Mercy or Love?

By Ted Mock

July 8, 2026

Psalm 136:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.  

Does one word change make all that much of a difference, does it really matter that much?

That is a fair question to ask, and when it comes to Scripture, it is a very important one.  It is estimated that around five to six and a half million people out of the world’s total population of eight billion, speak Hebrew as their first or native language. The revival of Hebrew as a spoken, not just a written tongue began in 1881 by Eliezer Ben-Yehuda whose household became the first to speak exclusively in Modern Hebrew. It is fair to say that when we read Psalms, most of us are reading a translation.

In this Psalm the word “mercy” is translated from the Hebrew word, “Kheh’-sed.”  The word is multifaceted. It conveys lovingkindness, mercy, loyalty, faithfulness, and a covenant relationship.  It occurs 248 times in the Bible. The KJV translates it 149 times as mercy, 40 times as lovingkindness, 30 times as goodness, 12 times as kindly, 5 times as merciful, 4 times as favor, 1 time each as pity, reproach, wicked thing.

Many of the  modern versions translates it as “love.”  The NIV version replaces mercy with love over 120 times and every time in this chapter. Love is a powerful word, but mercy is greater because it forgives even when justice demands a guilty verdict. If I am in a courtroom facing a judge, he may love me and still find me guilty. I would much rather stand before a judge who would show me mercy instead.

“Love” instead of “mercy” is a poor translation.  It implies that God loves me and no matter what I have done, therefore, there is no need to beg for mercy.

Reflection—Rather may we pray with the publican in Luke chapter 18, “God be merciful to me a sinner.”