Bible Strands
Psalms 136:1
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 assembly opens a liturgical recitation, calling the people to respond. It is the general summons before the specific historical confessions that follow from verse 3 onward.
The words — חֶסֶד (chesed) carries the verse; its literal sense is covenant loyalty, not general affection. The BSB's "loving devotion" softens what is a binding obligation on God's part.
The thread — The same formula appears in 1 Chronicles 16:34 and Psalms 118:1, marking it as a fixed liturgical refrain rather than a one-off statement.
Why it lands — It is an imperative: the reader is not invited to admire a truth but to perform an act. The verse places the person on the side of the one who owes a response.
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: for 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 118:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.
- 1 Chronicles 16:41 With them were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the LORD, for “His loving devotion endures forever.”
- Psalms 106:1 Hallelujah! 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.
- 2 Chronicles 20:21 Then Jehoshaphat consulted with the people and appointed those who would sing to the LORD and praise the splendor of His holiness. As they went out before the army, they were singing: “Give thanks to the LORD, for His loving devotion endures forever.”
- Ezra 3:11 And they sang responsively with praise and thanksgiving to the LORD: “For He is good; for His loving devotion to Israel endures forever.” Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD had been laid.
- 2 Chronicles 7:3 When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD: “For He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.”
- Luke 1:50 His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
- 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.