Psalms 145:8-9
The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse lists attributes of God using familiar language from Exodus, but notice the order: "gracious and merciful" come before "slow to anger." This highlights that God's overflowing kindness and compassion are His default setting, not just reactions to our repentance. His eagerness to forgive is the primary truth, not His reluctance to punish.
This psalm is a majestic outpouring of praise from David, moving from a declaration of his personal commitment to extolling God’s greatness to envisioning a universal song of adoration. He begins by focusing on God’s character, particularly His abundant love and justice, leading into the profound truth of verse 8 which echoes God’s self-revelation in Exodus. The verses that follow expand on this, showing how God’s goodness extends to all His creation and how His saints are uniquely positioned to bless Him and declare His glorious, everlasting kingdom.
Have you ever felt like you're meeting someone for the first time, and you just get who they are? This verse feels like that, but with God.
This verse isn't just a description of God; it's a revelation of His very character. It's foundational to understanding who He is and how He relates to us.
A Divine Portrait
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Psalms 145:8-9 is available in the Sola app.
These aren't just abstract qualities; they are the lens through which God reveals Himself, especially in moments of our deepest need.
Ever notice how certain phrases in the Bible seem to pop up again and again? This verse is one of them, and it connects to a pivotal moment in Israel's story.
When the psalmist wrote these words, he wasn't just being poetic. He was likely echoing a profound moment where God Himself described His character.
A Familiar Declaration
This verse is almost identical to a declaration God made to Moses in Exodus 34:6-7, right after the people had sinned by making the golden calf. Imagine the scene: Israel had failed miserably, yet God, instead of immediate judgment, chose to reveal His merciful heart.
By repeating these phrases, the psalmist is reminding us that God's character is unchanging. His grace and mercy aren't just for a select few or a specific moment; they are eternal and foundational to His relationship with humanity.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The personal name of the covenant-keeping God of Israel (Yahweh), emphasizing His self-existence and relationship with His people.
channun · Hebrew Adjective
An attitude of favor, kindness, and compassion toward those who are undeserving. It is a central expression of God’s disposition toward His creation.
rachum · Hebrew Adjective
Deep, compassionate sympathy that moves one to action, often associated with the womb or motherly care. It describes God’s tender affection toward His creatures.
erek appayim · Hebrew Phrase/Adjective
A state of patient restraint in withholding immediate judgment or wrath. It highlights God's long-suffering desire for repentance.
chesed · Hebrew Noun
The covenantal, unfailing, and loyal love of God. It encompasses His persistent commitment to His people, rooted in His promise and character.
racham · Hebrew Noun
The active, tangible compassion and pity that God shows toward the world. It is the practical outworking of His love for what He has created.
This verse directly echoes God's self-revelation to Moses at Sinai (Exodus 34:6-7), a foundational moment for Israel's understanding of His covenant faithfulness. The psalm's author draws on this ancient declaration, applying it to the ongoing experience of God's people, even during times of hardship.
~1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites escape slavery in Egypt, marking a pivotal moment of God's intervention and power. This event is foundational to their understanding of God's character.
c. 1446 BC
Giving of the Ten Commandments
At Mount Sinai, God reveals His Law and His character to Moses and the Israelites, including the famous declaration of His grace and mercy.
c. 1400-1000 BC
Period of the Judges
A tumultuous era in Israel's history marked by cycles of disobedience, oppression, and deliverance, highlighting God's patience and faithfulness despite human failing.
c. 1000 BC
Reign of King David
David, a key figure in Israel's history and a prolific psalmist, experiences God's faithfulness firsthand. Many Psalms reflect his personal relationship with God and understanding of His attributes.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
Composition of Psalm 145
Likely during David's reign, this psalm is an acrostic poem celebrating God's greatness and goodness. It draws heavily on the foundational revelation at Sinai.
c. 586 BC
Babylonian Exile
The destruction of Jerusalem and the temple leads to the exile of many Israelites. This period tests their faith and understanding of God's promises and character.
This is the foundational passage where God reveals Himself to Moses, describing Himself with these very same attributes of graciousness, mercy, slowness to anger, and abundant steadfast love, setting the standard for understanding His character.
Nehemiah 9:17This passage echoes the description from Exodus, showing how the Israelites recalled God's character during a time of repentance, highlighting that His graciousness and mercy are central to His identity throughout history.
Joel 2:13In the context of judgment and a call to repentance, the prophet Joel urges the people to return to God, reminding them of His compassionate nature – 'gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love' – demonstrating that these attributes are the basis for hope.
Ephesians 2:4-5The Apostle Paul directly connects God's 'great love' and His 'rich mercy' to our salvation, showing how His graciousness, even towards those who were dead in sin, is the source of our new life in Christ.
bensonPsalms 145:8: "The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy."
Psalm 145:8-13 . The Lord is gracious, &c. — See notes on Exodus 34:6-7 ; and Numbers 14:18 . The Lord is good to all — Not only to Israel, but to all mankind, whose hearts he fills with food and gladness, as is said Acts 14:17 ; yea, to all his creatures, to beasts as well as men. All thy works praise thee — They give men and angels just occasion to praise thee; for they set forth thy glory, and ma…
pulpitPsalms 145:8: "The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy."
Verse 8. - The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. Professor Cheyne compares the epithets in a Babylonian hymn to the sun-god; but a closer parallel is to be found in Exodus 34:6, 7, "The Lord God is merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, and transgression, and sin" (see also…
The verse lists attributes of God using familiar language from Exodus, but notice the order: "gracious and merciful" come before "slow to anger." This highlights that God's overflowing kindness and compassion are His default setting, not just reactions to our repentance. His eagerness to forgive is the primary truth, not His reluctance to punish.
This psalm is a majestic outpouring of praise from David, moving from a declaration of his personal commitment to extolling God’s greatness to envisioning a universal song of adoration. He begins by focusing on God’s character, particularly His abundant love and justice, leading into the profound truth of verse 8 which echoes God’s self-revelation in Exodus. The verses that follow expand on this, showing how God’s goodness extends to all His creation and how His saints are uniquely positioned to bless Him and declare His glorious, everlasting kingdom.
This psalm is a majestic outpouring of praise from David, moving from a declaration of his personal commitment to extolling God’s greatness to envisioning a universal song of adoration. He begins by focusing on God’s character, particularly His abundant love and justice, leading into the profound truth of verse 8 which echoes God’s self-revelation in Exodus. The verses that follow expand on this, showing how God’s goodness extends to all His creation and how His saints are uniquely positioned to bless Him and declare His glorious, everlasting kingdom.
"The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made." — The verse lists attributes of God using familiar language from Exodus, but notice the order: "gracious and merciful" come before "slow to anger." This highlights that God's overflowing kindness and…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
