Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
English Standard Version (ESV)
Even in the face of their own community's failings and suffering, the psalm immediately calls for praise. This isn't just a happy song; it’s an intentional act of worship, highlighting that God's enduring goodness is the ultimate reality, even when human actions fall short.
Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm opens with a call to praise God, even amidst suffering, because His goodness and steadfast love are eternal. The verses that follow recount Israel's history of rebellion and God's patient faithfulness, highlighting that their struggles are due to sin, not God's lack of mercy. This liturgical formula of praise, for God's unfailing love, served as a familiar refrain, likely used in worship throughout ancient Israelite history.
Even when life feels tough, there's a persistent call to thankfulness. Why is this so central to our faith?
Psalm 106 kicks off with a powerful command: 'Praise the LORD! O give thanks to the LORD.' This isn't just a suggestion; it's a foundational act. The commentators highlight that this call to thanksgiving comes even amidst suffering and sin. It reminds us that our circumstances don't dictate our worship. True thanksgiving is rooted in who God is, not just what He does for us in a given moment.
The Bible repeats a phrase about God's love. What makes this particular quality so worthy of eternal praise?
The phrase 'for his steadfast love endures forever!' is a cornerstone of the Psalms and ancient Israelite worship. It points to God's unfailing, covenantal love – a love that is not earned but freely given and eternally reliable. Even when Israel sinned and suffered consequences, this deep-seated love of God remained. It's a love that actively works for our good and deliverance, a quality that scholars note was sung at significant moments in Israel's history, like the dedication of the tabernacle and temple.
Understand the original words
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hălûyāh · Hebrew Verb/Interjection
An imperative command to express adoration, commendation, or exaltation toward God. It acknowledges His worthiness and greatness.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Israel, emphasizing His self-existence, faithfulness, and relationship with His people.
chesed · Hebrew Noun
A Hebrew term denoting covenantal faithfulness, loyal love, mercy, and devotion. It describes God’s persistent, unfailing commitment to His covenant with His people.
This opening verse, a powerful call to praise, likely emerged during or after the Babylonian exile. It echoes ancient liturgical phrases used during times of both great joy (like the dedication of the Temple) and profound sorrow, reminding the people that God's faithfulness underpins their history, even amidst their failures.
c. 1440 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God miraculously delivers the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, marking the beginning of their journey to the Promised Land.
c. 1400 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Following God's guidance and power, the Israelites begin to conquer the land promised to their ancestors.
c. 1000 BC
David's Tabernacle Dedication
King David brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, and the refrain 'Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever' is sung, as recorded in Chronicles.
c. 960 BC
Solomon's Temple Dedication
The grand dedication of the First Temple in Jerusalem features the same refrain, highlighting its importance in Israelite worship.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Babylonian Exile Begins
Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians, and many Israelites are deported, leading to a period of deep national crisis and reflection.
c. 539 BC
Return from Exile
The Persian Empire, under Cyrus, allows the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple.
c. 160 BC
Maccabean Period
The refrain 'Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever' is used during the Maccabean revolt and the rededication of the Temple.
This passage echoes the very same refrain, linking the call to give thanks for God's enduring goodness to the ark's placement in Jerusalem, showing this ancient expression of praise was deeply tied to God's presence and faithfulness.
Nehemiah 9:17This verse shares the sentiment of God's goodness and His enduring love, framing it within the context of Israel's unfaithfulness, which powerfully highlights the persistent nature of God's mercy despite human failure.
Jeremiah 33:11The prophet Jeremiah uses this very phrase to describe a future restoration, calling it the voice of joy and gladness. This connects the psalm's expression of praise to the hope of God's redemptive action and enduring covenant love.
1 Corinthians 15:57Paul uses similar language to describe our victory in Christ, stating that thanks be to God who gives us the victory. This shows how the psalm's foundational truth about God's steadfast love has profound implications for the ultimate triumph believers experience through Jesus.
pulpitPsalms 106:1: "Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."
Verse 1. - Praise ye the Lord (comp. Psalm 104:35; Psalm 105:45). O give thanks unto the Lord (so in Psalm 105:1). Even in their greatest afflictions, the Israelites were bound to give God thanks. His mercies always exceeded his punishments. For he is good (see the comment on Psalm 100:5). For his mercy eudureth forever. According to Chronicles, this phrase was used at the dedicatio…
bensonPsalms 106:1: "Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."
Psalm 106:1-3 . Praise ye the Lord, &c. — He deserves our praises, notwithstanding all our sufferings, which are not to be imputed to him, for he is gracious and merciful, but only to our own sins. Who can show forth all his praise? — That is, his praiseworthy actions: “who is sufficient for a work which demands the tongues and harps of angels?” Blessed are they that keep judgment —…
Even in the face of their own community's failings and suffering, the psalm immediately calls for praise. This isn't just a happy song; it’s an intentional act of worship, highlighting that God's enduring goodness is the ultimate reality, even when human actions fall short.
This psalm opens with a call to praise God, even amidst suffering, because His goodness and steadfast love are eternal. The verses that follow recount Israel's history of rebellion and God's patient faithfulness, highlighting that their struggles are due to sin, not God's lack of mercy. This liturgical formula of praise, for God's unfailing love, served as a familiar refrain, likely used in worship throughout ancient Israelite history.
This psalm opens with a call to praise God, even amidst suffering, because His goodness and steadfast love are eternal. The verses that follow recount Israel's history of rebellion and God's patient faithfulness, highlighting that their struggles are due to sin, not God's lack of mercy. This liturgical formula of praise, for God's unfailing love, served as a familiar refrain, likely used in worship throughout ancient Israelite history.
"Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!" — Even in the face of their own community's failings and suffering, the psalm immediately calls for praise. This isn't just a happy song; it’s an intentional act of worship, highlighting that God's end…
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Last reviewed October 2026