Bible Strands
Psalms 118:1
Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — A corporate voice in temple liturgy; the imperative "give thanks" and the immediate follow-up in verse 2 ("Let Israel say") mark this as a congregational refrain, likely tied to Passover or a temple festival.
The words — חֶסֶד (chesed) carries the weight: covenant loyalty, not generic affection. Paired with עוֹלָם ('olam), "forever," it forms a fixed formula asserting that God's faithfulness is not episodic but permanent.
The thread — The identical formula appears in 1 Chronicles 16:34, Psalms 106:1, and Psalms 107:1, marking it as a stock liturgical refrain across the Psalter and the temple liturgy.
Why it lands — The verse is an imperative, not a statement; it places the reader in the position of one who owes a response, not one who merely observes a fact about God.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 16:34 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.
- Psalms 107:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.
- Psalms 106:1 Hallelujah! Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.
- Jeremiah 33:11 the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those bringing thank offerings into the house of the LORD, saying: ‘Give thanks to the LORD of Hosts, for the LORD is good; His loving devotion endures forever.’ For I will restore the land from captivity as in former times, says the LORD.
- Psalms 118:29 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.
- 1 Chronicles 16:8 “Give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the nations.
- Psalms 103:17 But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the LORD extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children’s children—
- Psalms 136:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His loving devotion endures forever.
- Psalms 100:5 For the LORD is good, and His loving devotion endures forever; His faithfulness continues to all generations.