1 Chronicles 16:36

Blessed [be] the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD.

Blessed {H1288} be the LORD {H3068} God {H430} of Israel {H3478} for ever {H5769} and ever {H5769}. And all the people {H5971} said {H559}, Amen {H543}, and praised {H1984} the LORD {H3068}.

Blessed be ADONAI, the God of Isra'el, from eternity past to eternity future!" All the people said, "Amen!" and praised ADONAI.

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.” Then all the people said, “Amen!” and “Praise the LORD!”

Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, From everlasting even to everlasting. And all the people said, Amen, and praised Jehovah.

Commentary

Context

1 Chronicles 16:36 concludes a magnificent psalm of thanksgiving and praise delivered by King David when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem and placed in the tabernacle he had prepared for it. This event marked a pivotal moment in Israel's history, centralizing worship and affirming God's presence among His people. The psalm itself, recorded from 1 Chronicles 16:8-36, is a compilation of verses found in various Psalms (notably parts of Psalms 105, 96, and 106), highlighting God's faithfulness, His mighty deeds, and His eternal covenant with Israel. Verse 36 serves as the climactic benediction and congregational response to this grand declaration of divine glory.

Key Themes

  • Eternal Doxology: The opening phrase, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever," is a powerful doxology, an expression of profound praise and adoration for God's everlasting nature and His enduring covenant relationship with His people. It emphasizes God's eternal sovereignty and His unchanging character.
  • Covenant Faithfulness: Referring to God as "the LORD God of Israel" underscores His specific covenant relationship with the nation, reminding them of His promises and His constant presence throughout their history. This title signifies His unique commitment to His chosen people.
  • Congregational Affirmation and Unity: The people's unified response, "Amen, and praised the LORD," demonstrates their active participation and agreement with the preceding declaration of praise. It signifies corporate worship and a shared affirmation of God's worthiness. This collective "Amen" creates a powerful moment of spiritual unity.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Blessed" (Hebrew: baruch): This term signifies acknowledging God's inherent goodness and worthiness of honor and praise. It's not about adding something to God, but recognizing and declaring His supreme blessedness.
  • "LORD" (Hebrew: Yahweh): This represents God's personal, covenant name, emphasizing His self-existence and His active presence in the lives of His people.
  • "Amen" (Hebrew: amen): This crucial word means "so be it," "truly," "it is firm," or "let it be established." When the people said "Amen," they were not merely agreeing passively but actively affirming the truth and desire for the blessing and praise to be established forever. It's an expression of full consent and affirmation, often used at the conclusion of prayers, blessings, or declarations, as seen in Psalm 106:48.

Practical Application

This verse provides a timeless model for worship and spiritual practice.

  • Continuous Praise: It encourages believers to bless and praise God "for ever and ever," fostering a lifestyle of continuous thanksgiving and adoration regardless of circumstances. Our praise should reflect God's eternal nature.
  • Corporate Affirmation: The unified "Amen" reminds us of the importance of corporate worship and the power of collective affirmation. When we say "Amen" in response to truth or praise, we are actively participating and declaring our agreement with God's Word and His character. This shared affirmation strengthens community and faith.
  • Acknowledging God's Sovereignty: Recognizing God as "the LORD God of Israel" helps us remember His faithfulness to His covenants and His active role in history and in our personal lives. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, worthy of our unwavering devotion.

Just as the people of Israel affirmed David's psalm with a resounding "Amen," so too are believers today called to affirm God's truth and praise His name with wholehearted commitment, knowing that His promises are always "Yes and Amen" through Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 8:15

    And he said, Blessed [be] the LORD God of Israel, which spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled [it], saying,

  • Psalms 72:18

    ¶ Blessed [be] the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.

  • Psalms 72:19

    And blessed [be] his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled [with] his glory; Amen, and Amen.

  • Nehemiah 8:6

    And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with [their] faces to the ground.

  • 1 Kings 8:56

    Blessed [be] the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.

  • Ephesians 1:3

    ¶ Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ:

  • 1 Corinthians 14:16

    Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
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