What is the meaning of “from everlasting to everlasting” (Psalm 41:13)?

Answer  
  

When King David wrote Psalm 41, he was experiencing one of the lowest points in his life. Yet he was able to conclude his prayer for mercy with blessings and praise to God: “Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen” (Psalm 41:13\). David acknowledged that His God—the God of Israel—was an eternal God. All that God is, including His blessedness, exists from everlasting to everlasting.  
  

Depending on its context, the word translated “everlasting” (*ôlām* in Hebrew) in Psalm 41:13 means both “eternity past” and “unending time going on into the future; forever.” God is worthy to receive praise from eternity past, now, and forever after. Ever since the beginning of time and until the future with no end, God was, is, and ever shall be blessed. A similar refrain is found in 1 Chronicles 16:36: “Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said ‘Amen’ and ‘Praise the LORD’” (see also Psalm 106:48\). The apostle Paul said In Romans 9:5, “He is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen” (NLT).  
  

Scripture repeatedly affirms the [eternality of God](eternal-God.html): “Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God” (Psalm 90:2\). God’s “throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting,” states Psalm 93:2 (ESV). In the book of Nehemiah, the Levites call the people to “stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting” (Nehemiah 9:5\).  
  

The prophet Isaiah identifies God as “Everlasting Father” (Isaiah 9:6\). In Jeremiah 10:10, He is “the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King” (ESV). From Genesis to Revelation, He is the “Everlasting God” who lives and “reigns forever and ever” (Genesis 21:33; Revelation 10:6; 11:15\).  
  

Everything that God is exists from everlasting to everlasting. His name and His renown are eternal (Psalm 135:13\). We have the assurance in Psalm 103:17 that “from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children.” His great love and faithfulness endure forever (Psalm 117:2; 1 Chronicles 16:34\). “He stood and measured the earth; he looked and shook the nations; then the eternal mountains were scattered; the everlasting hills sank low. His were the everlasting ways,” states Habakkuk 3:6 (ESV). Even God’s Word exists from everlasting to everlasting (Psalm 119:89; John 1:1\).  
  

Nothing came before God, and nothing will ever come after Him (Proverbs 8:23\). “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary” (Isaiah 40:28\). He is “the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13, NLT; see also Revelation 21:6\). He is “the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One” (Revelation 1:8, NLT). His “kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,” and His “dominion endures through all generations” (Psalm 145:13\).  
  

Since Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, is God Himself, He possesses the exact nature as God the Father (Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:23; Colossians 2:9\). There is “no beginning or end to his life,” and He is our priest forever (Hebrews 7:3, NLT). The eternal nature of our Lord—the fact that our Savior and [Advocate](Jesus-Advocate.html) exists from everlasting to everlasting—underscores the security we have in Him.  
  

“When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation” (Proverbs 10:25, NLT). David could praise the Lord in his darkest hour because he trusted in his “eternal Rock” (Isaiah 26:4\). And we who have built our lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ can rest securely in His everlasting arms (Matthew 7:24–27; Isaiah 28:16; Ephesians 2:20; Deuteronomy 33:27\).  
  

