Bible Strands
Psalms 72:18
Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The psalmist or assembly speaks this as the doxological close of a royal psalm, addressing God directly after a long prayer for the king's reign. It redirects the psalm's focus from the human ruler to Yahweh.
The words — לְבַדּֽוֹ (lĕ·ḇaḏ·dōw), "alone" or "by himself," is the operative qualifier: the verb "does wonders" (עֹשֵׂה נִפְלָאוֹת) is common in Hebrew poetry, but the exclusivity is what the verse hinges on.
The thread — The "blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel" formula recurs as a psalm-closer in Psalms 41:13 and 106:48. The "alone" doing wonders echoes Exodus 15:11, where the Song of the Sea asks who among the gods is like Yahweh in performing wonders.
Why it lands — It asks the reader to notice that a psalm built around a king's glory ends by stripping that glory back to a single agent. The "alone" is a quiet correction: the wonders the king enacts are not his.
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
Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.
Cross-references
- Psalms 41:13 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.
- Psalms 106:48 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, “Amen!” Hallelujah!
- Exodus 15:11 Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders?
- 1 Chronicles 29:10 Then David blessed the LORD in the sight of all the assembly and said: “May You be blessed, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.
- Psalms 86:10 For You are great and perform wonders; You alone are God.
- Psalms 136:4 He alone does great wonders. His loving devotion endures forever.
- Psalms 77:14 You are the God who works wonders; You display Your strength among the peoples.
- Job 5:9 the One who does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.
- Psalms 68:35 O God, You are awesome in Your sanctuary; the God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!
- 1 Chronicles 29:20 Then David said to the whole assembly, “Bless the LORD your God.” So the whole assembly blessed the LORD, the God of their fathers. They bowed down and paid homage to the LORD and to the king.