Psalm 116 17

Psalm 116:17 kjv

I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.

Psalm 116:17 nkjv

I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the LORD.

Psalm 116:17 niv

I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD.

Psalm 116:17 esv

I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.

Psalm 116:17 nlt

I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the LORD.

Psalm 116 verses

Psalm 116 17 Meaning

Psalm 116:17 declares the psalmist's heartfelt intention to respond to God's deliverance and faithfulness with specific acts of worship. It signifies a solemn vow fulfilled, promising to offer a sacrifice born of profound gratitude and to continuously invoke the personal name of God, Yahweh. This twofold declaration represents a deep commitment to express thanks both through a dedicated physical offering and through vocal adoration and reliance.

Psalm 116 17 Context

Psalm 116 is a deeply personal psalm of thanksgiving, likely following a grave period of affliction, illness, or peril from which the psalmist was delivered by the Lord. The initial verses recount his desperate plea to God (Ps 116:3-4) and God's compassionate response (Ps 116:1-2, 5-8). Having been rescued from "the snares of death" and "pains of Sheol," the psalmist's heart overflows with gratitude. Verse 17 stands as a solemn declaration of worship, fulfilling the implied or explicit vows he made in his distress. He has promised to "walk before the LORD in the land of the living" (Ps 116:9) and to "perform my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people" (Ps 116:14, 18). Thus, verse 17 is a concrete articulation of this gratitude, presented publicly within the Temple courts (Ps 116:19). The "sacrifice of thanksgiving" (zevah todah) was a specific peace offering in ancient Israelite worship (Lev 7:12-15), given voluntarily out of gratitude for a specific blessing or answered prayer. It was often accompanied by a communal meal, emphasizing fellowship with God and fellow worshipers. "Calling upon the name of the Lord" signified not only prayer but also public acknowledgment, declaration of reliance, and alignment with the unique covenant God of Israel, YHWH, in contrast to the gods of surrounding pagan nations.

Psalm 116 17 Word Analysis

• I will offer (אֶזְבְּחָה ’ezbəḥâ): From the Hebrew verb zabaḥ, meaning "to slaughter for sacrifice," "to offer sacrifice." This term implies a solemn, deliberate, and costly act, connecting it to the Levitical system of offerings. It is a determined future act, signifying commitment.

• to You (לְּךָ ləḵā): Emphatically places the Lord as the direct and sole recipient of the offering, highlighting the personal nature of the psalmist's relationship with God. The act of sacrifice is directed exclusively to Him.

• the sacrifice of thanksgiving (זֶבַח תּוֹדָה zevah tôḏâ):

  • Zevah: "sacrifice," "slaughter."
  • Todah: "thanksgiving," "praise," "confession." Specifically refers to the peace offering of thanksgiving (Lev 7:12-15), which was a voluntary offering, unlike obligatory sin or guilt offerings. It was a tangible expression of gratitude for specific divine acts of deliverance or blessing. It wasn't about appeasing God but about celebrating His goodness and faithfulness already shown. This contrasts with pagan sacrifices that were often attempts to manipulate deities; here, it is a response to grace received.

• and will call upon (וּבְשֵׁם־יְהוָה אֶקְרָא ûvəšêm-yhwh ’eqrā’):

  • ûvəšêm: "and upon the name of," "and by the name of." Implies invoking, proclaiming, appealing to the character and authority inherent in the name.
  • YHWH (יְהוָה): The sacred tetragrammaton, the personal, covenant name of God (often transliterated as "Yahweh" and rendered "the LORD" in English Bibles). It speaks to His eternal, self-existent nature, and His covenant faithfulness to His people. Calling on this name acknowledges His unique sovereignty and power.
  • ’eqrā’: "I will call," "I will proclaim," "I will cry out." From qara, meaning to call, summon, name, proclaim. This indicates an active, vocal expression of faith and dependence, often publicly declared, affirming His character and invoking His power.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "the sacrifice of thanksgiving": This phrase denotes a physical, ritualistic act (offering a sacrifice) but one that must be accompanied by, and indeed motivated by, an internal state of heart—true gratitude. It is worship that expresses deep thanks and confession of God's goodness, pointing to a holistic worship that combines outward deed with inward devotion.
  • "and will call upon the name of the Lord": This phrase complements the physical sacrifice with a verbal act of devotion. It highlights reliance upon God's character and authority, publicly declaring His supremacy. It implies an intimate relationship where one's life is defined by active and continuous acknowledgment and appeal to God's unique identity. This is both an act of prayer and a public declaration of allegiance to YHWH, setting Him apart from all other deities.

Psalm 116 17 Bonus section

The Todah offering (sacrifice of thanksgiving) in ancient Israel was unique in that it often concluded with a communal meal, where the worshipper shared the sacrificial meat with priests and other Israelites. This detail reinforces that the act of thanksgiving was not just a private matter but frequently involved community and fellowship, symbolizing renewed communion with God and shared celebration of His blessings. Furthermore, the commitment in this verse to "call upon the name of the LORD" reverberates throughout biblical history, becoming a foundational declaration of faith. From Abraham (Gen 12:8) to the prophecy in Joel (Joel 2:32), reiterated by Peter (Acts 2:21) and Paul (Rom 10:13), it underscores the accessible path to salvation and spiritual intimacy, showing that invoking God's unique name is central to a relationship with Him. The juxtaposition of physical sacrifice and verbal invocation in this single verse highlights the comprehensive nature of biblical worship—it is holistic, involving both external, visible actions and internal, heartfelt expressions.

Psalm 116 17 Commentary

Psalm 116:17 encapsulates the peak of the psalmist's grateful response to God's intervention. Having been rescued from imminent death, he commits to offering a zevah todah, a special thanksgiving sacrifice. This was not merely a rote ritual; it symbolized a heart overflowing with spontaneous gratitude, an act of communion recognizing God's active involvement in his life. Coupled with this tangible act is the promise to "call upon the name of the Lord," an ongoing verbal invocation of Yahweh. This signifies profound reliance, open appeal, and public identification with God's covenant faithfulness and unique power. The verse emphasizes that genuine worship flows from personal experience of God's deliverance and manifests in both tangible expressions of thanks and continuous, dependent communion with His holy name. It reveals that the saved life is a life of active and deliberate thanksgiving and invocation. For us today, while the sacrificial system is fulfilled in Christ, the spirit of this verse translates into a continuous sacrifice of praise, expressed through thankful lives, earnest prayer in the name of Jesus, and joyful acknowledgment of His saving power. For instance, in times of blessing, one might consciously set aside time to enumerate specific ways God has shown His goodness, offering heartfelt prayers of thanks (similar to the Todah offering), or dedicating resources/time as an act of gratitude; in times of need or in daily life, consistently turning to Jesus in prayer, declaring His Lordship, and trusting His name for provision, protection, or wisdom, fulfills the spirit of "calling upon the name of the Lord."