Psalm 145 21

Psalm 145:21 kjv

My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

Psalm 145:21 nkjv

My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD, And all flesh shall bless His holy name Forever and ever.

Psalm 145:21 niv

My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.

Psalm 145:21 esv

My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

Psalm 145:21 nlt

I will praise the LORD,
and may everyone on earth bless his holy name
forever and ever.

Psalm 145 verses

Psalm 145 21 Meaning

Psalm 145:21 is a concluding declaration of praise, shifting from the psalmist's personal commitment to worship the Lord to an fervent call for all creation to bless God's sacred name eternally. It encapsulates the core theme of the entire Psalm, which celebrates the Lord's character—His greatness, power, goodness, righteousness, and enduring faithfulness—culminating in an unwavering expression of worship that extends to every living being for all time.

Psalm 145 21 Context

Psalm 145 is the final Psalm attributed to King David in the book of Psalms and is considered the crowning glory of David's praise psalms. It is an acrostic psalm (though some manuscripts have a missing "Nun" verse, which is present in the Septuagint and Qumran texts, thus maintaining the full acrostic structure from Aleph to Tav). The Psalm is a comprehensive and climactic hymn, expressing magnificent praise for YHWH, highlighting His greatness, kingship, mighty acts, steadfast love, righteousness, compassion, and provision for all living things. Each preceding verse, though structurally tied to the Hebrew alphabet, thematically contributes to building a grand picture of God's character and worthiness of worship. Verse 21 acts as the triumphant summary and call to action, broadening the scope of praise from the individual (David, "My mouth will speak...") to the entire creation ("all flesh") and setting it for eternity ("forever and ever"). This expansion reflects a theological understanding that God's sovereignty extends universally and deserves universal recognition.

Psalm 145 21 Word analysis

• My mouth: Pi (פִי). Refers to the instrument of speech, but metaphorically implies the entire being—mind, heart, and spirit—involved in worship. It emphasizes the personal, direct, and active nature of the psalmist's commitment to praise God. It's a vow to articulate God's praises.
• will speak: Yedabber (ידבר). From the root dabar (דבר), meaning "to speak, declare, converse." It is an imperfect tense verb, indicating a continuous or habitual action. The psalmist pledges a continuous, intentional declaration of praise. It’s not just a momentary utterance but a consistent proclamation.
• the praise: Tehillat (תהלת). From halal (הלל), "to praise, to boast in, to shine." This noun denotes commendation, adoration, renown, or a song of praise. It is the same root as Tehillim, the Hebrew name for the Book of Psalms. It's not just speech but the very essence of worship.
• of the Lord: YHWH (יהוה). The Tetragrammaton, God's personal covenant name revealed to Israel, signifying His eternal, self-existent nature, faithfulness, and relationship with His people. The praise is specifically directed to the sovereign, living God, distinguishing Him from any other purported deities.
• and let all flesh: Ve-yevarekh kol basar (ויברך כל־בשר). "All flesh" (kol basar) is a potent Hebrew idiom. While often referring to humanity (Isa 40:5, Joel 2:28), it can also encompass all living creatures (Gen 7:15). In this context, it expands the sphere of praise from the psalmist to every living being, symbolizing the universality of God's dominion and the deserved universal response of worship.
• bless: Yevarekh (יברך). Piel imperfect, often used as a jussive in contexts like this ("let [them] bless"). From the root barak (ברך), meaning "to kneel, to praise, to bless." Here, it means to acknowledge God's inherent goodness, to invoke Him with praise and adoration, or to pay homage to Him. It's an active, reverent act of acknowledging His greatness.
• his holy name: Shem kodsho (שם קדשו). "Name" (shem) in biblical thought signifies one's character, essence, and authority. "Holy" (kodesh) denotes separateness, purity, majesty, and transcendence. To bless His holy name is to acknowledge His utterly unique, pure, and glorious being. It emphasizes the profound reverence due to Him alone.
• forever and ever: L'olam va'ed (לעולם ועד). This adverbial phrase denotes perpetuity, eternity, and endless duration. It signifies that the praise and blessing of God's name should be continuous and without end, transcending all temporal boundaries, fitting for an eternal God whose reign is forever.

Psalm 145 21 Bonus section

Psalm 145, culminating in verse 21, is sometimes referred to as "David's Psalm of Praise" and is prominently featured in Jewish liturgy, recited daily by devout Jews. The presence of the acrostic structure across the entire psalm signifies completeness and perfection, almost as if every letter of the Hebrew alphabet must be employed to adequately praise the Lord, with the final verse bringing a grand summary. The missing "Nun" verse in some Masoretic texts, stating "The LORD upholds all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down," while syntactically complete, enriches the full acrostic form when included as in the LXX or Qumran. This verse further strengthens the theological context of God's universal care and compassion, making the call for "all flesh" to praise Him in verse 21 even more resonant and logically consequent to His universal benevolence. The movement from "my mouth" (individual) to "all flesh" (universal) mirrors God's reign—His personal care for the individual combined with His sovereign rule over all creation. This final verse is not merely an ending but a summons, an everlasting doxology.

Psalm 145 21 Commentary

Psalm 145:21 serves as a profound capstone to a psalm that meticulously catalogues the majestic attributes of the Lord. It opens with the psalmist's resolute, personal vow: "My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord." This is not a mere statement of fact, but a heartfelt declaration of commitment, an unwavering resolve that his very breath will be used to exalt YHWH. This individual commitment forms the bedrock upon which the second part of the verse builds.

The psalmist's praise transcends the personal to embrace the universal: "and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever." The phrase "all flesh" encompasses all humanity and, by extension, all living creation, signaling that the Lord's goodness, power, and sovereignty, so richly described in the preceding verses, demand a universal, unqualified response of adoration. This is a bold, prophetic utterance, expressing a yearning for a world where every creature acknowledges the one true God. This desire stands as a powerful polemic against any polytheistic belief systems, asserting YHWH as the sole legitimate recipient of ultimate, everlasting worship from all beings.

The phrase "bless his holy name" is crucial. To "bless" God is not to bestow upon Him what He lacks, but to acknowledge and proclaim His inherent glory, goodness, and worthiness. "His holy name" encapsulates His divine character, His sacred nature set apart from all created things, His covenant faithfulness, and His sovereign authority. The demand for this blessing to be "forever and ever" highlights the eternal nature of God and the unending duration of the worship He deserves, anticipating a time when all creation will bow in reverent homage, perhaps hinting at a future eschatological fulfillment. The verse moves from an intimate personal resolve to an ultimate, grand vision of unending, universal adoration for the Lord God, cementing Psalm 145 as a comprehensive and climactic hymn of praise.