Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just a nice sentiment; it's a profound declaration that God's goodness and enduring mercy are the foundational reasons for giving thanks. The phrase "steadfast love endures forever" isn't merely a promise of future help, but a recognition of an unchanging, eternal quality in God's very being, extending even to the "coming age" of redemption.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is a jubilant, responsive hymn of thanksgiving that echoes a similar one from Psalm 106 and 118, likely intended for communal worship. It calls for praise to God for His foundational goodness and never-ending love, setting the stage for the rest of the song which will recount His mighty acts of creation and deliverance. The repeating refrain emphasizes the enduring nature of God's mercy throughout all of His works.
Every good thing we receive points back to its generous Giver. This verse isn't just a suggestion; it's a divine command to acknowledge God's character.
The opening of Psalm 136 is a powerful call to worship, rooted in God's very nature.
God's Goodness: The Foundation
"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good." This isn't a conditional statement – God's goodness isn't dependent on our circumstances. It's an inherent quality of who He is. His goodness is the basis for our confidence and the fuel for our worship. It means He is inherently benevolent, the source of all that is right and true.
Enduring Love: The Guarantee
"For his steadfast love endures forever." This phrase, repeated throughout the psalm, points to God's faithful, covenantal love. It's a love that is unwavering, relentless, and eternal. It assures us that His goodness isn't fleeting; it's a permanent, defining characteristic of His relationship with His people.
The refrain of this Psalm isn't just a nice saying; it's a theological anchor that stretches from creation to the ultimate redemption planned by God.
The phrase "his steadfast love endures forever" is the heart of Psalm 136, repeated after nearly every line. It speaks volumes about God's eternal commitment.
Looking Back: Creation and Providence
This enduring love was evident in God's creation of the heavens and the earth, and His providential care over them (verses 5-9). Even before humanity existed, God's good and loving purposes were at work.
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Looking Forward: Redemption's Promise
Commentators suggest that this phrase also points prophetically to the future fulfillment of God's redemptive plan, particularly through Jesus Christ. The "age to come" would see the greatest display of His mercy. This means God's love isn't just about what He has done, but what He will do, securing our salvation eternally.
A Liturgical Anchor
This repetition wasn't just for emphasis; it served as a constant reminder during worship services, anchoring the people in the unchanging nature of God's mercy, regardless of their present circumstances.
Understand the original words
hodu · Hebrew Verb
An expression of gratitude, praise, or confession of God's character and works, often accompanied by sacrifice or public declaration. It acknowledges that all blessings originate from God.
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The proper name of the God of Israel, the self-existent One who entered into a covenant relationship with His people. It signifies His holiness, faithfulness, and eternal nature.
tov · Hebrew Adjective
Refers to moral excellence, benevolence, and kindness. It describes God’s nature as the standard and source of all that is morally upright and beneficial.
chesed · Hebrew Noun
Often translated as 'lovingkindness' or 'covenant loyalty,' this term refers to God’s faithful, persistent, and unmerited love. It signifies His commitment to His covenant promises despite human unfaithfulness.
The repeated phrase 'his steadfast love endures forever' was not just a poetic flourish but a liturgical refrain deeply embedded in Israel's worship, echoing from David's time through the Temple periods and even serving as a powerful anchor of hope during the hardship of exile.
c. 1000 BC
David Establishes Temple Worship
King David organizes the Levites to provide continuous music and praise in the Tabernacle, which included the use of refrains like 'His steadfast love endures forever.' This set a precedent for liturgical worship.
c. 960 BC
Solomon's Temple Dedication
During the dedication of the First Temple, Solomon and the people of Israel offered sacrifices and praise, repeating the refrain 'His steadfast love endures forever' as a corporate expression of thanksgiving, following David's example.
c. 870 BC
Jehoshaphat's Victory Thanksgiving
After a miraculous victory, King Jehoshaphat leads Judah in a solemn assembly where the people sing praises, again emphasizing God's enduring mercy with the refrain, highlighting its importance in times of national deliverance.
c. 590 BC— this verse
Exile and Lament
During the Babylonian Exile, the traditional songs of thanksgiving were likely still sung, but the context would have been one of deep sorrow and longing for God's deliverance, making the promise of enduring mercy a source of hope.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile
The return to Jerusalem under Cyrus allowed for the rebuilding of the Temple and the restoration of public worship, where Psalms like 136 would have been sung with renewed gratitude for God's faithfulness.
This verse echoes Psalm 136:1's call to give thanks, emphasizing that God is good and His love is everlasting, highlighting a consistent theme of praise across different books.
Jeremiah 33:11This passage directly quotes 'Give thanks to the LORD Almighty, for the LORD is good; his love endures forever,' showing the enduring importance and application of this phrase in prophetic scripture.
1 Peter 1:3Peter speaks of God's great mercy in the context of spiritual rebirth and an inheritance that will not perish, directly linking God's enduring goodness and mercy to the new covenant promises foreshadowed in the Old Testament.
Nehemiah 9:17In a prayer of confession and remembrance, the Israelites recall God's character, stating 'But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness,' which aligns with the core message of God's goodness and enduring mercy.
clarkePsalms 136:1: "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."
O give thanks unto the Lord: for he is good - This sentiment often occurs: the goodness of the Divine nature, both as a ground of confidence and of thanksgiving. For his mercy endureth for ever - These words, which are the burden of every verse, כי לעולם חסדו ki leolam chasdo, might be translated: "For his tender mercy is to the coming age:" meaning, probably, if the Psalm be prophetic, that peculiar…
poolePsalms 136:1: "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."
THE ARGUMENT The matter of this Psalm is the same with the former, only it is a little more fitted to the use and service of the temple, by the continued repetition of that solemn clause, For thy mercy endures for ever, which was much used by the sacred singers. See 2 Chronicles 7:3 20:21 . The psalmist exhorteth all to praise God, for his power and wisdom in creating and governing the world, Psalm 136…
This isn't just a nice sentiment; it's a profound declaration that God's goodness and enduring mercy are the foundational reasons for giving thanks. The phrase "steadfast love endures forever" isn't merely a promise of future help, but a recognition of an unchanging, eternal quality in God's very being, extending even to the "coming age" of redemption.
This psalm is a jubilant, responsive hymn of thanksgiving that echoes a similar one from Psalm 106 and 118, likely intended for communal worship. It calls for praise to God for His foundational goodness and never-ending love, setting the stage for the rest of the song which will recount His mighty acts of creation and deliverance. The repeating refrain emphasizes the enduring nature of God's mercy throughout all of His works.
This psalm is a jubilant, responsive hymn of thanksgiving that echoes a similar one from Psalm 106 and 118, likely intended for communal worship. It calls for praise to God for His foundational goodness and never-ending love, setting the stage for the rest of the song which will recount His mighty acts of creation and deliverance. The repeating refrain emphasizes the enduring nature of God's mercy throughout all of His works.
"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever." — This isn't just a nice sentiment; it's a profound declaration that God's goodness and enduring mercy are the foundational reasons for giving thanks. The phrase "steadfast love endures forever" isn'…
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Last reviewed October 2026