Psalms 107:1

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 107:1 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “O give thanks unto Jehovah; For he is good; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

O give thanks unto Jehovah; For he is good; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.
Psalms 107:1 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 107

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1O give thanks unto Jehovah; For he is good; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“O give thanks unto the Lord, etc.] As all men should do, at all times and for all things; the psalm begins as the former does, and gives the same reasons for thanksgiving. For he is good; and does good, and is the author of all good. For his mercy endureth for ever; and men in every age are partakers of it.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The writer complains of his virulent enemies, on whom he imprecates God's righteous punishment, and to a prayer for a divine interposition in his behalf appends the expression of his confidence and a promise of his praises. This Psalm is remarkable for the number and severity of its imprecations. Its evident typical character (compare Psa 109:8) justifies the explanation of these already given, that as the language of David respecting his own enemies, or those of Christ, it has respect not to the penitent, but to the impenitent and implacable foes of good men, and of God and His cause, whose inevitable fate is thus indicated by inspired authority. (Psa. 109:1-31) God of my praise--its…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good - See the notes at Psalms 106:1. For his mercy endureth for ever - He is unchanging in his mercy. It is an attribute of his very nature. He is constantly manifesting it. The word rendered “mercy” here, however - חסד chesed - is more general in its signification than our word “mercy.” Our word means “favor shown to the guilty;” the Hebrew word means kindness, goodness, benignity in general. It is this which is celebrated in the psalm before us. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“Ps 107 This psalm is a hymn of praise to God the Redeemer. After an introduction exhorting the redeemed to praise God for his goodness (107:1-3), the psalmist brings together four case studies of people whom the Lord redeemed from adversity (107:4-32). He then sums up the Lord’s sovereignty (107:33-42) and concludes with an invitation to discern God’s unfailing love in all areas of life (107:43).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“am 3468, bc 536 (Title), The author of this Psalm is unknown; but it was evidently written to commemorate the return of the Jews from the Babylonian captivity; and it may easily be perceived that it must have been sung in alternate parts, having a double burden, or two intercalary verses often recurring. Bp. Lowth considers it as written "after the method of the ancient pastorals, where, be the subject of their verse what it will, each swain endeavours to excel the other; and one may perceive their thoughts and expressions gradually to rise upon each other." "No doubt," he adds, "the composition of this Psalm is admirable throughout; and the descriptive part of it adds at least its share of…”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The introit, with the call upon them to grateful praise, is addressed to the returned exiles. The Psalm carries the marks of its deutero-Isaianic character on the very front of it, viz.: "the redeemed of Jahve," taken from Isa 62:12, cf. Psa 63:4; Psa 35:9.; קבּץ as in Isa 56:8, and frequently; "from the north and from the sea," as in Isa 49:12 : "the sea" (ים) here (as perhaps there also), side by side with east, west, and north, is the south, or rather (since ים is an established usus loquendi for the west) the south-west, viz., the southern portion of the Mediterranean washing the shores of Egypt. With this the poet associates the thought of the exiles of Egypt, as with וּממּערב the…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification