1Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
2Give thanks to the God of gods, for his loving kindness endures forever.
3Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his loving kindness endures forever;
4to him who alone does great wonders, for his loving kindness endures forever;
5to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his loving kindness endures forever;
6to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his loving kindness endures forever;
7to him who made the great lights, for his loving kindness endures forever;
8the sun to rule by day, for his loving kindness endures forever;
9the moon and stars to rule by night, for his loving kindness endures forever;
10to him who struck down the Egyptian firstborn, for his loving kindness endures forever;
11and brought out Israel from among them, for his loving kindness endures forever;
12with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, for his loving kindness endures forever;
13to him who divided the Red Sea apart, for his loving kindness endures forever;
14and made Israel to pass through the middle of it, for his loving kindness endures forever;
15but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, for his loving kindness endures forever;
16to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his loving kindness endures forever;
17to him who struck great kings, for his loving kindness endures forever;
18and killed mighty kings, for his loving kindness endures forever;
19Sihon king of the Amorites, for his loving kindness endures forever;
20Og king of Bashan, for his loving kindness endures forever;
21and gave their land as an inheritance, for his loving kindness endures forever;
22even a heritage to Israel his servant, for his loving kindness endures forever;
23who remembered us in our low estate, for his loving kindness endures forever;
24and has delivered us from our adversaries, for his loving kindness endures forever;
25who gives food to every creature, for his loving kindness endures forever.
26Oh give thanks to the God of heaven, for his loving kindness endures forever.
Psalm 136 is a liturgical hymn of thanksgiving that celebrates God's enduring love through creation and Israel's history. The psalm's distinctive structure features the refrain 'for his loving kindness endures forever' repeated after each line, creating a responsive worship format. It systematically recounts God's mighty acts from creation through Israel's deliverance from Egypt and conquest of the Promised Land, emphasizing that divine love is the constant thread throughout all of history.
Context
This psalm follows the ascent songs (Psalms 120-134) and continues the thanksgiving theme found in Psalm 135, serving as a communal worship piece emphasizing God's covenant faithfulness.
Key Themes
Outline
A liturgical psalm celebrating God's enduring loving kindness through creation and Israel's deliverance from Egypt. Each verse concludes with the refrain 'for his loving kindness endures forever.'
person_contrast
Sihon, typically mentioned in conquest narratives, appears here uniquely embedded within a creation hymn, linking Israel's military victories to God's cosmic ordering power.
Psalms 136:1
2 Chronicles 5:13lexicalwhen the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when t…
Psalms 107:1lexicalGive thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
Psalms 106:1lexicalPraise the LORD! Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
1 Chronicles 16:41lexicaland with them Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who were chosen, who were mentioned by name, to give thanks to the LORD, b…
Psalms 118:29lexicalOh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
Psalms 136:2
2 Chronicles 20:21lexicalWhen he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and give praise in holy array…
2 Chronicles 7:3lexicalAll the children of Israel looked on, when the fire came down, and the LORD’s glory was on the house. They bowed themsel…
1 Chronicles 16:34lexicalOh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
Psalms 118:1lexicalGive thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
2 Chronicles 7:6lexicalThe priests stood, according to their positions; the Levites also with instruments of music of the LORD, which David the…
Psalms 136:3
2 Chronicles 7:6lexicalThe priests stood, according to their positions; the Levites also with instruments of music of the LORD, which David the…
Ezra 3:11lexicalThey sang to one another in praising and giving thanks to the LORD, “For he is good, for his loving kindness endures for…
Psalms 106:1lexicalPraise the LORD! Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
2 Chronicles 5:13lexicalwhen the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when t…
Psalms 107:1lexicalGive thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
Psalms 136:9
Genesis 1:16lexicalGod made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made t…
Jeremiah 31:35lexicalThe LORD, who gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, wh…
Psalms 136:12
Deuteronomy 26:8lexicalThe LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, with great terror, with signs, and with w…
1 Kings 8:42lexical(for they shall hear of your great name and of your mighty hand and of your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays t…
Ezekiel 20:33lexicalAs I live,” says the Lord GOD, “surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, I will b…
Ezekiel 20:34lexicalI will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries in which you are scattered with a mighty…
Deuteronomy 5:15lexicalYou shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out of there by a mig…
Psalms 136:15
Exodus 15:4lexicalHe has cast Pharaoh’s chariots and his army into the sea. His chosen captains are sunk in the Red Sea.
Psalms 106:7lexicalOur fathers didn’t understand your wonders in Egypt. They didn’t remember the multitude of your loving kindnesses, but w…
Deuteronomy 11:4lexicaland what he did to the army of Egypt, to their horses, and to their chariots; how he made the water of the Red Sea to ov…
Psalms 136:26
Daniel 9:4lexicalI prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said, “Oh, Lord, the great and dreadful God, who keeps covenant an…
2 Chronicles 7:6lexicalThe priests stood, according to their positions; the Levites also with instruments of music of the LORD, which David the…
Ezra 3:11lexicalThey sang to one another in praising and giving thanks to the LORD, “For he is good, for his loving kindness endures for…
2 Chronicles 5:13lexicalwhen the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when t…
Psalms 107:1lexicalGive thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
Word-by-word original language
Places and events in this chapter
Israel's miraculous deliverance from Egyptian slavery under Moses' leadership, including the ten plagues and Red Sea crossing. This foundational event established Israel as God's chosen nation.
The psalm celebrates God's enduring loving kindness through Israel's deliverance from Egyptian bondage.
God's Work in Creation and in HistoryGod's creation of the universe, earth, and all life in six days as recorded in Genesis. This foundational event establishes God's sovereignty and humanity's special role as image-bearers.
The psalm praises God's enduring loving kindness displayed in His work of creation.
God's Work in Creation and in History