Psalms 147:5

KJV

Great [is] our Lord, and of great power: his understanding [is] infinite.

KJV (with Strong's)

Great {H1419} is our Lord {H113}, and of great {H7227} power {H3581}: his understanding {H8394} is infinite {H4557}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Our Lord is great, his power is vast, his wisdom beyond all telling.

Berean Standard Bible

Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.

American Standard Version

Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 147:5 profoundly declares the unparalleled attributes of God, presenting Him as the sovereign Lord whose greatness knows no bounds, whose power is immense, and whose understanding is utterly immeasurable. This verse serves as a foundational statement of divine omnipotence and omniscience, offering profound comfort and inspiring worship by highlighting the limitless nature of the Almighty's character and wisdom in His governance of creation and His people.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 147 is part of a series of Hallelujah Psalms ([Psalms 146](/psalms/146 "Psalms 146 - Praise the Lord")-[Psalms 150](/psalms/150 "Psalms 150 - Praise the Lord!")) which are hymns of praise to the Lord, often emphasizing His kingship and His mighty acts on behalf of His people. Specifically, Psalms 147 opens with a call to praise God for His goodness and pleasantness ([Psalms 147:1](/psalms/147-1 "Psalms 147:1 - Praise the Lord")). The psalm then shifts between celebrating God's power over nature (sending snow, frost, hail, wind in verses [Psalms 147:15-18](/psalms/147-15-18 "Psalms 147:15-18 - God's Control Over Nature")) and His tender care for His people, particularly the humble and brokenhearted ([Psalms 147:3](/psalms/147-3 "Psalms 147:3 - Healing the Brokenhearted")). Verse 5, "Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite," acts as a theological anchor, providing the inherent divine attributes that underpin all of God's actions described throughout the psalm—His ability to build up Jerusalem, gather the outcasts of Israel, heal the brokenhearted, and sustain the humble. It sets the stage for understanding *why* God is capable of such magnificent deeds.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Many scholars believe Psalms 147 was composed in the post-exilic period, possibly after the return of the Jewish exiles to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the city walls (as suggested by [Psalms 147:2](/psalms/147-2 "Psalms 147:2 - God Builds Up Jerusalem")). This historical backdrop imbues the psalm with a deep sense of gratitude and renewed hope. The people of Israel had experienced profound brokenness and dispersion, and God's act of restoration was a powerful testament to His covenant faithfulness. In a world where empires rose and fell, and where human rulers often displayed limited power and understanding, the psalmist's declaration of God's *infinite* understanding and *great* power would have been a profound source of security and comfort. It contrasts sharply with the finite wisdom and strength of earthly kings and nations, affirming God's unique sovereignty over both human history and the natural world.

* **Key Themes:** The central themes of Psalms 147 revolve around God's **sovereignty** and **providence**. The psalm consistently highlights God's active involvement in both the grand scale of the cosmos and the intimate details of human life. His **unparalleled greatness** (verse 5a) establishes His supreme authority and majesty, while His **omnipotence** ("great power," verse 5b) underscores His ability to execute His will without hindrance, whether in bringing about the seasons or restoring a nation. The most striking theme in verse 5 is God's **omniscience** ("his understanding is infinite," verse 5c), emphasizing His perfect, boundless knowledge that encompasses all things, from numbering the stars ([Psalms 147:4](/psalms/147-4 "Psalms 147:4 - God Numbers the Stars")) to knowing the needs of every creature. This infinite understanding ensures that God's power is always wielded with perfect wisdom and purpose, providing a foundation for trust in His divine plan, even when it is beyond human comprehension, as further explored in passages like [Isaiah 55:8-9](/isaiah/55-8-9 "Isaiah 55:8-9 - God's Thoughts and Ways are Higher").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Lord (Hebrew, _ʼâdôwn'_):** This term (H113) signifies a sovereign, controller, master, or owner, applicable to both human and divine authority. In the context of Psalms 147:5, its application to God emphasizes His absolute authority and dominion over all creation and His people. He is not merely a powerful being, but the ultimate ruler and proprietor, deserving of ultimate reverence and submission.
* **Power (Hebrew, _kôach'_):** Derived from an unused root meaning "to be firm," _kôach_ (H3581) denotes vigor, strength, might, or ability. It encompasses both physical force and the capacity to achieve. Here, "great power" (magnified by the preceding H7227 _rab_ meaning "abundant" or "much") speaks to God's unlimited capacity to act and accomplish His will, whether in creation, judgment, or redemption. It is a power that is unchallengeable and fully effective.
* **Infinite (Hebrew, _miçpâr'_):** This word (H4557), literally meaning "a number," is used in this context (often with a negative particle, _ʾên_, meaning "no" or "without") to denote something so vast that it cannot be counted, measured, or fully comprehended. Applied to God's "understanding," it declares His knowledge to be boundless, limitless, and beyond human quantification or comprehension, underscoring His perfect omniscience.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Great is our Lord":** This opening clause declares God's supreme majesty and incomparable stature. The Hebrew word for "great" (_gâdôwl_, H1419) conveys vastness, importance, and superiority. It is a declaration of God's inherent, qualitative greatness, distinguishing Him as elevated above all other beings and worthy of ultimate praise and adoration. He is the preeminent one, the sovereign ruler.
* **"and of great power":** This phrase immediately follows the declaration of God's greatness, specifying one of the primary manifestations of that greatness: His immense strength and ability. The repetition of "great" (from _rab_, H7227, meaning "abundant" or "much") emphasizes the boundless nature of His might. This power is not merely potential but active, evident in His creation, His sustenance of the world, and His intervention in human affairs, particularly in the restoration of Israel.
* **"his understanding is infinite":** This culminating clause highlights God's perfect and boundless knowledge, wisdom, and discernment. The term "understanding" (_tâbûwn_, H8394) implies not just knowing facts but comprehending, discerning, and interpreting complex matters with perfect insight. The word "infinite" (_miçpâr_, H4557, used here in the sense of "without number") underscores that God's knowledge is not merely vast but literally immeasurable, without limit, and beyond human capacity to grasp. He knows all things—past, present, and future, the seen and the unseen—with absolute perfection.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 147:5 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound theological truth. The verse is a **Declarative Statement**, asserting fundamental truths about God's nature rather than posing a question or issuing a command. This directness lends authority and certainty to the psalmist's affirmations. The use of **Hyperbole** is evident in the word "infinite" (literally "without number") when applied to God's understanding. While God's understanding truly *is* boundless, the term emphasizes its absolute immeasurability from a human perspective, stretching the limits of language to describe divine perfection. Furthermore, there is an implicit **Parallelism** in the structure, where "Great is our Lord" is echoed and amplified by "and of great power," with "his understanding is infinite" serving as a culminating, climactic attribute that undergirds both His greatness and power. This structure builds a comprehensive picture of God's magnificent character.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 147:5 articulates core attributes of God that are foundational to biblical theology: His omnipotence and omniscience. The declaration of God's "great power" assures us that He is fully capable of accomplishing all His purposes, whether in creation, judgment, or redemption. This power is never arbitrary but is always guided by His "infinite understanding," meaning His wisdom is perfect, His plans are flawless, and His knowledge encompasses every detail of existence. This boundless wisdom provides comfort and stability, assuring believers that even when circumstances seem chaotic or incomprehensible, God is working all things according to His perfect, all-knowing will. This truth invites profound trust and humility, recognizing the vast chasm between human limitations and divine perfection.

* [Job 42:2](/job/42-2 "Job 42:2 - God Can Do All Things")
* [Romans 11:33](/romans/11-33 "Romans 11:33 - The Depth of God's Wisdom")
* [Isaiah 40:28](/isaiah/40-28 "Isaiah 40:28 - God's Understanding is Unsearchable")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The profound truths of Psalms 147:5—that our Lord is great, powerful, and infinitely understanding—have transformative implications for our daily lives. In a world often characterized by uncertainty, limited knowledge, and perceived powerlessness, this verse calls us to anchor our faith in the unchangeable character of God. Knowing that His power is boundless means no situation is too difficult for Him to handle, and no obstacle can thwart His ultimate purposes. Furthermore, His infinite understanding assures us that He sees the complete picture, knows every detail of our lives, and perfectly comprehends our struggles, fears, and hopes. This truth should cultivate a deep sense of peace and trust, enabling us to surrender our anxieties and plans to His perfect wisdom. It also calls us to humility, recognizing the vastness of His knowledge compared to our own finite understanding, prompting us to seek His guidance through prayer and His Word in all our decisions.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does reflecting on God's "great power" impact your trust in Him during challenging circumstances?**
* **In what areas of your life do you need to surrender your limited understanding to God's "infinite understanding"?**
* **How does the psalmist's declaration of God's attributes inspire your worship and praise?**
* **What practical steps can you take to more consistently seek God's infinite wisdom in your daily decisions?**

### FAQ
**What does it mean that God's understanding is "infinite"?**

Answer: When Psalms 147:5 states that God's understanding is "infinite," it uses the Hebrew phrase _ʾên miçpār_, which literally means "without number" or "immeasurable." This signifies that God's knowledge, wisdom, and discernment are boundless and limitless. Unlike human understanding, which is finite and always partial, God's understanding encompasses all things—past, present, and future, every thought, every event, every detail of creation, and every heart. There is nothing hidden from Him, and His wisdom is perfect and complete, as highlighted in [1 John 3:20](/1_john/3-20 "1 John 3:20 - God Knows All Things").

**How does God's "great power" relate to His "infinite understanding"?**

Answer: God's "great power" and "infinite understanding" are inextricably linked and perfectly balanced. His power is not raw, undirected force, but is always exercised in perfect alignment with His infinite wisdom. This means that God never acts impulsively or makes mistakes; every exercise of His power is purposeful, perfectly timed, and rooted in His boundless knowledge. His omnipotence is guided by His omniscience, ensuring that His actions are always just, good, and ultimately for His glory and the good of His people, as seen in passages like [Jeremiah 32:17](/jeremiah/32-17 "Jeremiah 32:17 - God's Great Power and Outstretched Arm").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 147:5, with its declaration of God's great power and infinite understanding, finds its ultimate and most glorious fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. As the second person of the Trinity, Jesus fully embodies these divine attributes. The New Testament consistently presents Christ as the one through whom all things were created and are sustained, testifying to His "great power" (see [Colossians 1:16-17](/colossians/1-16-17 "Colossians 1:16-17 - Christ as Creator and Sustainer")). His miracles—calming storms, healing the sick, raising the dead—are not merely acts of compassion but demonstrations of His divine omnipotence, echoing the Lord's power over nature described in Psalms 147. Furthermore, Jesus's "infinite understanding" is evident in His perfect knowledge of human hearts ([John 2:25](/john/2-25 "John 2:25 - Jesus Knew What Was in Man")), His prophetic foresight, and His profound teachings that reveal the very wisdom of God ([1 Corinthians 1:24](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ, the Wisdom of God")). In Christ, the abstract attributes of the great and powerful Lord with infinite understanding become tangible and relational, inviting us not just to acknowledge God's character but to encounter it personally in the one who is the "power of God and the wisdom of God." He is the visible manifestation of the invisible God, perfectly revealing the boundless greatness, power, and understanding of the Father ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Christ, the Radiance of God's Glory")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 40:28

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, [that] the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? [there is] no searching of his understanding.

Psalms 139:17

¶ How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

Psalms 139:18

[If] I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

Psalms 96:4

For the LORD [is] great, and greatly to be praised: he [is] to be feared above all gods.

Romans 11:33

¶ O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Nahum 1:3

The LORD [is] slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit [the wicked]: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds [are] the dust of his feet.

Psalms 48:1

¶ A Song [and] Psalm for the sons of Korah. Great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, [in] the mountain of his holiness.