Psalms 136:1–9

In its context

Its words in the original

• הוֹדוּhodu· praise, give thanks; confess

  In one form of the verb, praise, give thanks. In another, confess: acknowledge sins or the name of God aloud. Its root sense is to throw.

• יהוָהyhva· YHWH

  The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

• טוֹבtov· good

  Good in the widest sense: pleasant, beautiful, useful, right, of good quality. As a noun, "good", "good things", "well-being".

• עוֹלָםolam· forever, eternal

  A very long time whose end cannot be seen: looking forward, "forever"; looking back, "of old", "ancient".

• חַסְדּchasd· loyal love

  "Chesed": love that stays faithful to a commitment. It is kindness that does not remain a feeling: it acts in favor of the other and does not abandon him. The Bible says it above all of God's love for his people.

• אלֹהֵיlohe· Elohim, God, gods

  The Hebrew word usually translated "God". This translation keeps "Elohim" when it speaks of the one true God, the Creator, the God of Israel. The word ends like a plural, but it does not mean several: for him the verb is singular ("Elohim created"); the plural form expresses greatness. The same word as a common noun names the "gods" of other peoples, and there it is a true plural, translated "gods". It is also used of mighty ones or judges.

• אֲדֹנֵיadone· lord, master

  Lord: one who has authority over another (an owner, a husband, a superior). It is also a polite form, "my lord". Said of God, "the Lord".

• עֹשֵׂהose· do, make

  Do, make, in the widest sense: build, produce, carry out, keep (a command), prepare.

• נִפְלָאוֹתniflaot· be wonderful, too hard

  Be extraordinary, beyond what one can do; be wonderful. "Is anything too hard for YHWH?"

• גְּדֹלוֹתgedolot· great

  Great in size, number, age or importance; also "the elder" of two; "high priest" is "great priest".

• בַדּvad· alone, apart; pole

  Alone, apart; "besides". The same word (in another sense) means "pole", like the ones for carrying the ark, or a branch.

• שָּׁמַיִםshamayim· heavens, sky

  The heavens: what is above, where the clouds, the sun and the stars are seen; also the dwelling of God. In Hebrew it is always plural. With birds, "the sky".

• תְבוּנָהtevuna· understanding

  Understanding: the ability to understand and to find the right way.

• רֹקַעroka· beat out

  Beat a metal with blows to spread it into sheets; spread out; also stamp the feet.

• אָרֶץarets· earth, land

  The earth, in two senses: the whole world in contrast with the heavens, or a particular country or region ("the land of Egypt").

• מָּיִםmayim· water

  Water. In Hebrew it is always plural ("waters").

• אוֹרִיםorim· light

  Light: daylight, the light of a lamp or of the heavenly bodies. Figuratively, life, joy or well-being.

• שֶּׁמֶשׁshemesh· sun

  Sun.

• מֶמְשֶׁלֶתmemshelet· dominion

  Dominion, rule: the power to govern something and the realm where it is used.

• יּוֹםyom· day

  Day: the hours of light, or a whole day from one evening to the next. Also an indefinite time or age ("in the day that...", "in those days").

• יָּרֵחַyareach· moon

  Moon.

• כוֹכָבִיםchochavim· star

  Star.

• לָּיְלָהlayla· night

  Night.