Psalm 138 2

Psalm 138:2 kjv

I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

Psalm 138:2 nkjv

I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.

Psalm 138:2 niv

I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness, for you have so exalted your solemn decree that it surpasses your fame.

Psalm 138:2 esv

I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.

Psalm 138:2 nlt

I bow before your holy Temple as I worship.
I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness;
for your promises are backed
by all the honor of your name.

Psalm 138 verses

Psalm 138 2 Meaning

Psalm 138:2 is a profound expression of devotion, praising God for His attributes and highlighting the ultimate reliability of His divine promises. David declares his intention to worship the LORD with deep reverence, acknowledging God’s steadfast love and faithfulness as the foundational reasons for praise. The verse culminates in the extraordinary declaration that God has magnified His word, specifically His covenant promises, above all His very character, emphasizing the unbreakable integrity and supreme importance of His commitments.

Psalm 138 2 Context

Psalm 138 is a psalm of thanksgiving from David, acknowledging God's answering of his prayers (v.1, 3). It expresses deep gratitude and confidence in the LORD, setting the stage for the specific reasons for praise. David begins by pledging heart-felt worship before a universal audience, showing that his praise is not private but public and exemplary. The mention of "Your holy temple" likely refers to God's dwelling place, whether the tabernacle of David's time, the future Temple Solomon would build, or prophetically, God's heavenly throne room, towards which all true worship is directed. The overarching context is one of a leader's dependence on God, acknowledging His unwavering character (lovingkindness and truth) and the supreme authority of His declared will and promises in guiding his life and securing his future (v.8). The unique claim that God has magnified His word above His name underscores His absolute commitment to uphold His promises, reinforcing the certainty of divine intervention and fulfillment in the face of any challenge. This confidence inspires other "kings of the earth" to acknowledge God (v.4-5), showcasing the global implications of God's character revealed through His actions.

Psalm 138 2 Word analysis

• "I will worship": (Hebrew: אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה, eshtachaveh). This verb denotes prostrating oneself, bowing down deeply, or doing obeisance. It signifies the deepest form of humility, reverence, and adoration. This physical act represents total submission and respect to a sovereign or deity. It implies an internal posture of awe corresponding to the outward expression.

• "toward Your holy temple": (Hebrew: אֶל-הֵיכַל קָדְשֶׁךָ, el-heykhal qodshenka).

  • Heykhal (temple, palace, sanctuary): This term can refer to the physical sanctuary (tabernacle or the soon-to-be-built Temple) or, more expansively, to God’s heavenly abode. For David, it represents the specific locus of God’s manifested presence on earth or His dwelling place in the heavens where His glory resides.
  • Qodesh (holy): Emphasizes its consecrated, sacred, and set-apart nature due to God's presence.
  • Directionality ("toward"): Highlights that worship is focused and intentional, directed towards God's designated place of meeting and revelation, signifying reverence for His presence.

• "and praise Your name": (Hebrew: וְאוֹדֶה אֶת-שְׁמֶךָ, v'odeh et-shmekha).

  • V'odeh (and I will praise/give thanks): From the root yadah, meaning to confess, laud, give thanks, or praise. It often involves extending the hands or making open acknowledgment.
  • Shmekha (Your name): In biblical thought, the "name" of God is far more than a mere label; it encapsulates His entire character, attributes, reputation, essence, and authority. To praise God’s name is to praise His entire revealed being—His power, faithfulness, righteousness, and love.

• "for Your lovingkindness": (Hebrew: עַל-חַסְדְּךָ, al-chasdeka).

  • Hesed (lovingkindness, steadfast love, loyal love, covenant faithfulness): This is a crucial Hebrew theological term, describing God’s faithful and benevolent love that endures and is deeply tied to His covenantal relationship with His people. It is not merely affection but active, unwavering commitment. David praises God for His unfailing covenant fidelity towards him.

• "and for Your truth": (Hebrew: וְעַל-אֲמִתֶּךָ, v'al-amitteka).

  • Emet (truth, faithfulness, reliability, stability): This refers to God’s unwavering faithfulness, His integrity, and the certainty of His character and word. God's truth ensures that His promises are trustworthy and will be fulfilled. Together with hesed, it forms the twin pillars of God's covenantal nature.

• "For You have magnified": (Hebrew: כִּי הִגְדַּלְתָּ, ki higdalta from gadal, to make great, enlarge, exalt). This expresses the divine act of making something prominent, elevating its significance, and affirming its supremacy. It denotes an act of God deliberately honoring or exalting.

• "Your word": (Hebrew: אִמְרָתֶךָ, imratekha). This specific word for "word" often refers to a divine utterance, a promise, or an oracle. Unlike davar (which can be broader, including a thing or matter), imrah typically points to God's spoken, authoritative declarations, especially His promises.

• "above all Your name": (Hebrew: עַל-כָּל-שְׁמֶךָ, al-kol-shmekha). This is perhaps the most remarkable and significant phrase in the verse.

  • "Above all Your name": Given that "name" signifies God's entire being and revealed character, this statement implies an astonishing theological truth. It means God places supreme importance and integrity on the fulfillment of His spoken promises (imrah) even above the current revelation of His reputation. His faithfulness to His word demonstrates the ultimate truth of His very being. His word becomes the fullest expression of His identity, underscoring that His character is utterly dependable and consistent with what He says He will do. It's a statement about the absolute reliability of God's covenant and promises, demonstrating that His commitment to perform what He has said defines His identity in the most profound way.

Psalm 138 2 Bonus section

The profound declaration "You have magnified Your word above all Your name" can also be understood in light of the New Testament revelation of "the Word" becoming flesh in Jesus Christ (Jn 1:1, 14). While not explicit in the Hebrew text of Psalm 138:2, from a Christian theological perspective, the "Word" elevated by God ultimately culminates in the person of Christ, who is the full embodiment and faithful fulfillment of all God's promises and revelations. Christ, the living Word, perfectly demonstrates God's hesed and emet in His life, death, and resurrection, upholding and exalting God's covenantal promises to their ultimate conclusion. This perspective enriches the verse, highlighting that God’s commitment to His word finds its greatest magnification in the Son, making all of God’s promises "Yes" and "Amen" in Him (2 Cor 1:20).

Psalm 138 2 Commentary

Psalm 138:2 provides a profound insight into the nature of genuine worship and the foundation of confidence in God. David's resolve to worship "toward Your holy temple" signifies both a reverence for God's presence and an acknowledgment of the designated place where divine encounters are revealed. This directed worship underscores the intentionality of approaching God. The twin reasons for praise—"Your lovingkindness" (hesed) and "Your truth" (emet)—are core covenantal attributes of God. Hesed speaks of God's faithful, loyal, and enduring love, His grace and mercy that never fail. Emet speaks to His unwavering faithfulness, His integrity, and the absolute certainty of His word. These attributes reassure the worshipper of God's reliability and steadfast commitment to His people.

The climax of the verse lies in the statement: "For You have magnified Your word above all Your name." This is an extraordinary claim. While God’s "name" embodies His entire revealed character and majestic essence, the psalmist asserts that God has elevated His spoken "word"—specifically His promises and declarations—to an even higher status of importance. This means that God stakes His entire reputation and identity on the fulfillment of His promises. His commitment to His word is not merely a part of His character; it is the definitive expression of it. It guarantees that what God says, He will most certainly do, and this trustworthiness transcends all other demonstrations of His being. This supreme reliability of God's word forms the bedrock of faith, assuring believers that God’s future actions will perfectly align with His previous declarations, making His promises a solid anchor for hope and confidence.