Psalms 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Many {H7227}, O LORD {H3068} my God {H430}, are thy wonderful {H6381}{H8737)} works which thou hast done {H6213}{H8804)}, and thy thoughts {H4284} which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order {H6186}{H8800)} unto thee: if I would declare {H5046}{H8686)} and speak {H1696}{H8762)} of them, they are more {H6105}{H8804)} than can be numbered {H5608}{H8763)}.

Complete Jewish Bible

How much you have done, ADONAI my God! Your wonders and your thoughts toward us -none can compare with you! I would proclaim them, I would speak about them; but there's too much to tell!

Berean Standard Bible

Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us— none can compare to You— if I proclaim and declare them, they are more than I can count.

American Standard Version

Many, O Jehovah my God, are the wonderful works which thou hast done, And thy thoughts which are to us-ward: They cannot be set in order unto thee; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 40:5 is a profound declaration of the psalmist's awe and adoration for God's boundless activity and benevolent intentions. It celebrates the countless, extraordinary works God has performed and His purposeful, loving thoughts directed towards humanity, acknowledging that their immensity defies full human comprehension or enumeration, inspiring unending praise and worship.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 40 is a composite psalm, blending elements of individual thanksgiving and renewed commitment, traditionally attributed to King David. The preceding verses (40:1-3) recount the psalmist's miraculous deliverance from a "horrible pit" and "miry clay," leading to a new song of praise and a firm footing. This deliverance serves as a foundational "wonderful work" that prompts the declaration in verse 5. Following this verse, the psalmist transitions to a renewed commitment to do God's will (40:6-8), emphasizing that true worship involves obedience, not merely sacrifice. Verse 5 thus acts as a pivotal statement of God's character and actions that warrant such profound thanksgiving and inspire a life of dedicated service. The psalm moves from personal experience to universal truth about God's nature.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While traditionally attributed to David, the exact historical setting of Psalm 40 is not specified, allowing its themes of deliverance and dedication to resonate across various periods of Israelite history. In ancient Israel, the concept of God's "wonderful works" (Hebrew: *pele'*) would evoke memories of the Exodus, the parting of the Red Sea, the provision in the wilderness, and the conquest of Canaan—all miraculous interventions demonstrating Yahweh's unique power and faithfulness to His covenant people. The idea of God's "thoughts to us-ward" aligns with the covenantal relationship, where God actively planned for the welfare and prosperity of Israel, as seen in His laws, prophets, and providential care. The psalmist's inability to "reckon up" God's works reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of divine infinitude, where the gods were often described in terms beyond human measure, but here applied to the personal, covenant-keeping God of Israel.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Psalms and broader biblical narrative. It underscores God's **sovereignty and omnipotence**, as His "wonderful works" demonstrate His absolute control over creation and history, performing acts beyond human capability. It highlights **divine providence and benevolence**, emphasizing that God's "thoughts are to us-ward," signifying His active, intentional, and loving concern for humanity, especially His covenant people. This resonates deeply with the comforting truth found in [Jeremiah 29:11](/jeremiah/29-11 "Jeremiah 29:11 - God's Plans for Welfare"), where God declares His thoughts are of peace and a future, not of evil. Furthermore, the verse articulates the theme of **God's incomprehensible greatness**, declaring that His works and thoughts "cannot be reckoned up" and are "more than can be numbered." This theme of infinitude and unsearchable wisdom is echoed in [Psalm 139:17-18](/psalms/139-17 "Psalm 139:17-18 - God's Precious Thoughts"), which describes God's thoughts as precious and numerous as the sand, inviting humility and profound adoration in the face of His vastness.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Wonderful works (Hebrew, _pele'_):** This term (פֶּלֶא) signifies something extraordinary, miraculous, or incomprehensible, acts that go beyond natural explanation and can only be attributed to divine intervention. It often refers to God's awe-inspiring deeds, particularly those demonstrating His power and uniqueness, such as the miracles of the Exodus or creation itself. It conveys a sense of the marvelous and the supernatural.
* **Thoughts (Hebrew, _machashavah'_):** The word (מַחֲשָׁבָה) refers to designs, purposes, intentions, or plans. When applied to God, it emphasizes His deliberate, well-meaning, and purposeful planning for His people. It speaks to God's intellect and His active, benevolent mind directed towards humanity, assuring them of His continuous and thoughtful care.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done":** This opening clause establishes the sheer quantity and extraordinary nature of God's actions. The psalmist addresses God personally ("my God"), indicating a relational intimacy, and then immediately praises His countless, awe-inspiring deeds. These "wonderful works" encompass creation, providential care, historical interventions, and personal deliverances.
* **"and thy thoughts which are to us-ward":** This phrase shifts focus from God's external actions to His internal disposition and intentions. It highlights that God's thoughts are not abstract or distant but are specifically directed "to us-ward," meaning towards humanity, or more specifically, towards His people. This emphasizes God's personal, benevolent, and purposeful concern for individuals and the community.
* **"they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered":** This concluding declaration underscores the infinite nature of God's works and thoughts. The phrase "cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee" suggests that even for God, the totality of His own works and thoughts is beyond human capacity to systematize or fully grasp. The psalmist's desire to "declare and speak of them" is met with the humbling reality that they are "more than can be numbered," emphasizing the human inability to fully comprehend or catalogue the extent of God's majesty, wisdom, and goodness. This evokes a sense of profound humility and endless adoration.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 40:5 employs several potent **literary devices** to convey its message of God's immeasurable greatness. **Hyperbole** is central, particularly in the phrases "cannot be reckoned up in order" and "more than can be numbered," which exaggerate to emphasize the infinite, countless nature of God's works and thoughts, underscoring their vastness beyond human comprehension. **Parallelism** is evident in the pairing of "wonderful works" and "thy thoughts," and again in the synonymous clauses "they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee" and "they are more than can be numbered." This reinforces the central idea through repetition and variation. The use of "O LORD my God" is an example of **apostrophe**, directly addressing God in a personal and reverent manner. Furthermore, the concept of God having "thoughts" directed "to us-ward" can be seen as a form of **anthropomorphism**, attributing human-like mental processes (thinking, planning) to God to make His divine care more relatable and comprehensible to the human audience.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly articulates the dual nature of God's transcendence and immanence. His "wonderful works" speak to His majestic power and authority over all creation, demonstrating a God who is utterly beyond human limitation. Yet, His "thoughts to us-ward" reveal an intimately involved and benevolent deity who actively plans for the welfare of His people. This highlights God's character as not merely omnipotent but also deeply personal and caring. The inability to fully comprehend or number His deeds and intentions underscores His infinite wisdom, boundless love, and unsearchable ways, inviting humanity to a posture of humility, trust, and unending worship. It reminds us that God's active involvement in the world and in individual lives is far grander and more intricate than we can ever perceive.

* [Psalm 145:3](/psalms/145-3 "Psalm 145:3 - God's Greatness is Unsearchable")
* [Isaiah 55:8-9](/isaiah/55-8 "Isaiah 55:8-9 - God's Thoughts and Ways are Higher")
* [Romans 11:33](/romans/11-33 "Romans 11:33 - The Unsearchable Riches of God's Wisdom")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 40:5 calls believers to cultivate a profound and continuous posture of gratitude and worship. In a world often focused on scarcity or personal achievement, this verse redirects our gaze to the overflowing abundance of God's grace and activity. Reflecting on the "many... wonderful works" in our own lives—from the gift of creation to personal deliverances, answered prayers, and sustained provision—helps us recognize God's active, benevolent presence in every sphere. It encourages us to intentionally recall and recount His faithfulness, not just in grand gestures but in the myriad small ways He demonstrates His care. Trusting that God's "thoughts are to us-ward" provides immense comfort and security, especially amidst uncertainty or suffering, assuring us that His ultimate intentions for His children are good and purposeful, even when His ways are beyond our understanding. Embracing the truth that His works are "more than can be numbered" fosters humility, deepening our worship as we acknowledge His infinite wisdom and power, prompting us to declare and speak of His greatness to others.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What specific "wonderful works" of God can you identify in your own life or in the history of salvation that evoke awe and gratitude?**
* **How does the assurance that God's "thoughts are to us-ward" impact your trust in Him during challenging or uncertain times?**
* **In what practical ways can you "declare and speak" of God's immeasurable works and thoughts to those around you?**

### FAQ
**What does "thoughts to us-ward" truly imply about God's character?**

Answer: The phrase "thoughts to us-ward" (Hebrew: *machashavah*) reveals God's active, intentional, and benevolent concern for humanity. It signifies that God is not a distant, indifferent deity but one who purposefully plans and designs for the welfare and good of His people. This implies His omniscience (He knows what is best), His love (He desires our good), and His faithfulness (His plans for us are steadfast). It assures us that His intentions are always for our ultimate benefit and flourishing, even when His methods are mysterious or involve hardship, as affirmed in [Jeremiah 29:11](/jeremiah/29-11 "Jeremiah 29:11 - God's Plans for Welfare").

**How can we "declare and speak" of God's numberless works if they are "more than can be numbered"?**

Answer: The psalmist's declaration that God's works are "more than can be numbered" is a hyperbole emphasizing their infinite nature, not an injunction against speaking of them. Rather, it is an invitation to continuous, never-ending praise. To "declare and speak" of them means to bear witness to God's faithfulness in our lives and in history, to recount His mighty deeds, and to share His goodness with others. While we can never exhaust the list, each testimony, each act of worship, each shared story of His intervention contributes to a lifelong chorus of praise, acknowledging His inexhaustible greatness. It encourages a lifestyle of gratitude and evangelism, pointing others to the God of countless wonders, as seen in the call to proclaim God's deeds in [Psalm 9:1](/psalms/9-1 "Psalm 9:1 - I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 40:5 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the supreme "wonderful work" that God has done, the culmination of all divine activity and the clearest expression of God's "thoughts to us-ward." The incarnation of Jesus, God becoming flesh, is the most extraordinary and incomprehensible act of divine intervention, demonstrating God's boundless power and love in a way that transcends all other "wonderful works." In Christ, God's benevolent "thoughts to us-ward" are fully revealed and accomplished. His life, perfect obedience, atoning death on the cross, and victorious resurrection are the ultimate demonstration of God's purposeful plan for humanity's salvation and restoration. Through Jesus, we not only see God's works but participate in them, becoming new creations and beneficiaries of His eternal purposes. As [Colossians 1:15-17](/colossians/1-15 "Colossians 1:15-17 - Christ as Creator and Sustainer") declares, Christ is the image of the invisible God, through whom all things were created and sustained, making Him the embodiment of God's creative "works." He is the very wisdom and power of God (cf. [1 Corinthians 1:24](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ the Power and Wisdom of God")), and in Him, the unsearchable riches of God's grace and truth are made known (cf. [Ephesians 3:8](/ephesians/3-8 "Ephesians 3:8 - The Unsearchable Riches of Christ")). Jesus perfectly declares and speaks of the Father's numberless works and thoughts, for as [John 1:18](/john/1-18 "John 1:18 - No One Has Seen God, Except the Son") states, "No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known."

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

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

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.

Exodus 15:11

Who [is] like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who [is] like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful [in] praises, doing wonders?

Psalms 71:15

My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness [and] thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers [thereof].

Psalms 92:5

O LORD, how great are thy works! [and] thy thoughts are very deep.

Psalms 136:4

To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.