Bible Commentaries
Psalms 136

Introduction

Psalms 136:0

STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see “Guide to Good Bible Reading”)

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph

2. Second paragraph

3. Etc.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

A. As “bless” (BDB 138, KB 159, Piel imperatives) opened and closed Psalms 135:0, “give thanks” (BDB 392, KB 389, Hiphil imperatives) opens and closes Psalms 136:0.

B. The liturgical repetitive pattern is obvious in the Psalm. The rabbis call it “the Great Hallel.” The Priest would pronounce the first line of each verse and the worshipers the second in refrain.

C. The structure/theology is

1. YHWH Himself is characterized

2. YHWH's acts of deliverance are highlighted

3. Israel is called on to praise their national God, the only God

D. The Psalm is the parallel to Psalms 135:0.

Verses 1-9

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 136:1-9 1Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. 2Give thanks to the God of gods, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. 3Give thanks to the Lord of lords, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. 4To Him who alone does great wonders, For His lovingkindness is everlasting; 5To Him who made the heavens with skill, For His lovingkindness is everlasting; 6To Him who spread out the earth above the waters, For His lovingkindness is everlasting; 7To Him who made the great lights, For His lovingkindness is everlasting: 8The sun to rule by day, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, 9The moon and stars to rule by night, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Psalms 136:1 “‘Give thanks” the verb (BDB 392, KB 389) basically means “to throw” or “cast.” In the Hiphil it is used of

1. thanksgiving by singing liturgical phrases

2. confessing (cf. Leviticus 5:5; Proverbs 28:13)

The AB suggests that there was a physical gesture connected to the act of thanksgiving which is the reason this seemingly unconnected root was used.

▣ “for He is good” The first strophe (Psalms 136:1-9) describes YHWH's person and acts of creation.

1. He is good (cf. 1 Chronicles 16:34; Psalms 106:1; Psalms 107:1; Psalms 118:1, Psalms 118:29; Psalms 136:1; Jeremiah 33:11)

2. He is over all gods (cf. Deuteronomy 10:17, see SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM)

3. He is the creator of this planet, Psalms 136:4-9 (cf. Genesis 1:0, see Special Topic: Wonderful Things for Psalms 136:4a)

▣ “For His lovingkindness is everlasting” This is a recurrent affirmation of YHWH's mercy and eternality (repeated in every verse).

For the term “lovingkindness” see Special Topic: Lovingkindness (hesed). For the term “everlasting” see Special Topic: Forever ('olam).

Notice the different ways the significant covenant term hesed (BDB 338) is translated.

1. NASB - “lovingkindness”

2. NKJV, LXX - “mercy”

3. NRSV, JPSOA - “steadfast love”

4. TEV, REB - “love”

5. NJB - “faithful love”

6. NAB - “God's love”

7. NET Bible - “loyal love”

I think the best way to describe this term is “YHWH's unconditional, loyal, covenant love.” It is theologically analogous to the NT agapç.

Psalms 136:4 “who alone” This is an affirmation of monotheism, Israel's uniqueness in the ANE (cf. Psalms 72:18; Isaiah 44:24; see SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM).

▣ “great wonders” The LXX omits the adjective. The UBS Text Project (p. 417) is divided over which one to accept, the MT or LXX. “Great” does appear with the term “wonders” in Deuteronomy 6:22.

Psalms 136:5

NASB“with skill” NKJV, TEV“by wisdom” NRSV“by understanding” NJB, REB“in wisdom” JPSOA“with wisdom”

The feminine noun (BDB 108) is used in Proverbs 8:1 for God's first creation which He used to create all things. Some other passages where this is used are Job 26:12; Proverbs 3:19; Proverbs 24:3; Jeremiah 10:12.

The concept is parallel to “spoke” in Genesis 1:0. It refers to God's creative activities.

The NT asserts that Jesus was God's agent in creation (cf. John 1:3, John 1:10; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2). Notice how the first three verses of the Bible involve the Trinity (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TRINITY).

1. Elohim (God), Genesis 1:1

2. Ruah (Spirit), Genesis 1:2

3. God/Jesus said, Genesis 1:3, Genesis 1:6, Genesis 1:9, Genesis 1:14

Psalms 136:6 “spread out” This verb (BDB 955, KB 1291) is used of God shaping the “dome” of atmosphere over the earth (cf. Job 37:18; Isaiah 42:5; Isaiah 44:24, see SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN).

The UBS Handbook says this verb refers to YHWH establishing dry land on the waters (cf. Psalms 24:2). This is surely possible.

Psalms 136:7-9 The mentioning of God's creation of the lights in the sky was a Hebrew way of rejecting astral worship. This theological imagery is similar to the plagues of Egypt (cf. Exodus 8-11) rejecting the animal deities of Egypt. YHWH, and He alone, is God! There is no other (see SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM). Note “who alone” (BDB 94 II) in Psalms 136:4a.

Verses 10-22

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 136:10-22 10To Him who smote the Egyptians in their firstborn, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, 11And brought Israel out from their midst, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, 12With a strong hand and an outstretched arm, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. 13To Him who divided the Red Sea asunder, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, 14And made Israel pass through the midst of it, For His lovingkindness is everlasting; 15But He overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. 16To Him who led His people through the wilderness, For His lovingkindness is everlasting; 17To Him who smote great kings, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, 18And slew mighty kings, For His lovingkindness is everlasting: 19Sihon, king of the Amorites, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, 20And Og, king of Bashan, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, 21And gave their land as a heritage, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, 22Even a heritage to Israel His servant, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Psalms 136:10-22 As Psalms 136:1-9 describes the God of creation (i.e., Elohim, cf. Genesis 1:0); Psalms 136:10-22 describes the God of deliverance/OT salvation (i.e., YHWH, though not mentioned, but implied, see SPECIAL TOPIC: SALVATION (OLD TESTAMENT TERM) [OT]).

1. the promised exodus from Egypt (cf. Genesis 15:12-15)

a. plagues

b. dividing the Red/Reed Sea (see Special Topic: Red Sea)

2. the promised conquest of Canaan (cf. Genesis 15:16-21)

Psalms 136:12 “With a strong hand and outstretched arm” This anthropomorphic imagery (see Special Topic: God Described As Human) is common in the OT (cf. Exodus 13:3, Exodus 13:9; Exodus 6:1; Deuteronomy 3:24; Deuteronomy 4:34; Deuteronomy 5:15; Deuteronomy 6:21; Deuteronomy 7:19; Deuteronomy 26:8; 1 Kings 8:42; Nehemiah 1:10; Psalms 44:3; Psalms 77:15; Jeremiah 32:21). See Special Topic: Hand.

Psalms 136:13 The same words are used in Exodus 14:27 describing the Egyptian army's destruction at the Red/Reed Sea.

Psalms 136:21-22 “heritage. . .heritage” This noun (BDB 635) is imagery drawn from Israel's unique place as YHWH's special choice (cf. note at Psalms 135:4).

1. He gave them Canaan to fulfill His promise to Abraham (cf. Genesis 15:12-21). This is stated again and again in Deuteronomy (cf. Deuteronomy 4:21; Deuteronomy 15:4; Deuteronomy 19:10; Deuteronomy 20:16; 21:28; Deuteronomy 24:4; Deuteronomy 25:19; Deuteronomy 26:1).

2. He gave each tribe of Israel their own land allotment (cf. Joshua 13-19).

3. Israel was YHWH's special inheritance of all the nations (cf. Deuteronomy 4:20; Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 9:26, Deuteronomy 9:29; Deuteronomy 32:9; 1 Kings 8:51; Psalms 28:9; Psalms 33:12; Psalms 78:62, Psalms 78:71; Psalms 94:5, Psalms 94:14; Psalms 106:40).

Verses 23-26

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 136:23-26 23Who remembered us in our low estate, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, 24And has rescued us from our adversaries, For His lovingkindness is everlasting; 25Who gives food to all flesh, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. 26Give thanks to the God of heaven, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Psalms 136:23-26 This strophe functions as a summery of YHWH's great acts toward Israel as well as His acts as sustainer of all human life (cf. Psalms 104:27-30; Psalms 145:15; Matthew 5:45; Acts 14:17). This combines the connotation of the titles

1. Elohim - Creator, Provider, sustainer

2. YHWH - Savior, Deliverer, Covenant-making God

See SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY.

Psalms 136:23 “in our low estate” It is uncertain if this refers to

1. period of the Judges

2. slavery in Egypt

3. exile in Mesopotamia

Psalms 136:26 “God of heaven” This was later a Zoroastrian title for God, so common in the post-exilic period. The Jews often took the descriptive phrases and titles of pagan gods and foreign rulers to describe YHWH.

Heaven is plural, as so many Hebrew words are to denote greatness. The rabbis often discussed how many levels of heaven are mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. See Special Topic: The Heavens and the Third Heaven.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.

1. What does “YHWH is good” mean?

2. Why is “lovingkindness” such an important theological term?

3. Does Psalms 136:1-4 clearly express monotheism?

4. What event does Psalms 136:6 refer to?

5. Why are the sun, moon, and stars mentioned as creations of YHWH?

6. Where is the Red Sea?

7. Where in Genesis is the conquest prophesied?

8. To what characteristic of God does Psalms 136:25 refer?