Home/Topics/Thanksgiving

What the Bible Says About Thanksgiving

Overview

The Bible addresses thanksgiving across 93 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Psalms, 1 Chronicles and Romans. Closely related themes include Praise, Thankfulness, Commandments and Music. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus, David, Hezekiah and Daniel.

Key Bible verses about thanksgiving

Old Testament

1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 16:4

And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel:

1 Chronicles 16:7

Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.

1 Chronicles 23:30

And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even;

1 Chronicles 29:6

Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king's work, offered willingly,

1 Chronicles 29:7

And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.

1 Chronicles 29:8

And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the LORD, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.

1 Chronicles 29:9

Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

1 Chronicles 29:10

Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.

1 Chronicles 29:11

Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.

1 Chronicles 29:12

Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

1 Chronicles 29:13

Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

1 Chronicles 29:14

But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. be able: Heb. retain, or, obtain strength of thine: Heb. of thine hand

2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 5:12

Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:)

2 Chronicles 5:13

It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;

2 Chronicles 31:2

And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.

Psalms

Psalms 18:49

Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. give: or, confess

Psalms 30:4

Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. at: or, to the memorial

Psalms 30:12

To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. my glory: that is, my tongue, or, my soul

Psalms 35:18

I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people. much: Heb. strong

Psalms 50:14

Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:

Psalms 69:30

I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Psalms 75:1

To the chief Musician, Altaschith, A Psalm or Song of Asaph. Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare. Altaschith: or, Destroy not of: or, for

Psalms 92:1

A Psalm or Song for the sabbath day. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:

Psalms 95:2

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. come: Heb. prevent his face

Psalms 97:12

Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. at: or, to the memorial

Psalms 100:4

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Psalms 105:1

O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.

Psalms 106:1

Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Praise: Heb. Hallelujah

Psalms 107:1

O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalms 116:17

I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.

Psalms 136:1

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

Psalms 136:2

O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalms 136:3

O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

New Testament

Romans

Romans 1:8

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Romans 1:21

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Romans 6:17

But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. which: Gr. whereto ye were delivered

Romans 7:23

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Romans 7:24

O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? the body: or, this body of death

Romans 7:25

I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Romans 14:6

He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. regardeth: or, observeth

Romans 14:7

For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

Colossians

Colossians 1:3

We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

Colossians 1:4

Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,

Colossians 1:5

For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

Colossians 1:6

Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

Colossians 2:7

Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Colossians 3:15

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Colossians 3:17

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Colossians 4:2

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

People in the Bible and thanksgiving

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying thanksgiving for yourself

  • Begin with 1 Chronicles 16:4, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how Psalms, 1 Chronicles and Romans each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of Jesus, David and Hezekiah and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Praise, Thankfulness, Commandments and Music.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about thanksgiving?

The Bible addresses thanksgiving across 93 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Psalms, 1 Chronicles and Romans. Closely related themes include Praise, Thankfulness, Commandments and Music. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus, David, Hezekiah and Daniel.

How many Bible verses are about thanksgiving?

The Bible references thanksgiving in 93 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention thanksgiving?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is 1 Chronicles 16:4: “And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel:”

Which people in the Bible are associated with thanksgiving?

Jesus, David, Hezekiah, Daniel and Paul.

Preach & teach

Outline a sermon or build a study series on thanksgiving.

Preach a series on Thanksgiving