Psalm 145:1 kjv
I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.
Psalm 145:1 nkjv
A Praise of David. I will extol You, my God, O King; And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
Psalm 145:1 niv
A psalm of praise. Of David. I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.
Psalm 145:1 esv
I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.
Psalm 145:1 nlt
I will exalt you, my God and King,
and praise your name forever and ever.
Psalm 145 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 30:1 | I will extol You, O Lord... | Exaltation of God's deliverances |
| Ps 34:3 | O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. | Corporate exaltation and magnification |
| Isa 25:1 | O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will praise Your name... | Prophetic declaration of personal worship |
| Ps 72:19 | Blessed be His glorious name forever! | Eternal blessing of God's name |
| Ps 103:1 | Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. | Inner disposition of praise |
| Ps 145:21 | My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless His... | Universal and ongoing praise (same Psalm) |
| Ps 10:16 | The Lord is King forever and ever. | God's eternal sovereignty |
| Ps 24:7-10 | Lift up your heads, O you gates... that the King of glory may come in. | God as the majestic, reigning King |
| Jer 10:10 | But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. | God as the singular, living, everlasting King |
| 1 Tim 1:17 | Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise... | New Testament acknowledgment of God as eternal King |
| Rev 15:3 | ...and sing the song of Moses... and the song of the Lamb, saying: "...O King of the saints!" | Future worship of God's righteous reign |
| Ps 43:4 | Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy... | God as source of personal joy and connection |
| Phil 4:19 | And my God shall supply all your need... | Personal God provides |
| John 20:28 | And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" | Confession of Jesus' deity |
| Ps 89:1 | I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever... | Commitment to perpetual declaration |
| Ps 104:33 | I will sing to the Lord as long as I live... | Lifelong praise |
| Ps 146:2 | While I live I will praise the Lord... | Unwavering, living praise |
| Rev 5:13 | And every creature... heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne..." | Universal eternal worship in the New Heavens/Earth |
| Dan 2:20 | Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. | Blessing God's name for His attributes |
| Heb 1:8 | But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever..." | God's reign and eternal kingdom (applied to Christ) |
| Isa 44:6 | Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel... "I am the first and I am the last; | God's exclusive claim as King |
| Ps 99:5 | Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His footstool—He is holy. | Exaltation connected to His holiness |
| Ps 113:2 | Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! | Unceasing praise through all generations |
| Ps 29:10 | The Lord sits enthroned as King forever. | God's eternal enthronement as King |
| Deut 6:4-5 | Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God... | Emphasis on personal relationship with one God |
Psalm 145 verses
Psalm 145 1 Meaning
Psalm 145:1 is a fervent declaration of personal commitment to praise the Almighty God. It expresses King David's resolution to highly exalt the Lord, addressing Him as his personal God and eternal King, and to perpetually bless His very being, character, and power for all time. This verse sets the tone for the entire psalm, which is a song of praise to God's glorious nature, unfailing works, and eternal kingdom.
Psalm 145 1 Context
Psalm 145 stands as a "Praise of David," being the only psalm in the entire Psalter specifically designated as a Tehillah (Praise). It is an acrostic psalm, with each successive verse (after verse 1, which serves as an introduction) beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, emphasizing comprehensive and systematic praise of God. The psalm details various facets of God's character: His greatness (vv. 3-7), His goodness and compassion (vv. 8-9), His righteous works and kingdom (vv. 10-13), His upholding and providing care (vv. 14-16), His righteousness and nearness (vv. 17-20), and concludes with a renewed vow of praise (v. 21). Verse 1 serves as the overarching declaration of the psalmist's personal commitment, setting the stage for the enumeration of reasons for such boundless praise. Historically, as a Davidic psalm, it likely reflects David's kingship and his deep understanding of God's supreme authority, often in contrast to human rulers and pagan deities. This assertion of God's ultimate sovereignty served as an indirect polemic against contemporary polytheistic beliefs prevalent in the ancient Near East, which promoted multiple localized or limited gods.
Psalm 145 1 Word analysis
- I will extol: (Hebrew: אֲרוֹמִמְךָ, aromimkha) The root רוּם (rum) means "to be high, to rise, to lift up." Here, it signifies to highly exalt, magnify, or elevate in praise. It conveys the act of declaring God's supremacy and lifting Him up in the hearts and minds of the worshiper and onlookers. It's a deliberate act of adoration, acknowledging God's lofty position above all creation and anything that might seek to rival Him.
- You, my God: (Hebrew: אֱלֹהַי, Elohai) "Elohai" signifies a deeply personal relationship—"my God," distinct from a generic 'god'. This personal possessive suffix indicates intimacy, trust, and belonging, showing the psalmist's recognition of God as the true, living God who has entered into a covenant relationship with him. It underscores the personal experience of God's greatness.
- O King;: (Hebrew: הַמֶּלֶךְ, ha-Melech) Addressing God as "the King" asserts His absolute sovereignty and rightful rule over all creation. This is not merely an earthly monarch but the King of the universe, whose dominion is eternal and encompasses all things. It challenges any human authority as ultimate and reinforces the divine monarchy.
- And I will bless: (Hebrew: וַאֲבָרְכָה, va'avar’khah) The root בָּרַךְ (barak) primarily means "to kneel," leading to "to bless" or "to praise." When humans bless God, it means to acknowledge and declare His goodness, to praise and worship Him, or to speak well of Him with profound reverence. It's an act of adoring and thanking God for who He is and what He has done, in contrast to God blessing humans, which means bestowing favor and good.
- Your name: (Hebrew: שִׁמְךָ, shimkha) In biblical thought, "name" (שֵׁם, shem) represents the whole person, their character, attributes, reputation, and authority. Blessing God's name is therefore to praise all of God's revealed character, His very being, His power, His holiness, and His presence, not merely a title. It signifies worshipping the entirety of who God is.
- Forever and ever: (Hebrew: לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד, le'olam va'ed) This double expression emphasizes an absolute, unending, perpetual, and eternal duration. It's not just for a lifetime, but without end, into eternity. It speaks to the psalmist's profound and unwavering commitment to unending worship, reflecting the eternal nature of the God he praises.
Psalm 145 1 Bonus section
Psalm 145 is uniquely designated Tehillah L'David, "A Praise of David," and is considered by many scholars and Jewish tradition as the pinnacle of the book of Psalms, which is itself called Tehillim (Praises) in Hebrew. This opening verse, therefore, embodies the essence of biblical worship: a personal, eternal, and all-encompassing adoration of God as the ultimate sovereign King. The use of "I will" highlights individual volition and commitment, indicating that praise is a conscious choice, a posture of the heart and mind. While a personal declaration, it also resonates universally, inviting all creatures mentioned later in the psalm to join in this boundless praise of the Creator and King.
Psalm 145 1 Commentary
Psalm 145:1 presents a powerful, deliberate, and comprehensive opening to a psalm of pure praise. David’s commitment is absolute: he will exalt and will bless. This isn't a suggestion but a resolute decision born from a deep, personal relationship, signified by "my God." Addressing Him as "the King" affirms God's universal and supreme rule, acknowledging that true authority rests solely with Him. The object of this adoration isn't just a generic deity but God's very "name"—His complete being, attributes, and revealed character. The declaration "forever and ever" transforms temporary emotion into an eternal principle, grounding worship in God's immutable nature and anticipating endless worship. It's an expression of worship rooted in who God is (King), personal experience (my God), and eternal purpose (forever and ever). Practically, this verse encourages believers to consciously and personally declare God's greatness, to acknowledge His reign over their lives, and to commit to a lifelong, even eternal, posture of worship. For instance, in times of blessing, we "extol" His goodness; in times of challenge, we "bless His name" knowing His character remains steadfast.