26 Thanksgiving Bible Verses

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 107:1 ESV

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

Psalm 107:1 KJV

The reason given for thanks is not a good harvest or a good year but the character of God: he is good, and his steadfast love (the KJV says mercy) endures forever. The psalm goes on to describe people lost in desert wastes, prisoners in darkness, the sick, and sailors caught in a storm, each crying out and being rescued. Thanksgiving here belongs to people who have been in trouble, not only to people who have stayed out of it.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Psalm 136:1 ESV

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

Psalm 136:1 KJV

Psalm 136 retells creation and Israel's rescue from Egypt, and after each statement comes the same answer about God's steadfast love enduring forever. The repetition can look odd on a page, but it reads like something meant to be said aloud, perhaps with one voice leading and others responding, though that is a reading. Gratitude is practised here as recital: naming one specific thing after another and attaching each to the same unchanging love.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

James 1:17 ESV

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

James 1:17 KJV

James traces every good and perfect gift back to one source, the Father of lights, in whom there is no shifting or changing shadow. Earlier in the chapter he insists that God tempts no one, so the contrast is pointed: evil does not come from God, and good does not come from anywhere else. Thanksgiving is the habit of following a good thing upstream until you reach the one who gave it.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Psalm 103:1-5 ESV

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Psalm 103:1-5 KJV

The psalmist speaks to the soul within, telling it to bless the LORD and not forget his benefits. Gratitude is treated as an act of memory, and memory needs instructing. The list of benefits is personal: forgiveness, healing, rescue from the pit, steadfast love and mercy, being satisfied with good things. On a day when thankfulness will not come by itself, this is a model of talking yourself back to what is true.

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

2 Corinthians 9:15 ESV

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

2 Corinthians 9:15 KJV

Paul has been urging the Corinthians to give generously to believers in Jerusalem, and here he turns to thanks to God for a gift too great to describe; the KJV calls it unspeakable. He does not name the gift, and many readers take it to be Christ himself. Read that way, all the human generosity he has been asking for becomes a small echo of a far larger giving, which is a reason to give and to be grateful.

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Romans 1:21 ESV

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 1:21 KJV

Paul's account of how human beings drift from God includes a phrase that is easy to pass over: they knew God, yet did not honour him as God or give him thanks. Ingratitude stands beside the refusal to honour him, and what follows is futile thinking and a darkened heart. Gratitude is not treated as good manners here. Its absence is part of how people lose their way, which suggests its practice is part of how they find it again.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 100:4-5 ESV

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalm 100:4-5 KJV

The picture is of worshippers approaching the temple, entering its gates with thanksgiving and its courts with praise. Thanks is the way in. The reason is stated plainly: the LORD is good, his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness continues through all generations. That last phrase widens the frame beyond one person's mood on one day, to a faithfulness that has outlasted many lifetimes of good years and bad ones.

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

Psalm 95:2 ESV

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

Psalm 95:2 KJV

An invitation to come into God's presence with thanksgiving and to make a joyful noise in song. Later the same psalm turns sober, warning against hardening the heart as the people did in the wilderness. Read together, the invitation and the warning suggest that a thankful heart and a hardened one are opposites, and that gratitude is one of the ways a heart stays soft and responsive toward God.

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 ESV

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 KJV

Paul tells his readers to bring every request to God, and to bring it with thanksgiving. The thanks accompanies the asking; it does not wait for the answer. That changes the posture of prayer. A request made alongside thanks remembers what God has already done while asking him for more, and the peace promised afterward guards the heart and mind whether or not the answer has arrived yet.

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Colossians 4:2 ESV

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

Colossians 4:2 KJV

Paul asks for prayer that is steadfast, watchful and thankful. Watchful is an alert word, the opposite of drifting off. Gratitude seems to be part of what keeps prayer awake: a person looking for what God is doing is more likely to notice it, and someone who notices it is more likely to keep praying. It is a small instruction that changes what you are looking for when you pray.

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 9:1 ESV

I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

Psalm 9:1 KJV

Thanks here is wholehearted and specific. The psalmist does not only feel grateful but resolves to recount God's wonderful deeds, telling them over one by one. Vague gratitude fades quickly. Naming particulars, the call that came, the meal that was shared, the morning you did not expect to feel well, gives thankfulness something to hold, and gives anyone listening a reason to thank God too.

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

Hebrews 13:15 ESV

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Hebrews 13:15 KJV

Writing to readers who knew the language of temple sacrifice, the writer describes the offering believers still bring: a continual sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips. The KJV describes those lips as giving thanks to God's name; the ESV, as acknowledging it. Either way, thanks is spoken, not only felt. The passage pairs it with doing good and sharing what you have, so gratitude kept in words alone is not the whole offering.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 KJV

Rejoice, pray, give thanks, and the scope keeps widening: always, without ceasing, in every circumstance. The preposition matters. Paul asks for thanks in every circumstance, not for every circumstance. No one is told to be grateful for a betrayal or a diagnosis. The call is to find, inside even those, something God is still giving, and to say so. Paul names this as God's will in Christ Jesus, a plainer answer than people searching for God's will often expect.

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk 3:17-18 ESV

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk 3:17-18 KJV

Habakkuk imagines every source of food and livelihood failing: no blossom on the fig tree, no fruit on the vine, failed olives, empty fields, an empty fold and an empty stall. Yet he resolves to rejoice in the LORD and take joy in the God of his salvation. Earlier in the same book he complains to God about violence and injustice. This joy is not naive. It belongs to someone who has argued with God and kept talking to him.

And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

Job 1:21 ESV

And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Job 1:21 KJV

Having lost his children and his livelihood, Job falls to the ground and blesses the name of the LORD who gave and who has taken away. It is a startling response, and it should not be made into the only acceptable one. The same book records Job's long and bitter laments, and God later says that Job, unlike his friends, has spoken rightly of him. Blessing God and grieving honestly sit in the same book, in the same person.

When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

Daniel 6:10 ESV

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

Daniel 6:10 KJV

Daniel learns that a decree has been signed forbidding prayer to anyone but the king. He goes home, kneels by windows open toward Jerusalem, and prays and gives thanks to God, as he had done before. The detail worth noticing is the thanks. Facing a threat to his life, Daniel does not drop gratitude and keep only petition. His thanksgiving was a habit already in place, and perhaps that is why it held when the pressure arrived.

But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the LORD!”

Jonah 2:9 ESV

But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.

Jonah 2:9 KJV

Jonah is still inside the great fish when he promises to sacrifice to God with a voice of thanksgiving and declares that salvation belongs to the LORD. He has not yet been set on dry land. His prayer thanks God for bringing him up from drowning in the deep while he is still in a strange and frightening place. Gratitude here comes before the situation is resolved, not only after it.

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

Psalm 30:11-12 ESV

Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; 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.

Psalm 30:11-12 KJV

Mourning turned into dancing, sackcloth exchanged for gladness, and a resolve to give thanks to God forever. Elsewhere in the psalm the writer admits that weeping can last through the night before joy comes with the morning. Thanksgiving here remembers how dark it was. It is not the gratitude of someone who has never mourned, but of someone who has, and who does not want the rescue to pass in silence.

Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Luke 17:15-18 ESV

And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

Luke 17:15-18 KJV

Ten men with leprosy are healed on their way to show themselves to the priests, as Jesus told them. One turns back, praising God loudly and falling at Jesus' feet to thank him, and Luke notes that he was a Samaritan. Jesus asks where the other nine are. They were doing what he had said, which makes the question sharper: obedience was not the same thing as coming back to say thank you.

Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.

John 6:11 ESV

And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

John 6:11 KJV

Before a vast crowd is fed, Jesus takes a boy's five barley loaves and two fish and gives thanks for them. The disciples have already pointed out how little this is for so many people. Jesus thanks God for what is actually in his hands, before anyone can see that it will be enough. Thanksgiving over what looks insufficient is one of the quieter lessons in a famous story, and a useful one in a lean season.

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Luke 22:19 ESV

And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Luke 22:19 KJV

At the Passover meal, with his betrayal close at hand, Jesus takes bread, gives thanks, breaks it and gives it to his disciples as his body given for them. The Greek word for giving thanks, eucharisteo, is where many churches get the name Eucharist. Jesus gives thanks on the night of his own suffering, over bread that would stand for it. Gratitude, in his hands, was not reserved for easy evenings.

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Colossians 2:6-7 ESV

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Colossians 2:6-7 KJV

Paul describes the Christian life as rooted like a tree and built up like a building, established in the faith, and then adds that it should be abounding, overflowing, in thanksgiving. Gratitude is pictured as what spills over from a life grounded in Christ rather than an extra duty stacked on top. Where thanks has dried up, these verses suggest looking at the roots before trying to force the fruit.

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:15-17 ESV

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 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 3:15-17 KJV

Peace ruling the heart, the word of Christ dwelling richly, singing together, and then everything done, in word or deed, in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to the Father through him. Thankfulness keeps returning across these verses, and the scope is total: whatever you do. Gratitude is not confined to worship services or holidays. Washing up, commuting, answering messages and caring for someone can all be done with thanks.

giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Ephesians 5:20 ESV

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Ephesians 5:20 KJV

Paul links giving thanks always, and for everything, with being filled with the Spirit and singing to the Lord together. For everything is a hard phrase in a painful year. It is worth reading beside 1 Thessalonians 5, which asks for thanks in every circumstance, and beside Scripture's many laments. A reasonable reading is that nothing in a believer's life falls outside God's reach, rather than that every evil is to be called good.

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

1 Timothy 4:4-5 ESV

For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

1 Timothy 4:4-5 KJV

Paul is answering teachers who forbade marriage and demanded abstinence from certain foods. His reply is that everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected when it is received with thanksgiving, made holy by the word of God and prayer. This is one place the old practice of saying grace before a meal finds its footing. An ordinary gift is set apart when it is received as a gift and thanked for.

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,

Hebrews 12:28 ESV

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

Hebrews 12:28 KJV

After describing a shaking of earth and heaven that removes whatever can be shaken, the writer says believers are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken. The ESV renders the response as gratitude; the KJV as having grace. The Greek phrase can carry either sense, and both lead to worship offered with reverence and awe. When much in life feels unstable, gratitude has something unmovable to rest on.