Psalm 100 4

Psalm 100:4 kjv

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

Psalm 100:4 nkjv

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Psalm 100:4 niv

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

Psalm 100:4 esv

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Psalm 100:4 nlt

Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.

Psalm 100 verses

Psalm 100 4 Meaning

Psalm 100:4 is a command to approach the Lord with specific acts of worship: entering His presence through thanksgiving and praise. It articulates a progressive journey from the outer limits ("gates") to closer proximity ("courts"), each stage marked by distinct expressions of worship. The verse calls for an intentional, heartfelt acknowledgement of God's goodness and character, shifting from the specific acts of "thanksgiving" and "praise" to the direct injunctions "be thankful" and "bless His name," thereby emphasizing both the attitude and the active declaration of worship.

Psalm 100 4 Context

Psalm 100 is a call to all the earth to worship the Lord, presented as a universal doxology. It is distinctively short, yet packed with commands for joyful and intentional worship. As a "Psalm of Thanksgiving" (mizmor l'todah), it directly pertains to temple worship practices in ancient Israel, likely used during the offering of the Todah (thanksgiving) sacrifice, or for general congregational worship at the Jerusalem Temple. The gates and courts mentioned in verse 4 are literal references to the physical layout of the Temple complex. Historically, the gates provided entry points into the Temple precincts, leading to the various courts where worshippers gathered and offerings were presented. This psalm contrasts Israel's God with the empty idols of surrounding nations, calling for worship rooted in the knowledge of God's character and creative power (vv. 3, 5), not just ritualistic performance. It speaks to a communal and joyous worship, emphasizing the goodness and enduring faithfulness of God as the primary motivation.

Psalm 100 4 Word analysis

• Enter (בֹּאוּ - bo'u): A verb in the imperative, commanding an action of "coming in" or "going into." It implies an intentional approach, not a passive drift. In a Temple context, it signifies a deliberate journey into God's consecrated space, moving from the secular world into the sacred.
• His gates (שְׁעָרָיו - sha'arav): Refers to the physical entrance points of the Temple complex or a city, often representing access, authority, and public assembly. Spiritually, it signifies the initial access point to God's presence, requiring a conscious decision to cross a threshold into sacred space.
• with thanksgiving (בְּתוֹדָה - b'todah): "Thanksgiving" (todah) signifies an expression of gratitude, often a confession, praise, or acknowledgement of benefits received. In ancient Israel, a Todah offering was a specific peace offering given out of gratitude, accompanied by public testimony of God's deliverance or goodness (Lev 7:12-15). It’s not just a feeling, but a declared action, an overflow of the heart.
• and into His courts (חֲצֵרֹתָיו - chatserotav): "Courts" (chatserot) refers to the open enclosures within the Temple precincts, such as the Court of the Israelites or the Court of the Priests. These were closer to the altar and sanctuary. Spiritually, it represents a deeper level of proximity to God's presence, moving beyond the initial entry.
• with praise (בִּתְהִלָּה - bit'hillah): "Praise" (tehillah) denotes hymns, songs of exaltation, or declarations of God's character, power, and mighty acts. It speaks of glorifying God for who He is. It often suggests a vocal, audible expression of worship, sometimes involving music or shouting.
• be thankful (הוֹדוּ - hodu): From the root yadah, meaning "to laud, to confess, to give thanks." It is an imperative, directly commanding the action of giving thanks. It encompasses acknowledging God openly, confessing His attributes, and extending a hand in worship (as the root word can also relate to the hand).
• unto Him (ל֫וֹ - lo): A pronoun emphasizing that the thanks and blessings are directed solely and intentionally to the Lord. It ensures the focus remains on the proper object of worship.
• and bless (בָּרְכוּ - barchu): An imperative from the root barak, meaning "to kneel" and by extension "to bless, to praise, to salute." To bless God means to speak well of Him, to acknowledge His supreme goodness, honor His holiness, and submit to His sovereignty. It's an act of adoration and reverence.
• His name (שְׁמוֹ - shemo): "Name" (shem) in Hebrew culture encapsulates one's entire identity, character, reputation, authority, and presence. To bless God's name is to honor all that He is—His being, attributes, and works—rather than just a verbal label.

Words-group analysis:

• "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving": This phrase marks the initial stage of approaching God. Thanksgiving is the prerequisite attitude and expression for crossing the threshold into His sacred presence. It acknowledges the benefits received from God and serves as a key to open the doors to communion with Him. It is about gratitude making way for access.
• "and into His courts with praise": This phrase describes moving deeper into God's presence. While thanksgiving recounts what God has done, praise (tehillah) focuses on who God is. It signifies a move from gratitude for actions to adoration for attributes, bringing worshippers into a closer, more intimate communal worship experience.
• "be thankful unto Him": This repeats and intensifies the call for thanksgiving, turning it into a direct personal injunction. It is not just about bringing a thank offering, but cultivating a lifestyle of gratitude and public acknowledgment directed specifically toward God.
• "and bless His name": This complements being thankful, encapsulating profound reverence and adoration for God's very being. Blessing His name means acknowledging and declaring His inherent worth and all-encompassing glory, acknowledging that all goodness and authority reside in Him. This completes the worshipper's approach by directing heartfelt reverence to God's entire being and character.

Psalm 100 4 Bonus section

The repetitive nature of "thanksgiving" and "praise" highlights their critical importance, signifying that these are not just incidental parts of worship but its very foundation. The use of different Hebrew terms for these concepts (e.g., todah for "thanksgiving" as a noun, yadah for "be thankful" as a verb, tehillah for "praise," barak for "bless") illustrates the richness and varied expressions of Israelite worship. The verse functions as an invitation to conscious engagement, implying that worshippers do not just wander in but deliberately enter with the right disposition. It suggests that our entry into the sacred is conditioned not by merit but by humble gratitude and heartfelt adoration, recognizing God's sovereign goodness and inviting a reciprocal experience of His presence and grace.

Psalm 100 4 Commentary

Psalm 100:4 provides a practical blueprint for entering into God's presence, transitioning from outward proximity to inward adoration. It posits thanksgiving as the proper initial posture for approaching God’s "gates," recognizing His benefits and grace, making way for genuine access. This is followed by "praise" in "His courts," symbolizing a deeper level of worship where the focus shifts from what God has done to who He is, honoring His character and attributes. The parallel injunctions "be thankful unto Him, and bless His name" serve as emphatic summary commands. "Be thankful" is an active verb, indicating that gratitude is not passive but an intentional act of acknowledgement. "Bless His name" conveys profound reverence for God's entire being and identity, recognizing Him as the source of all blessings and goodness. The progression reflects a spiritual journey, inviting worshippers from the public entrances into the intimate inner spaces, demonstrating that access to God is granted to those who approach with hearts filled with gratitude and mouths declaring His inherent glory. This is not merely a ritual but a vital, personal, and communal act of heartfelt worship.