¶ Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.

Praise {H1984} ye the LORD {H3050}. O give thanks {H3034} unto the LORD {H3068}; for he is good {H2896}: for his mercy {H2617} endureth for ever {H5769}.

Halleluyah! Give thanks to ADONAI; for he is good, for his grace continues forever.

Hallelujah! Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.

Praise ye Jehovah. Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever.

Psalms 106:1 opens with a foundational call to worship, setting the tone for a psalm that recounts Israel's checkered history with God, yet always returns to the steadfastness of His character. It serves as a powerful declaration of God's inherent nature and the enduring reason for all praise and thanksgiving.

Context

Psalm 106 is one of the "historical psalms," which recounts the history of Israel's relationship with God, particularly their cycles of rebellion and God's consistent faithfulness. It follows Psalm 105, which celebrates God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. Psalm 106, however, focuses on Israel's repeated disobedience and God's persistent mercy in response. This opening verse acts as an essential prologue, framing the subsequent narrative of human failure with a foundational truth about God's unchanging goodness and enduring mercy.

Key Themes

  • A Universal Call to Praise and Thanksgiving: The imperative "Praise ye the LORD" (Hallelujah) and "O give thanks unto the LORD" is not merely an invitation but an urgent command, urging all to acknowledge God's supremacy and express profound gratitude for His character and deeds.
  • God's Inherent Goodness: The declaration "for he is good" highlights God's fundamental nature. His goodness is not contingent on human actions but is an intrinsic attribute, the source of all blessings and righteousness. It is a bedrock truth that assures His benevolent intentions towards creation and His people.
  • Everlasting Mercy (Chesed): The core message, "for his mercy endureth for ever," emphasizes God's unwavering covenant loyalty and steadfast love. This mercy is not fleeting but eternal, extending through generations despite human failings, as vividly illustrated throughout the rest of the psalm. It is this enduring mercy that provides hope and the possibility of restoration.

Linguistic Insights

  • The opening phrase, "Praise ye the LORD," is the Hebrew Hallelujah (הַלְלוּ יָהּ), a powerful imperative call to praise Yahweh, the covenant God. It is a common liturgical exclamation in the Psalms.
  • The word for "good" is tov (טוֹב), which denotes moral excellence, benevolence, and inherent righteousness. It signifies that God is inherently good in His character and actions.
  • Most significantly, "mercy" is the Hebrew chesed (חֶסֶד), a rich theological term encompassing steadfast love, lovingkindness, covenant loyalty, and faithful compassion. It speaks of God's enduring commitment to His people, even when they are undeserving.
  • The phrase "endureth for ever" (לְעוֹלָם, l'olam) emphasizes the eternal, unchanging nature of this divine attribute, underscoring its reliability and constancy.

Related Scriptures

  • The call to "Praise ye the LORD" (Hallelujah) and the declaration of God's enduring mercy is a recurring theme in Scripture, notably echoed in Psalms 107:1, which begins with the same powerful affirmation.
  • The concept of God's inherent goodness is a bedrock truth throughout the Bible, as seen in Psalms 34:8, which invites us to "taste and see that the LORD is good."
  • The refrain "his mercy endureth for ever" is a central theme, repeated extensively, notably in Psalms 118:1 and throughout Psalm 136, highlighting its foundational importance to Israel's worship and understanding of God.

Practical Application

This verse encourages believers to cultivate a lifestyle of consistent gratitude and worship, recognizing God's unchanging character amidst life's challenges and even our own failures. It reminds us that even when we stumble or fall short, God's goodness and mercy remain constant, providing a steadfast foundation for hope, repentance, and restoration. It calls us to ground our faith not in our performance, but in God's eternal nature.

Reflection

Psalms 106:1 serves as a timeless anchor, calling us to fix our gaze on the eternal attributes of God—His goodness and His unwavering mercy—as the ultimate and sufficient reason for our praise and thanksgiving. It sets the stage for understanding that even when we recount human sin and divine judgment, the overarching truth is God's perpetual grace.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:18

    In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
  • Psalms 105:1

    ¶ O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.
  • 1 Chronicles 16:34

    O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good; for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
  • Psalms 136:1

    ¶ O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
  • Jeremiah 33:11

    The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD [is] good; for his mercy [endureth] for ever: [and] of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.
  • Psalms 118:1

    ¶ O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: because his mercy [endureth] for ever.
  • Psalms 105:45

    That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.

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