Psalm 136

[Jonni]

Hi, Could someone please explain to me why Psalm 136 v2 says "Give thanks to the God of Gods. I thought there is only one God.

Thanks in advance.

 

[kkollwitz]

Not: “Give thanks to the God of Gods”

But “Give thanks to the God of gods”

And “O give thanks to the Lord of lords”

Not “O give thanks to the Lord of Lords”

 

[Jonni]

Thanks kkollwitz. Does the capitals make a difference?

 

[Bezant]

Thanks kkollwitz. Does the capitals make a difference?

I think he has a fair point, but the capitalisation makes a difference in English, not in Hebrew.

 

[Bezant]

Hi, Could someone please explain to me why Psalm 136 v2 says "Give thanks to the God of Gods. I thought there is only one God.

Thanks in advance.

You’ll find many similar verses throughout the Bible, implying the existence of other gods.

“You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3

“Yet you have abandoned me and served other gods. So I will not rescue you anymore.” Judges 10:13

“And against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment.” Exodus 12:12

Most nations in the ancient world had its gods, or borrowed gods from other nations. Insofar as the reality that everyone had their own god, the God of Israel is–even if he is a real god, even if he’s a stronger god–another god among the gods of the Babylonians, the Egyptians, the Amorites, etc. Like the Exodus story, Psalm 136 affirms God’s kingship and power other peoples (Egypt, Bashan, the Amorites), and implicitly, over their allegiance to those gods, who should have been able to protect them.

It’s actually a very interesting question with scholars, what “monotheism” really means and what its boundaries are, and where the early Israelites’ beliefs fit into those boundaries.

 

[kkollwitz]

I think he has a fair point, but the capitalisation makes a difference in English, not in Hebrew.

Yes. I’m deferring to translators in this respect.

 

[Todd_Easton]

The word “gods” is used to refer to entities with uncommon power or authority, including angels and demons (idols), as well as human kings, princes, judges, and other civil and military and religious officials.