God's benevolence towards humanity, especially His chosen ones.
• None can compare with You (אֵין עֲרֹךְ אֵלֶיךָ – ein 'aroch eilekha): Literally, "no one can arrange beside You," meaning no one can measure up to or be arrayed in comparison with God. This asserts God's absolute incomparability and uniqueness in power, wisdom, and benevolence. There is no rival god or entity that possesses such qualities or performs such acts.
• If I would declare (אָגִידָה – agidah): To make known, to announce, to tell. This implies an attempt to verbalize and proclaim.
• And speak (וַאֲדַבֵּרָה – va'adabbera): To converse, to talk in detail, to discuss. This complements "declare" by suggesting a deeper, more continuous articulation. Both words underscore the human desire to express, but also the inadequacy to fully capture the vastness.
• Of them (הֵמָּה – hemma): Referring collectively to the "wonderful deeds" and "thoughts."
• They are more than can be told (מֵהֵן מִסָּפֵר – mehen mis'saper): Literally, "more than number/account," or "beyond calculation/telling." This emphasizes the boundless nature of God's works and plans. They are infinite in number and profound beyond full human recounting or comprehension.

Psalm 40 5 Bonus section

The Hebrew word niphla'ot (wonderful deeds) is closely associated throughout the Old Testament with God’s saving acts, particularly the Exodus. The use of this word here extends its meaning to include not only historical deliverance but also ongoing, personal interventions. The reference to God's "thoughts" being innumerable foreshadows later biblical insights into the depth of God's wisdom and His eternal purposes for His creation and the church, specifically pointing to the New Covenant where God’s plan of salvation through Christ is fully revealed. This verse also implicitly carries a polemic against the limitations of idol worship, where deities are inert or capricious. Here, the true God is shown as actively, consciously, and overwhelmingly working good for His people, a stark contrast to any limited human construct of divinity.

Psalm 40 5 Commentary

Psalm 40:5 is a profound expression of theological awe and gratitude, distinguishing itself by praising not only God's active "wonderful deeds" (niphla'ot) but also His underlying "thoughts" (machashavot) towards humanity. The psalmist confesses that the sheer magnitude of God’s benevolent works and purposeful intentions is beyond full human enumeration or articulation. God’s incomparability (ein 'aroch eilekha) is rooted in His unique capacity to both conceive (His thoughts) and execute (His deeds) plans of such overwhelming wisdom and goodness, consistently directed towards us. This verse captures the essence of divine providence – God's intentional and miraculous engagement in the lives of His creation and particularly His people, culminating in His ongoing redemptive work. It encourages believers to ponder the immeasurable nature of God's goodness, which encompasses both grand acts of salvation history and the minute details of personal care. For the believer, recognizing this reality should inspire humility, worship, and an insatiable desire to speak of God's greatness, even while acknowledging its unfathomable depth. This leads to a life of trust and dedication, knowing that one's ultimate good is meticulously planned and wonderfully delivered by an incomparable God.

• Practical example: When facing difficulties, recalling that God's "thoughts towards us" are always good (Jer 29:11) provides peace. When experiencing a moment of unexplainable blessing, acknowledging it as one of His "wonderful deeds" sparks thanksgiving.