Psalm 86 10

Psalm 86:10 kjv

For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

Psalm 86:10 nkjv

For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God.

Psalm 86:10 niv

For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.

Psalm 86:10 esv

For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.

Psalm 86:10 nlt

For you are great and perform wonderful deeds.
You alone are God.

Psalm 86 10 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Deut 4:35To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides Him.God's unique identity revealed
Deut 6:4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!Central declaration of monotheism (Shema)
Exod 15:11Who among the gods is like You, LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?God's incomparability and wondrous deeds
Ps 72:18Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.God alone is the wonder-worker
Ps 77:14You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your might among the peoples.God's wonders proclaim His power
Ps 96:4-5For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols...God's supremacy over idols
Ps 99:2The LORD is great in Zion, and He is high above all the peoples.God's sovereign greatness
Isa 43:10“You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD... that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after Me.God as the singular, eternal God
Isa 44:6Thus says the LORD... “I am the first and I am the last; besides Me there is no God.”God's absolute exclusivity
Isa 45:5-6I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God... so that people may know from the rising of the sun and from the west that there is none besides Me; I am the LORD, and there is no other.God's solitary divine identity affirmed
Jer 10:6There is none like You, O LORD; You are great, and great is Your name in might.God's incomparable power and fame
Job 9:10He does great things beyond searching out, and wonders without number.God's vast, incomprehensible works
Mark 12:29Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.’”New Testament affirmation of one God
Eph 4:6One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.Unity of God in New Testament teaching
1 Cor 8:6Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.Affirmation of one God, recognizing Christ
1 Tim 2:5For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.Singularity of God and Christ's role
Acts 2:22Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through Him in your midst...Christ's miracles demonstrate God's power
Heb 1:3He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power...Christ as manifestation of God's power
Rom 1:20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood through what has been made...Creation evidences God's power
Jude 1:25To the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.Doxology to the one God
Rev 15:3And they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are Your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!”Worship of God for His great deeds

Psalm 86 verses

Psalm 86 10 Meaning

Psalm 86:10 declares God's unparalleled greatness, affirming His unique power manifested through extraordinary deeds. It culminates in the singular assertion that He alone is the one true God, distinct from any other worshipped entity, establishing His absolute supremacy and sole divine authority. This truth forms the bedrock for trust and worship.

Psalm 86 10 Context

Psalm 86 is a personal prayer of David, a "Prayer of David," primarily characterized by fervent petition in times of distress (vv. 1-7, 11-17) interwoven with profound expressions of trust and praise (vv. 8-10). Verse 10 appears as David shifts from his pleas for mercy and divine intervention to a confident affirmation of God's incomparable nature. He grounds his hope and requests in the character and actions of the Lord, recognizing God's singular greatness and the marvelous works that set Him apart. Historically, this declaration by David stood as a powerful monotheistic statement within a polytheistic Ancient Near Eastern world, directly refuting the contemporary beliefs in multiple deities by asserting that the God of Israel "alone is God." It serves as a foundation for his continued pleas, reinforcing his faith and assuring him that his supplication is directed to the one capable and sovereign being.

Psalm 86 10 Word analysis

  • For (כִּי, kî): This conjunction introduces the reason or justification for the preceding statements (e.g., God hearing David's prayer, God's readiness to forgive). It grounds David's appeals and worship in God's intrinsic nature.
  • You (אַתָּה, 'attāh): A direct, personal address to God. It highlights the intimacy and direct relationship between the psalmist and the Almighty, emphasizing God's unique Person.
  • are great (גָּדוֹל, gādōl): This Hebrew adjective signifies immense size, power, importance, and supremacy. When applied to God, it means He is absolutely sovereign, incomparable in might, majesty, and inherent worth. His greatness is not merely attributed but inherent to His being.
  • and do (וְעֹשֵׂה, wə-‘ōśeh): The Hebrew participle indicates ongoing action, showing that God's greatness is active and continuously manifested. It links His inherent nature directly to His active involvement and operations.
  • wondrous things (נִפְלָאוֹת, niphla'ot): Plural of pele' (פֶּלֶא), meaning "marvel," "miracle," or "extraordinary act." These are acts that transcend human ability or natural explanation, serving as clear demonstrations of divine power and revealing God's unique identity. Often refers to the grand works of creation, deliverance (e.g., the Exodus), and salvation.
  • You alone (אַתָּה לְבַדֶּךָ, 'attāh ləḇaddekā): This phrase profoundly emphasizes exclusivity. "Ləḇaddekā" means "by yourself" or "only you," underscoring God's singular existence and unparalleled nature, allowing for no rivals. This is a foundational assertion of monotheism.
  • are God (אֱלֹהִים, 'ĕlōhîm): The most common Hebrew term for God. While contextually sometimes referring to lesser deities or judges, here, amplified by "You alone" and "great," it unequivocally refers to the singular, supreme, and true God of Israel, confirming His absolute deity.
  • "For You are great and do wondrous things": This phrase links God's inherent, majestic character with His active, miraculous works. His greatness is not abstract but visibly demonstrated through actions that evoke awe and wonder, highlighting His omnipotence and omnicompetence.
  • "You alone are God": This is the core theological statement. The "wondrous things" serve as irrefutable evidence for this truth. This phrase is a definitive declaration of monotheism, emphatically denying the legitimacy of any other "gods" worshipped by surrounding nations. It asserts God's exclusive claim to ultimate deity and authority.

Psalm 86 10 Bonus section

  • Worship as Response: The confession in Psalm 86:10 is not just intellectual assent but fuels heartfelt worship and obedience. Knowing God's singularity encourages exclusive devotion.
  • Foundation for Faith and Prayer: David’s persistent prayer throughout Psalm 86 is built upon the foundational truth declared in verse 10. The very reason he turns to God for help is because he understands God's unique and mighty identity.
  • Continuing Relevance: This verse continues to be a cornerstone of biblical theology, serving as a powerful counter-cultural statement against idolatry in any form—be it ancient paganism or modern self-reliance and false gods.
  • Trinitarian Implication (NT Lens): While asserting the singularity of God in an Old Testament context, the New Testament reveals this "one God" in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—all of whom partake in His greatness and do "wondrous things" (e.g., the miracles of Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit).

Psalm 86 10 Commentary

Psalm 86:10 provides a powerful theological anchor in a psalm of petition. David, in his distress, lifts his gaze to the unchanging nature of God, declaring that the Lord's inherent greatness is undeniably evidenced by the marvelous deeds He performs. These "wondrous things" serve as the compelling proof that distinguishes the Lord from all other so-called gods, unequivocally demonstrating that He "alone" is the one true and living God. This is not merely a statement of fact but a profound act of worship and a theological foundation. It solidifies David’s faith that only such a God is worthy of his prayers and capable of delivering him. Practically, acknowledging God's unique greatness and wonder-working power should inspire fervent worship and strengthen our confidence in His ability to respond to our needs, transforming our anxieties into a worshipful surrender.