Psalm 104:33 kjv
I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
Psalm 104:33 nkjv
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
Psalm 104:33 niv
I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Psalm 104:33 esv
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
Psalm 104:33 nlt
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live.
I will praise my God to my last breath!
Psalm 104 33 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 145:1 | I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever. | Personal lifelong praise |
| Ps 63:4 | So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. | Lifelong worship, vocal and bodily |
| Ps 34:1 | I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. | Continuous, vocal praise |
| Ps 146:2 | I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. | Direct parallel, nearly identical wording |
| Rev 7:15 | Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple; | Eternal worship in God's presence |
| Eph 5:19 | speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, | Call to vocal and heartfelt worship |
| Col 3:16 | Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly… singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. | Word-filled worship, heart-directed |
| Ps 9:11 | Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people. | Call to community praise |
| Ps 33:2-3 | Praise the Lord with the harp; make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song... | Praising God with music |
| Ps 66:4 | All the earth shall worship You and sing praises to You; they shall sing praises to Your name. | Universal worship |
| Ps 96:1-2 | Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name... | Global invitation to praise |
| 1 Chr 16:9 | Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works! | Speaking and singing of God's deeds |
| Ps 18:2 | The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength... | God as "my God," intimate trust |
| Ps 91:2 | I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." | Personal declaration of faith |
| Exod 15:2 | The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him. | First declaration of God as "my God" in song |
| Phil 1:20-21 | Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. | Life devoted entirely to Christ |
| 1 Cor 10:31 | Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. | Glorifying God in all of life's activities |
| Rom 14:7-8 | For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. | Living and dying for the Lord |
| Isa 40:28-29 | The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth... He gives power to the weak. | God's everlasting nature and sustaining power |
| Ps 19:1 | The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. | Creation declares God's glory |
| Ps 29:1-2 | Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. | Ascribing glory to God |
Psalm 104 verses
Psalm 104 33 Meaning
Psalm 104:33 expresses a profound personal commitment by the psalmist to continually offer praise and song to the Lord throughout the entirety of his life and existence. It signifies a lifelong devotion to worshipping God, born from the contemplation of His magnificent creative and sustaining works.
Psalm 104 33 Context
Psalm 104 is a magnificent hymn praising God as the sole Creator and Sustainer of the cosmos, often regarded as a poetic counterpart to Genesis 1. The psalm vividly describes God's power in forming the heavens, clothing Himself with light, establishing the earth, controlling waters, weather, and providing for all living creatures, from cedars to young lions and humankind. It portrays an ordered, benevolent creation, cared for by an ever-present God. In stark contrast to ancient Near Eastern myths that often depicted creation arising from chaotic battles between deities, Psalm 104 presents the Lord as the singular, sovereign architect of all things. Verse 33 marks a shift in the psalm; after reflecting on God's incredible works throughout creation (vv. 1-32), the psalmist moves from observation to a personal, deeply felt commitment. This verse is the individual's faithful response of perpetual praise and devotion, arising from a heart overwhelmed by God's glorious providence over all His creation. It signifies that acknowledging God's majesty in creation leads to personal and unending worship.
Psalm 104 33 Word analysis
- I will sing (אָשִׁירָה, ashira): This is a verb in the future tense, first person common singular, expressing a firm resolution or a solemn vow. The root word (שִׁיר, shir) means "to sing," often referring to the general act of singing with vocal expression. This indicates a deliberate, active, and personal commitment to praise.
- to the Lord (לַיהוָה, la-YHWH): This specifies the unique object of worship: YHWH, the personal covenant name of God, revealed to Israel (Exod 3:14). This name emphasizes God's self-existence, eternal nature, and His faithfulness to His covenant promises. Directly worshipping YHWH stood as a powerful declaration against the polytheism prevalent in the ancient world, affirming the one true God.
- as long as I live (בְּחַיָּי, b'chayyāy): Literally "in my life," utilizing the Hebrew plural form chayyim for life, which often connotes fullness of life or existence. This phrase denotes the entire duration of the psalmist's earthly existence. It is not a temporary or conditional vow, but a comprehensive commitment covering every moment and stage of life.
- I will sing praise (אֲזַמְּרָה, azammerah): Another future tense, first person common singular verb. The root (זָמַר, zamar) often implies more than just singing; it can mean to pluck strings, make music, or to praise with instruments. It denotes a more focused, melodic, and possibly instrumental expression of worship, suggesting a higher, dedicated form of praise beyond mere vocalization. It deepens the commitment expressed by ashira.
- to my God (לֵאלֹהָי, l'Elohay): Elohim is the generic Hebrew term for God, but with the suffix '-ay' (i), it becomes a personal possessive: "my God." This expresses a deeply intimate and personal relationship with the divine. It is not just a universal acknowledgment of God, but a profound, covenantal, and individual belonging to Him, mirroring God's personal covenant with Israel.
- while I have my being (בְּעוֹדִי, b'odiy): This phrase further emphasizes the continuous nature of the psalmist's commitment. 'Od signifies "still," "yet," "as long as," or "furthermore." It relates to one's continuing existence, consciousness, and vital breath. It is a powerful reaffirmation of "as long as I live," reinforcing that every moment of existence is to be consecrated to God's praise. The parallelism with the previous phrase intensifies the absolute and unending nature of the vow.
Psalm 104 33 Bonus section
- The structure of Psalm 104 mirrors a wisdom psalm, but culminates in a vow of praise. It transitions from focusing on God's actions (vv. 1-32) to the psalmist's personal response and subsequent prayer (vv. 33-35).
- The vow to sing praise "as long as I live" implies a conscious recognition of God's hesed (covenant faithfulness) demonstrated through His creative and sustaining power. The human response to such divine faithfulness is hesed in return – a loyal and persistent devotion.
- This verse encapsulates the ideal relationship between Creator and creature: observing God's glory in creation should instinctively lead to an overflow of worship from His image-bearers.
- The Septuagint (LXX) translates "as long as I live" as ἐν τῇ ζωῇ μου (en tē zōē mou, "in my life"), and "while I have my being" as ἕως ὑπάρχω (heōs hyparchō, "until I exist"). These reinforce the comprehensive and perpetual nature of the praise.
Psalm 104 33 Commentary
Psalm 104:33 is a deeply personal and unwavering declaration of worship that punctuates the magnificent hymn of creation. Following a comprehensive portrayal of God's majesty and wisdom in sustaining the universe, the psalmist is moved beyond mere intellectual assent to a profound, volitional response. This verse serves as the only direct statement of the psalmist's personal vow within the psalm, framing all the preceding observations about God's creative work as a basis for unending devotion.
The twofold "I will sing" underscores a resolute, conscious commitment. The use of two distinct verbs for 'sing' (ashira and azammerah) suggests not a simple repetition, but an expansion and intensification of praise – from general vocal praise to a more dedicated, perhaps musically enhanced, and highly intentional form of worship. This reflects a heart fully engaged in expressing adoration.
The shift from "the Lord" (YHWH) to "my God" (Elohay) highlights both the universal sovereignty of the Creator God and the deeply intimate, personal covenant relationship that the psalmist cherishes. God is not just the distant, cosmic architect, but also the personal, ever-present God to whom the worshiper belongs.
The parallel phrases "as long as I live" and "while I have my being" emphasize the unbroken, perpetual nature of this commitment. This praise is not bound by circumstance, emotion, or time. It is a vow to dedicate one's entire lifespan and conscious existence to praising God, an affirmation that life itself, being a gift from the Creator, should be continually offered back to Him in worship. This reflects a lifestyle where the awareness of God's beneficence in creation and providence leads to a saturated life of unending adoration. For believers, this commitment extends to using their every breath, talent, and moment to bring glory to God, acknowledging that all of life is a stewardship to be lived for Him.