Psalm 109 30

Psalm 109:30 kjv

I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.

Psalm 109:30 nkjv

I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; Yes, I will praise Him among the multitude.

Psalm 109:30 niv

With my mouth I will greatly extol the LORD; in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him.

Psalm 109:30 esv

With my mouth I will give great thanks to the LORD; I will praise him in the midst of the throng.

Psalm 109:30 nlt

But I will give repeated thanks to the LORD,
praising him to everyone.

Psalm 109 verses

Psalm 109 30 Meaning

Psalm 109:30 declares the psalmist's resolute commitment to give profound and public thanks to the Lord. Despite the immense suffering and false accusations detailed earlier in the psalm, this verse marks a turn from lament and imprecation to confident praise, expressing faith in God's forthcoming vindication and deliverance. It signifies a worshiper's promise to actively and openly glorify God for His justice and mercy before a large gathering.

Psalm 109 30 Context

Psalm 109 is primarily a psalm of lament and imprecation. The psalmist (traditionally David) pours out a prayer to God against severe adversaries who have slandered him, returned evil for good, and cursed him (Ps 109:2-5). The core of the psalm (Ps 109:6-19) contains a vivid series of curses and judgments invoked against a specific wicked individual, often interpreted by New Testament usage (Acts 1:20 referring to Judas) as prophetic of the betrayal of Christ. The psalmist then describes his own desolate and afflicted state due to his enemies' actions (Ps 109:20-25) and pleads with God for deliverance and vindication (Ps 109:26-29).Verse 30 marks a pivotal shift, typical of many laments. It is an expression of confidence and an anticipatory vow of praise. Despite the current distress, the psalmist's faith affirms God's righteous judgment and deliverance, committing to public praise because of (or in anticipation of) God's intervention. This transformation from despair to a declaration of future worship highlights the psalmist's ultimate trust in the Lord's justice and sovereignty, providing an example of faithful endurance through tribulation. The historical context reflects a society where public reputation and vindication before the community were extremely important, making public praise after deliverance a profound testament to God's faithfulness.

Psalm 109 30 Word analysis

• I will give great thanks (אָדֶה אֹודֶה – odeh me’od / אֹודֶה – odeh): The verb is Hiphil and Qal Imperfect/Cohortative of the root יָדָה (yadah).
  • Significance: This root primarily means "to thank," "to praise," "to confess," "to laud," and often involves extending the hand. The doubled emphasis in some interpretations (odeh me'od often translated as "I will greatly thank" from Ps 109:30 or simply odeh as in some versions/parsing depending on the Hebrew text), underscores a fervent and intentional act. It is not mere acknowledgement, but a deep, outward expression of gratitude and adoration for what God has done or is about to do. It reflects a personal vow or commitment to honor God.
  • "great" (מְאֹד – me'od): While not always present in every textual variant for 'give great thanks', where it is, it signifies "very much," "exceedingly," "to the utmost degree." This adverb intensifies the action, implying enthusiastic and abundant thanks.
• to the Lord (לַיהוָה – la-YHWH):
  • Significance: This uses the tetragrammaton, the covenant name of God, revealing Him as the personal, relational God who interacts with His people and is faithful to His promises. The psalmist directs his gratitude to the one true God, contrasting with reliance on human aid or other deities.
• with my mouth (בְּפִי – bephi):
  • Significance: From the noun פֶּה (peh) meaning "mouth," "opening," prefixed with בְּ (be-) meaning "in" or "with." This emphasizes the verbal and public nature of the praise. It signifies that the praise is not merely an internal sentiment but is actively vocalized, a direct utterance. This highlights the importance of open testimony and audible worship in biblical practice.
• I will praise him (וַאֲהַלְלֶנּוּ – va'ahalelennu): The verb is Piel Imperfect/Cohorts of the root הָלַל (halal).
  • Significance: This root means "to praise," "to boast," "to laud," and is the origin of "Hallelujah" (Praise the Lord!). The Piel stem implies an intensified or deliberate action. This further solidifies the commitment to enthusiastic and public proclamation of God's greatness, moving beyond mere thanksgiving to active glorification and declaration of His worth.
• in the midst of many (בְּתֹוךְ רַבִּים – betokh rabbim):
  • Significance: From תּוֹךְ (tokh) meaning "middle," "midst," "within," and רַבִּים (rabbim) meaning "many," "great number," "multitude." This specifies the location and audience of the praise. It's a commitment to public worship, often referring to the assembly of Israel in the temple or during gatherings. This public act serves as a testimony to others, validating God's faithfulness not just for the psalmist but for the whole community, demonstrating God's vindication before those who witnessed the psalmist's affliction. It turns personal suffering and deliverance into a communal lesson and cause for shared praise.

• Words-group Analysis:
  • "I will give great thanks... with my mouth; I will praise him": This parallelism emphasizes both gratitude and adoration. "Thanksgiving" (yadah) often acknowledges specific acts of deliverance, while "praise" (halal) broadly celebrates God's character and greatness. The repetition using two distinct verbs signifies a comprehensive and dual-faceted approach to glorifying God, both for what He does and who He is, always verbally expressed.
  • "to the Lord... in the midst of many": This pairing underscores that worship is specifically directed to YHWH and performed communally. It's a personal devotion made public, transforming individual deliverance into corporate testimony and worship, affirming God's justice before His people.

Psalm 109 30 Bonus section

• Anticipatory Praise: This verse exemplifies "anticipatory praise," where the psalmist pledges to praise God for deliverance not yet fully realized, but confidently expected. This is a common feature in lament psalms where a shift occurs from petition to confidence, demonstrating a settled faith in God's character.
• Theology of Public Vindication: In ancient Israel, public shame was deeply felt, and public vindication was paramount. The psalmist’s vow to praise God "in the midst of many" underscores the theological point that God's deliverance often extends beyond internal peace to external restoration and a clear demonstration of His righteousness to those who witnessed the affliction.
• Contrast with Accusation: This praise stands in stark contrast to the numerous accusations and curses spoken against the psalmist (Ps 109:2) and by the psalmist (Ps 109:6-19). While his enemies used their mouths for lies and slander, the psalmist dedicates his mouth to great thanksgiving and praise, highlighting the appropriate use of one's faculties for glorifying God.
• Ethical Application: For believers, Psalm 109:30 teaches the discipline of giving thanks even in times of suffering, knowing that God is at work. It also emphasizes the importance of sharing our testimonies of God's faithfulness publicly, thereby strengthening the faith of other believers and offering a witness to the world.

Psalm 109 30 Commentary

Psalm 109:30 is a powerful testament to the psalmist's unwavering faith in God's justice and redemptive power. Following a lengthy lament filled with cries for help and imprecations against adversaries, this verse serves as the turning point, expressing a profound certainty of future vindication. It is a resolute vow to God, not born of immediate comfort but from a deep, abiding trust that the Lord will intervene. The double expression of praise – "give great thanks" and "praise him" – along with the explicit mention of the "mouth," indicates a vibrant, vocal, and deeply felt appreciation for God's anticipated saving work. The setting "in the midst of many" is crucial, signifying a public demonstration of faith and a witness to God's faithfulness before the community that may have witnessed the psalmist's suffering and disgrace. This transformation of lament into confident public praise provides comfort and instruction, teaching believers to anticipate God's intervention even in the deepest despair, and to then openly acknowledge His deliverance for the benefit and encouragement of others. This is a divine call to turn sorrow into worship when God intervenes.