Psalm 138:5 kjv
Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.
Psalm 138:5 nkjv
Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, For great is the glory of the LORD.
Psalm 138:5 niv
May they sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.
Psalm 138:5 esv
and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.
Psalm 138:5 nlt
Yes, they will sing about the LORD's ways,
for the glory of the LORD is very great.
Psalm 138 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 22:27 | All the ends of the earth will remember...and all the families of the nations will worship before You. | Universal worship to the Lord. |
| Psa 47:7 | For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with understanding. | God's universal kingship prompts song. |
| Psa 67:4 | Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You will judge the peoples righteously... | Nations' joy from God's righteous rule. |
| Psa 86:9 | All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And shall glorify Your name. | All nations destined to glorify God. |
| Isa 2:2-3 | ...all the nations will stream to it...and will say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD...that He may teach us concerning His ways." | Nations learning and walking in God's ways. |
| Isa 40:5 | Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together... | Universal revelation of God's glory. |
| Isa 45:23 | "By Myself I have sworn...Every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance." | Universal homage and allegiance to God. |
| Hab 2:14 | For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea. | Future global knowledge of God's glory. |
| Zec 14:9 | And the LORD will be King over all the earth; on that day the LORD will be one, and His name one. | God's ultimate sole kingship acknowledged. |
| Rom 1:20 | For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes...have been clearly seen...so that they are without excuse. | God's glory manifested in creation. |
| Rom 15:11 | And again, "Praise the LORD all you Gentiles, And let all the peoples praise Him." | Gentile inclusion in praising God. |
| Phil 2:10-11 | so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow...and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord... | Universal submission and confession to Christ's Lordship. |
| Rev 5:13 | And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth...saying, "To Him who sits on the throne...be blessing and honor and glory and dominion..." | All creation attributing glory to God and the Lamb. |
| Rev 15:4 | "Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy; for all the nations will come and worship before You..." | Nations worshiping God in His holiness. |
| Psa 25:4 | Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. | Request to know God's ways (paths). |
| Psa 103:7 | He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel. | God revealing His ways through His deeds. |
| Isa 55:8-9 | "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. | Contrast of God's transcendent ways. |
| Rom 11:33 | Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! | Awe at God's incomprehensible ways. |
| Exod 15:1 | Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and said... | Song of deliverance. |
| Psa 96:1 | Sing to the LORD a new song; Sing to the LORD, all the earth. | Call for universal new song to the Lord. |
Psalm 138 verses
Psalm 138 5 Meaning
Psalm 138:5 declares that nations and their rulers, particularly those who hear God's promises, will eventually acknowledge and express joyous praise for the demonstrated character and actions of the LORD. This adoration stems from a profound recognition that the LORD's majesty, power, and inherent worth are exceedingly vast and incomparable. It highlights the eventual universal acknowledgment of God's supreme authority and magnificent revelation through His dealings with humanity.
Psalm 138 5 Context
Psalm 138 is a Psalm of David, characterized by personal thanksgiving for God's answered prayer (vv. 1-3) and confidence in His unfailing love. Verse 5 is set within a broader prophetic scope where David envisions a future time when not only individuals like himself but "all the kings of the earth" (v. 4) will hear of God's covenantal faithfulness and mighty deeds. The immediate context of verse 4 transitions from David's personal experience to a universal acknowledgement, predicting a time when the world's rulers will perceive the unique and ultimate sovereignty of the God of Israel. This context emphasizes that God's actions are not confined to a single nation but bear witness to His universal majesty, inviting all to a knowledge of His glory.
Psalm 138 5 Word analysis
- And they shall sing (וְיָשִׁׁירוּ - wəyāšîrû): This Hebrew imperfect verb suggests a continuous or future action. It signifies an act of joyful praise and worship, a natural response to divine revelation. The plural "they" refers to the "kings of the earth" mentioned in verse 4 and, by extension, all who come to recognize the LORD.
- of the ways (בְּדַרְכֵי - bəḏarkê): From derekh (way, path), with the preposition be- (in, by, concerning). It refers to God's character as demonstrated in His acts, His judgments, His providences, and His moral and redemptive governance throughout history. These are not merely His decrees but the actual manifestations of His character in action.
- the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The covenant name of God, indicating His self-existent, eternal, and covenant-keeping nature. This is the distinct God of Israel, whose uniqueness the kings will come to recognize.
- For (כִּי - kî): A causal conjunction, meaning "because" or "indeed." It introduces the reason for the future singing and praise—the immense glory of God.
- great (גָּדֹול - gāḏōwl): A descriptor for immense size, power, importance, or majesty. It emphasizes the absolute transcendence and incomparable nature of God's glory. It is not just significant but profoundly overwhelming.
- is the glory (כְּבֹוד - kəḇōwḏ): From kavod, meaning "weight, honor, renown, splendor, glory." It signifies the inherent worth, magnificent presence, and awe-inspiring manifestation of God's character and attributes. His glory is substantial and impactful, the true reason for all worship.
- of the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): Again, emphasizes that this magnificent glory belongs exclusively to the one true God, YHWH.
Words-group analysis:
- "They shall sing of the ways of the LORD": This phrase denotes that their praise will be informed by and centered on God's active involvement in the world, His character displayed in His dealings, and the truth of His covenant promises. It implies an intellectual understanding leading to heartfelt adoration. Their singing is a public declaration of God's just and faithful administration.
- "For great is the glory of the LORD": This forms the foundational truth for the singing. The greatness of God's glory is the ultimate, undeniable fact that compels praise from all, even kings. It highlights God's self-revelation being so potent and manifest that it universally compels recognition and worship. It points to a divine excellence that cannot be hidden forever.
Psalm 138 5 Bonus section
The vision of Psalm 138:5 finds its ultimate fulfillment in the New Testament, especially in the reign of Christ. The "kings of the earth" and all nations coming to acknowledge and sing of the LORD's ways directly prefigures the widespread gospel proclamation and the establishment of God's Kingdom through Jesus, where ultimately "every knee will bow" (Phil 2:10-11). The greatness of the LORD's glory is supremely manifested in the person of Jesus Christ, who is the "radiance of His glory" (Heb 1:3). Therefore, the 'ways of the LORD' are fully understood and revealed in Christ's redemptive work, and it is through His saving acts that God's glory shines most brightly, drawing all peoples to worship. This verse also contains an indirect polemic against paganism, suggesting the future demise of worship directed towards any deity other than YHWH, as their followers will turn to acknowledge the one true God.
Psalm 138 5 Commentary
Psalm 138:5 presents a profound vision of future, universal worship centered on the God of Israel. It foresees a day when those outside the immediate covenant community, specifically the powerful rulers of the world, will be so impacted by the observable 'ways'—the revealed character and deeds—of the LORD that they are moved to heartfelt song. This singing is not mere political rhetoric but an expression born from the inescapable recognition that the LORD's glory, His intrinsic splendor and manifest power, is truly 'great'. This verse underlines that God's redemptive history and righteous governance will eventually be so unmistakably clear that it will elicit praise from all nations, affirming His supreme dominion over all earthly powers and idols.