What Does Psalm 145:9 Mean in the King James?
The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
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
The Hebrew word for “tender mercies” shares its root with “womb,” giving God’s care for all his works a bodily tenderness.
THE MEANING
The LORD’s goodness reaches all, and his compassion rests over everything he makes. No part of creation lies outside the care this verse describes.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It loosens the belief that God’s compassion is reserved only for those who have proved worthy.
THE ROOT
רַחֲמָיו
rachamav
GROWS FROM
רחם
To show compassion or tender care; this root is associated with the womb.
English makes “tender mercies” sound like an abstract quality. The Hebrew root also appears in the word for womb, linking compassion with intimate, life-holding care that the verse places over all God’s works.
ALSO GROWS
rechem: Womb
רֶחֶם
This branch reveals the bodily tenderness associated with the root behind “tender mercies.”
rachum: Compassionate
רַחוּם
This adjective describes the quality of care named in the verse: compassion extending over God’s works.
THE PATTERN
God’s goodness appears as generous provision that reaches beyond the deserving.
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.THE THREAD
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.The Hebrew word translated “have compassion” comes from the same רחם root as “tender mercies” here. Isaiah brings the root’s association with the womb into view, while this psalm speaks of that compassion resting over all God’s works.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us