1
Give thanksהוֹדוּto YHWH,לַיהוָהforכִּיhe is good,טוֹבforכִּיhis loyal loveחַסְדּוֹis forever.לְעוֹלָם
Psalms 136:1
Study it in the app“Give thanks to YHWH, for he is good, for his loyal love is forever.”
A litany repeats in every line: his steadfast love is foreverFaithfulnessA song that repeats that his steadfast love is foreverLoveA choir of thanks where every verse ends the same: his loyal love is foreverJoy and thanks
With the Hebrew beneath
Psalms 136:1, word by word
- Give thanksהוֹדוּhodu
give thanks
To thank YHWH and praise him aloud for what he did.
Where else “hodu” appears- to YHWHיהוָהyhva
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.
Where else “yhva” appears- he is goodטוֹבtov
good
What is as it should be and gives delight: sound, useful, beautiful or valuable.
Where else “tov” appears- his loyal loveחַסְדּchasd
loyal love
God's steadfast kindness, true to his covenant, never forsaking.
Where else “chasd” appears- is foreverעוֹלָםolam
forever
Time without end, beyond what a lifetime can see.
Where else “olam” appears
Translation note
Every verse of this psalm ends with the same refrain, which the people probably answered with one voice.
The context
1 · This verse (above)
2Give thanks to the Elohim of the gods, for his loyal love is forever.