Psalms — Chapter 136

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1Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His loving devotion endures forever.

2Give thanks to the God of gods. His loving devotion endures forever.

3Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His loving devotion endures forever.

4He alone does great wonders. His loving devotion endures forever.

5By His insight He made the heavens. His loving devotion endures forever.

6He spread out the earth upon the waters. His loving devotion endures forever.

7He made the great lights—His loving devotion endures forever.

8the sun to rule the day, His loving devotion endures forever.

9the moon and stars to govern the night. His loving devotion endures forever.

10He struck down the firstborn of Egypt His loving devotion endures forever.

11and brought Israel out from among them His loving devotion endures forever.

12with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. His loving devotion endures forever.

13He divided the Red Sea in two His loving devotion endures forever.

14and led Israel through the midst, His loving devotion endures forever.

15but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea. His loving devotion endures forever.

16He led His people through the wilderness. His loving devotion endures forever.

17He struck down great kings His loving devotion endures forever.

18and slaughtered mighty kings—His loving devotion endures forever.

19Sihon king of the Amorites His loving devotion endures forever.

20and Og king of Bashan—His loving devotion endures forever.

21and He gave their land as an inheritance, His loving devotion endures forever.

22a heritage to His servant Israel. His loving devotion endures forever.

23He remembered us in our low estate His loving devotion endures forever.

24and freed us from our enemies. His loving devotion endures forever.

25He gives food to every creature. His loving devotion endures forever.

26Give thanks to the God of heaven! His loving devotion endures forever.

1O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.

3O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

4To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.

5To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

6To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.

7To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:

8The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:

9The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

10To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:

11And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:

12With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.

13To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:

14And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:

15But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.

16To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.

17To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

18And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

19Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:

20And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:

21And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:

22Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.

23Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:

24And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.

25Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.

26O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

1Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.

2Oh give thanks unto the God of gods; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.

3Oh give thanks unto the Lord of lords; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:

4To him who alone doeth great wonders; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:

5To him that by understanding made the heavens; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:

6To him that spread forth the earth above the waters; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:

7To him that made great lights; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:

8The sun to rule by day; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;

9The moon and stars to rule by night; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:

10To him that smote Egypt in their first-born; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;

11And brought out Israel from among them; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;

12With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:

13To him that divided the Red Sea in sunder; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;

14And made Israel to pass through the midst of it; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;

15But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:

16To him that led his people through the wilderness; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:

17To him that smote great kings; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;

18And slew famous kings; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:

19Sihon king of the Amorites; For his lovingkindness [endureth] forever;

20And Og king of Bashan; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;

21And gave their land for a heritage; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;

22Even a heritage unto Israel his servant; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:

23Who remembered us in our low estate; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;

24And hath delivered us from our adversaries; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:

25Who giveth food to all flesh; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.

26Oh give thanks unto the God of heaven; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever. Psalm 137

1Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his loyal love endures.

2Give thanks to the God of gods, for his loyal love endures.

3Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his loyal love endures.

4To the one who performs magnificent, amazing deeds all by himself, for his loyal love endures.

5To the one who used wisdom to make the heavens, for his loyal love endures.

6To the one who spread out the earth over the water, for his loyal love endures.

7To the one who made the great lights, for his loyal love endures,

8the sun to rule by day, for his loyal love endures,

9the moon and stars to rule by night, for his loyal love endures.

10To the one who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his loyal love endures,

11and led Israel out from their midst, for his loyal love endures,

12with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his loyal love endures.

13To the one who divided the Red Sea in two, for his loyal love endures,

14and led Israel through its midst, for his loyal love endures,

15and tossed Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea, for his loyal love endures.

16To the one who led his people through the wilderness, for his loyal love endures.

17To the one who struck down great kings, for his loyal love endures,

18and killed powerful kings, for his loyal love endures,

19Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his loyal love endures,

20Og, king of Bashan, for his loyal love endures,

21and gave their land as an inheritance, for his loyal love endures,

22as an inheritance to Israel his servant, for his loyal love endures.

23To the one who remembered us when we were down, for his loyal love endures,

24and snatched us away from our enemies, for his loyal love endures.

25To the one who gives food to all living things, for his loyal love endures.

26Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his loyal love endures!

1Give thanks to Yahweh, 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.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Articles
Reflection

Summary

Known as the Great Hallel, this psalm is a litany of thanksgiving in which every verse ends with the refrain "his steadfast love endures forever." It moves through God's greatness as creator of the heavens, sun, moon, and stars (vv. 1-9), his mighty acts in the exodus — striking Egypt's firstborn, parting the Red Sea, and drowning Pharaoh's army (vv. 10-15) — his guidance of Israel through the wilderness and defeat of the kings Sihon and Og to give them the land (vv. 16-22), and his continued remembrance of his people in their weakness, providing food for all creatures (vv. 23-26).

Authorship & Background

Author: Multiple authors — primarily David (73 psalms attributed), plus Asaph (12), Sons of Korah (11), Solomon (2), Moses (1), Heman (1), Ethan (1), and anonymous. The Psalter was compiled over approximately 1000 years and served as Israel's hymnal and prayer book. The book is divided into five 'books' (1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150), paralleling the five books of Moses.
Classification: Historical Hymn / Responsive Liturgical Psalm (The Great Hallel)
Attributed Author: Anonymous (known as "The Great Hallel" in Jewish tradition)
Key Themes: God's mercy (hesed) enduring forever — repeated 26 times, God as Creator, God as Redeemer from Egypt, God as Provider, the connection between mercy and every divine act
Historical Context: Psalm 136 is unique in the Psalter — every single verse (all 26) ends with the same refrain: "for his mercy endureth for ever" (Hebrew: "ki le-olam hasdo"). This was sung antiphonally: a leader sang the first half, and the congregation responded with the refrain. It was sung at temple dedications (2 Chr 7:3), before battles (2 Chr 20:21), and at Passover. Known in Jewish tradition as "The Great Hallel," it surveys all of salvation history — creation (vv.4-9), Exodus (vv.10-22), and ongoing providence (vv.23-25) — declaring that God's hesed (covenant love/mercy) underlies every act. The relentless repetition is not laziness but theology: mercy is not occasional but constant in everything God does.
The God of Gods, the Lord of Lords (vv.1-3): O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. The second half of every one of the twenty-six verses is the same line, which makes this the most obviously antiphonal psalm in the psalter: a leader sang the first half and the congregation answered. Jewish tradition calls it the Great Hallel. The three opening titles climb, the LORD, the God of gods, the Lord of lords, and the refrain attaches the same reason to each.
To Him That by Wisdom Made the Heavens (vv.4-9): To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. The creation is run through in the order of Genesis 1 and each step is given the same reason, which is the psalm's real argument: the heavens, the earth above the waters, the great lights, the sun to rule by day, the moon and stars to rule by night. Ordinary cosmology is being called an act of covenant kindness, which no other creation psalm quite says.
With a Strong Hand, and with a Stretched Out Arm (vv.10-22): To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever. Thirteen verses on the exodus and the conquest, and the refrain does not pause for the difficult ones. But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever. The psalm applies the word hesed to the drowning of an army and to the killing of Sihon and Og, and it does so deliberately; a reader who finds that hard is reading it correctly. What the psalm means by it is that these acts delivered a people who could not deliver themselves, which is stated at the end of the run, and gave their land for an heritage, even an heritage unto Israel his servant.
Who Remembered Us in Our Low Estate (vv.23-26): Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever. The psalm leaves ancient history and changes to the first person plural, which suggests it was still being sung about troubles a long way after the exodus. Then the widest statement in it, who giveth food to all flesh, where all flesh takes in animals and foreigners alike, so the covenant kindness of the refrain is finally said of everything that eats. O give thanks unto the God of heaven.

Map & Geography

  • Egypt (v.10): Land to the southwest; place of Israel's bondage and exodus.
  • Red Sea (v.13, v.15): Body of water Israel crossed during the Exodus.
  • Bashan (v.20): Fertile region east of the Sea of Galilee.

Places on this map

  • EgyptEgyptA ribbon of irrigated land along the Nile, ending in the Delta where Israel settled in Goshen. Rain-fed Canaan depended on weather; Egypt depended on a river that flooded on schedule, which made it the place everyone went when the harvest failed. Wikipedia
  • Red SeaEgypt, Sudan, Saudi ArabiaThe Hebrew yam suph, sea of reeds, covers the Red Sea proper and its two northern arms, the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba, along with the marshy lakes between. Which of them Israel crossed is debated; the northern route is the usual reconstruction. Wikipedia
  • BashanGolan and Hauran, SyriaThe volcanic tableland north-east of the Sea of Galilee, deep in basalt soil and famous for cattle and oak. The bulls of Bashan in the Psalms are a compliment to the pasture before they are an insult to anyone. Wikipedia
  • Sea of GalileeLake Kinneret, IsraelA freshwater lake 13 miles by 8, sunk 700 feet below sea level in a bowl of hills. Cold air spilling over the rim onto warm water is what produces the sudden violent squalls the Gospels keep describing. Wikipedia

Towns sit on their excavated or traditional site. Regions, rivers and seas are ringed rather than dotted, because for those a single point is only an anchor. Coastlines from Natural Earth.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Verse-by-verse commentary on this chapter, written for the everyday reader and freely available online.
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

Psalms 135-136 | His Love Endures Forever | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

Psalm 136 - God’s Never-Ending Mercy
David Guzik

Articles

  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of Psalms -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • Mercy in Every Single Act (vv.1-3) — The psalm opens by calling worshipers to give thanks because God's steadfast love endures forever, a refrain that repeats through all 26 verses. Do you see God's mercy as occasional, or as the constant thread running through everything He does?
  • Mercy Woven Into Creation (vv.4-9) — Even the sun, moon, and stars are framed not just as acts of power but as expressions of enduring mercy. Can you look at the ordinary world around you today and see God's steadfast love in it, not just His power?
  • Mercy in Deliverance From Egypt (vv.10-22) — The psalm recounts the plagues, the parting of the sea, and the defeat of kings, all attributed to the same unending mercy. What deliverance in your own life deserves specific, repeated thanksgiving instead of a quick, generic "thanks God"?
  • Mercy That Remembers the Lowly (vv.23-26) — The psalm closes by praising God for remembering His people in their low estate and giving food to all flesh. Do you trust that God's mercy for you doesn't run out even in your lowest, most ordinary moments?