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Psalm 117 · a question people ask

What does "his loving kindness is great toward us" (117:2) mean?

In the text

Is great is gavar (tap great). Brown-Driver-Briggs gives it as "be strong, mighty", and "prevail"; Strong's, "to be strong; by implication, to prevail". Toward us is the small word al with us on the end. Psalm 103 has the same verb, the same his loving kindness and the same al: "so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him" (Psalm 103:11). Genesis has the verb and al of the flood: "The waters flooded the earth one hundred fifty days" (Genesis 7:24), where flooded is gavar and the earth comes after al. Psalm 65's notes set other uses of the verb side by side (Psalm 65:3). Psalm 117 says no more about how the loving kindness is great toward us, and these notes add nothing to it.

The verses

“For his loving kindness is great toward us. The LORD’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the LORD!”
Psalm 117:2 · World English Bible
“For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him.”
Psalm 103:11 · World English Bible
“The waters flooded the earth one hundred fifty days.”
Genesis 7:24 · World English Bible
“Sins overwhelmed me, but you atoned for our transgressions.”
Psalm 65:3 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 117

Psalm 117: Praise the LORD, all you nations

Psalm 117 calls "all you nations" and "all you peoples" to praise the LORD (117:1), and its reason is his loving kindness "toward us" (117:2). Its Hebrew word for peoples comes only three times in the Hebrew Bible. Paul quotes its call in Romans 15:11, after saying Christ became a servant "that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy" (Romans 15:9).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions