1 Chronicles 16:8 kjv
Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.
1 Chronicles 16:8 nkjv
Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!
1 Chronicles 16:8 niv
Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
1 Chronicles 16:8 esv
Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!
1 Chronicles 16:8 nlt
Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness.
Let the whole world know what he has done.
1 Chronicles 16 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 105:1 | Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds... | Direct parallel, emphasis on thanksgiving. |
| Ps 106:1 | Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good... | Call to gratitude for God's goodness. |
| Ps 96:3 | Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples! | Direct parallel, worldwide proclamation. |
| Isa 12:4 | And in that day you will say: "Give thanks to the LORD... proclaim his name; make known... among the peoples his deeds." | Prophetic parallel, universal declaration. |
| Phil 4:6 | Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. | Thanksgiving in prayer. |
| Col 3:17 | 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. | Thanksgiving as a way of life. |
| 1 Thess 5:18 | Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. | Continual thanksgiving. |
| Rom 10:13 | For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” | Calling on His Name for salvation. |
| Acts 2:21 | And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. | Invoking God for salvation. |
| Gen 12:8 | From there he moved to the hill country east of Bethel... built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD. | Early example of calling on God's name. |
| Exod 34:5-7 | The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. | God revealing His Name/character. |
| Deut 4:9 | Make them known to your children and your children's children. | Command to pass on God's deeds. |
| Ps 77:11 | I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. | Recalling God's acts. |
| Ps 145:4 | One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. | Passing on knowledge of God's deeds. |
| Isa 43:10 | "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen... so that you may know and believe me... | Witnessing to God's character and acts. |
| Mt 28:19-20 | Go therefore and make disciples of all nations... | Proclamation to all nations (Great Commission). |
| Acts 1:8 | ...and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. | Global scope of witness. |
| Eph 1:3 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ... | Thanksgiving for spiritual blessings. |
| Rev 15:3-4 | Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways... Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? | Praising God's deeds in Revelation. |
| John 14:13 | Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. | Significance of calling in His Name (Jesus). |
| Rom 1:8 | First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. | Spreading of faith/deeds. |
| Jer 33:9 | It will be to me a name of joy, praise, and glory before all the nations... | God's renown among nations. |
1 Chronicles 16 verses
1 Chronicles 16 8 Meaning
1 Chronicles 16:8 is a divinely inspired exhortation delivered through King David as part of a psalm of thanksgiving. It presents a tripartite command to God's people: to express profound gratitude to the LORD, to invoke and acknowledge His divine essence by calling upon His sacred Name, and to proactively broadcast His mighty and salvific acts to all nations. This verse sets forth a fundamental blueprint for both personal and communal worship, connecting adoration directly with the worldwide proclamation of God’s glory and deeds. It highlights that worship is not merely inward piety but also outward witness.
1 Chronicles 16 8 Context
1 Chronicles 16:8 is part of a grand psalm of thanksgiving and praise delivered by King David on the momentous occasion of bringing the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem and setting it in the tent he had prepared for it (1 Chron 16:1-7). This event marked the centralization of worship and God's presence in Jerusalem, signifying a pivotal moment in Israel's history and its covenant relationship with Yahweh. The psalm itself (1 Chron 16:8-36) is a compilation, drawing heavily from parts of Psalm 105 (vv. 1-15), Psalm 96 (vv. 1-13), and Psalm 106 (v. 1). David designates specific Levites to minister before the Ark, to invoke, thank, and praise the LORD (1 Chron 16:4). This verse thus outlines the very nature of the worship that David established: it is expressive, public, and expansive. Historically, this declaration set a standard for Israel's worship, shifting the focus towards a more dynamic and proclamation-oriented praise, reminding them of their identity and mission in light of God's mighty acts.
1 Chronicles 16 8 Word analysis
- Oh give thanks (יָדוּ, yadu): From the Hebrew root yadah, meaning "to confess," "praise," "laud," "give thanks." It's an active, volitional acknowledgment of God's goodness and favor, often accompanied by stretching out the hands. It implies a public and joyful declaration of gratitude, recognizing the Giver for His nature and His acts.
- to the LORD (לַֽיהוָה, laYHWH): Refers to the Tetragrammaton, YHWH (Yahweh), the ineffable and personal covenant name of God, revealing His self-existent, faithful, and redemptive character. Giving thanks "to" Him indicates direct address and focus of the praise.
- call upon His name (קִרְאוּ בִשְׁמוֹ, qir'u vishmo):
- qir'u: From qara', "to call," "cry out," "proclaim." It implies invoking, appealing to, and making public declaration of.
- vishmo: "in/by His name." To call upon God's name means to appeal to His character, His revealed nature, His authority, and His very being. It is an act of acknowledging who He is, placing trust in Him, and seeking His intervention based on His identity. It’s an intimate yet powerful recognition of God's authority and availability.
- make known (הוֹדִיעוּ, hodi'u): A Hiphil (causative) imperative of yada', meaning "to know." Thus, "cause to know," "make understood," "declare," "proclaim." It's a command to actively disseminate information about God. This goes beyond personal knowledge to active instruction and evangelism.
- His deeds (בַּֽעֲלִילֹתָיו, ba'alilotav): From alilah, meaning "deeds," "doings," "works," "exploits," often referring to acts of power, judgment, or redemption. Here, it specifically denotes God's powerful interventions in history, particularly His miraculous acts on behalf of Israel (e.g., Exodus, conquest of Canaan). It points to observable, historical evidence of God's sovereignty and faithfulness.
- among the peoples (בָּֽעַמִּים, ba'ammim): Refers to am, "people" or "nation," often used in the plural to mean "the nations" or "Gentiles." This phrase explicitly broadens the scope of the proclamation beyond Israel to all humanity. It highlights the missional mandate of God's people: their worship and witness should have a universal reach, not confined to their own community.
1 Chronicles 16 8 Bonus section
The positioning of this psalm in 1 Chronicles immediately after the Ark's relocation signifies David's foundational emphasis on right worship as core to Israel's identity and future. This initial part of the psalm serves as a daily exhortation for the appointed Levites (1 Chron 16:4), indicating that these acts of thanksgiving, invoking God's name, and proclaiming His deeds were to be a continuous, unwavering part of Israel's national worship life. The repetition of this verse (or similar versions) in the Psalms (Ps 105:1 and echoes in Ps 96:3, Isa 12:4) underlines its timeless significance and God's consistent desire for His people to manifest gratitude, depend on His revealed nature, and share His wondrous works globally. This threefold command provides a spiritual rhythm: internal praise leading to active reliance, which then fuels outward proclamation, completing the cycle of worship.
1 Chronicles 16 8 Commentary
1 Chronicles 16:8 encapsulates a fundamental divine summons to Israel, which remains profoundly relevant for all believers today. It is not merely an option but a commanded response to the revelation of God. "Give thanks to the LORD" stresses that gratitude is the bedrock of genuine worship, a foundational posture acknowledging God's inherent goodness and specific benefactions. This is to be directed "to the LORD," implying personal address and devotion to the living God, YHWH.
The phrase "call upon His name" bridges the gap between reverence and personal intimacy. It signifies a profound reliance on God's character and power, inviting His presence and intervention based on His revealed identity. This is both an act of worship and a reliance for salvation and guidance. The final command, "make known His deeds among the peoples," elevates worship beyond an inward experience or a communal ceremony to an outward, missional imperative. It signifies that God's acts, His wonders and interventions, are not private history but universal testimonies meant for global declaration. This includes sharing His power in creation, His justice, His faithfulness, and His salvation. This mandate is implicitly polemic, challenging the polytheism and false deities of surrounding nations by proclaiming the unique and active power of the One True God. This is an early and powerful articulation of a missional heartbeat within God's people, a truth amplified in the New Testament with the Great Commission.