What Does Psalm 107:15 Mean in the King James?
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
What English calls “goodness” is chesed, faithful love, and praise answers that love made visible in wonders.
THE MEANING
Your praise rises from recognizing the LORD’s faithful love and the wondrous acts through which it becomes visible. The verse places the children of Adam, the human family, among those who encounter these wonders.
THE ROOT
חַסְדּוֹ
chasdo
GROWS FROM
ח־ס־ד
ḥ-s-d
Faithful, loyal love expressed through steadfast care.
The word carries more than a general quality of goodness: it names love that stays true and acts. Here that faithful love is a reason for praise, alongside the wonders themselves.
ALSO GROWS
chasid: A faithful or devoted person.
חָסִיד
The same root describes someone characterized by the steadfastness named in chesed.
chasadim: Acts of faithful love.
חֲסָדִים
The plural form shows this love taking shape in deeds, echoing the wonders named in the verse.
נִפְלְאוֹתָיו
nifla’otav
GROWS FROM
פ־ל־א
p-l-ʾ
To be extraordinary, wondrous, beyond the ordinary.
“wonderful works” in this verse is nifla’otav. The Hebrew calls these deeds wonders: acts that exceed the ordinary. Beside chesed, wonder is not detached spectacle; it is faithful love made visible.
ALSO GROWS
pele: A wonder or marvel.
פֶּלֶא
This noun shares the root and gives the deeds their quality of wonder.
nifla’ot: Wonders, extraordinary deeds.
נִפְלָאוֹת
This is the plural form at the heart of the verse’s phrase, naming the acts as wonders.
THE PATTERN
People answer God’s wondrous acts and faithful love with praise.
Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.THE THREAD
O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.The Hebrew word behind “mercy” here is chesed, the same root rendered “goodness” in Psalm 107:15. The connection opens both verses around one idea: faithful love endures and becomes a reason for thanks.
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