Psalm 105 3

Psalm 105:3 kjv

Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.

Psalm 105:3 nkjv

Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!

Psalm 105:3 niv

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

Psalm 105:3 esv

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!

Psalm 105:3 nlt

Exult in his holy name;
rejoice, you who worship the LORD.

Psalm 105 verses

Psalm 105 3 Meaning

Psalm 105:3 is a call to believers to find their honor, value, and confident affirmation in the very being and character of God, particularly in His unique holiness as revealed in His name. It establishes a direct spiritual principle: true and deep joy, seated within the core of one's being, is the guaranteed experience for those who actively and earnestly pursue the Lord, the covenant-keeping God of Israel. It emphasizes that real rejoicing flows from a heart oriented towards Him.

Psalm 105 3 Context

Psalm 105, especially its opening verses, serves as a powerful summons to praise and remember the Lord for His mighty deeds and faithfulness to His covenant promises. The psalm initiates a grand narrative that recounts God's historical acts on behalf of Israel, from the call of Abraham and the patriarchs, through their time in Egypt, the dramatic Exodus, and their establishment in the promised land.

Verse 3 specifically belongs to the introductory exhortation to worship (Ps 105:1-6). It directly follows the commands to give thanks, call upon His name, and make known His deeds. It sets forth the proper object of Israel's boasting and the result for those who earnestly engage in seeking Him. Historically, this section of Psalm 105 (vv. 1-15) parallels almost exactly 1 Chronicles 16:8-22, indicating its significance as a liturgical or foundational passage in Israel's worship, possibly part of a hymn sung when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem. For the original audience, "His holy name" evoked not merely a word, but the very character, attributes, power, and sacred presence of the unique, covenant-keeping God (YHWH) who had demonstrably intervened in their history. "Seeking the Lord" meant a deliberate, active, and devoted pursuit of this God, embracing His ways and rejecting the allure of surrounding pagan deities and their practices, thus engaging in an indirect polemic against idolatry.

Psalm 105 3 Word analysis

• Glory (הִֽתְהַלְל֗וּ - Hithhallelū): This is a Hithpael imperative of the Hebrew root הלל (halal), meaning "to praise," "to boast," "to make a show of," "to laud." In this form, it's reflexive and often emphasizes a deliberate self-celebration, but when directed in God, it means finding one's honor, worth, or cause for pride solely in Him. It's a command to exult or triumph in God, demonstrating the deep satisfaction and confidence believers should have in their relationship with Him, in contrast to boasting in worldly achievements or one's own strength.

• in His holy name (בְּשֵׁ֣ם קָדְשׁ֑וֹ - bəšēm qodəšō):

  • name (שֵׁ֣ם - šēm): In Hebrew thought, "name" refers to the entire essence, character, reputation, authority, and presence of an individual, not just a label. God's "name" embodies all His revealed attributes – His power, faithfulness, righteousness, mercy, and sovereignty.
  • holy (קָדְשׁ֑וֹ - qodəšō - from קֹדֶשׁ qōḏeš): This word signifies separation, distinctness, purity, and transcendence. God is "holy" because He is utterly set apart from all creation, morally perfect, and unique in His being. To glory in His holy name means to celebrate His singular, pure, and awe-inspiring nature that is distinct from all created things and all false gods.

• Let the hearts (יִשְׂמַ֤ח לֵ֣ב - yiśmaḥ lēḇ):

  • hearts (לֵ֣ב - lēḇ): In the biblical context, the "heart" is the seat of the entire inner person—intellect, emotion, will, conscience, and moral character. It's the core of one's being.
  • rejoice (יִשְׂמַ֤ח - yiśmaḥ): From the root שמח (samah), meaning "to be joyful," "glad," "to exult." It implies deep, abiding gladness and cheerfulness that permeates the entire person. The jussive form ("Let... rejoice") is an invitation or an expected outcome.

• of those who seek (דֹּרְשֵׁ֣י - doršēy): From the verb דרשׁ (darash), meaning "to seek," "to inquire," "to search for," "to pursue diligently," "to frequent." This is an active, ongoing, and intentional pursuit, not a passive desire. It implies a conscious effort to know God, understand His will, and draw near to Him in worship and obedience.

• the Lord (יְהוָ֑ה - YHWH): This is the Tetragrammaton, the personal, covenantal name of God, often pronounced as Yahweh. It identifies God as the self-existent, faithful, and promise-keeping God who actively engages with His creation, particularly with His covenant people, Israel. Seeking "the Lord" specifically means seeking this true and living God, not a generic deity or idol.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Glory in His holy name": This phrase functions as both a command and a declaration. It commands worshipers to fix their ultimate boast and source of honor in the unique, pure character of God, which stands distinct from all human achievement or any other being. This act of "glorying" transforms human pride into a humble acknowledgement of God's supremacy, redirecting praise to where it belongs. It carries a subtle polemic, implicitly rejecting the vanity of glorying in human strength, wealth, or even in false deities.
  • "Let the hearts... rejoice": This forms a result clause or a consequential invitation. It signifies that genuine joy, a deep inner gladness (emanating from the very core of one's being), is not merely an emotion but an intended and actual outcome for a specific group of people. This joy is supernatural, directly flowing from a connection with the divine.
  • "of those who seek the Lord": This identifies the specific recipients of the deep-seated joy. The joy described is not for everyone, but for those who make a deliberate, consistent effort to pursue God, to inquire after Him, and to devote themselves to Him. It links the spiritual discipline of seeking God with the spiritual blessing of heart-rejoicing. This active pursuit defines the posture of a true worshiper in a covenant relationship.

Psalm 105 3 Bonus section

• The phrasing "Glory in His holy name" in some translations uses "Boast." This emphasis on boasting in the Lord is a key biblical motif that directly confronts human arrogance and reliance on self, channeling all glory appropriately back to the Creator.
• This verse encapsulates a circular relationship: seeking the Lord leads to joy, and that joy then further fuels the desire to seek and glory in Him. It speaks to a self-perpetuating cycle of worship and blessedness.
• The imperative nature of "Glory" and "Let... rejoice" indicates that while joy is a fruit of seeking God, it is also something we are commanded to embrace and pursue, often as an act of faith even in difficult circumstances.

Psalm 105 3 Commentary

Psalm 105:3 provides a profound theological instruction on the true source of honor and joy. The command to "glory in His holy name" is a radical reorientation of human boasting. Instead of pride in personal accomplishments, material possessions, or fleeting power, the believer is directed to find ultimate confidence and praise in God's revealed character—His unblemished purity, perfect moral nature, and divine distinctiveness. This is a humble yet confident acknowledgment that all genuine worth and victory derive from Him alone.

The second part of the verse, "Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice," presents both a consequence and an encouragement. This joy is not a superficial happiness dependent on circumstances, but a deep, settled gladness within the heart—the very core of one's being. It is directly tied to an active relationship with YHWH, the covenant-keeping God. Those who diligently "seek" Him—through prayer, obedience, worship, and study of His word—are assured this profound joy. This underscores a foundational principle of the Christian faith: the pursuit of God leads to the experience of true delight, making joy an intentional byproduct of drawing near to the divine presence. This verse highlights that spiritual fulfillment and enduring gladness are not found in outward striving but in the inward devotion to, and confident reliance upon, the holy character of God.