Psalm 146:2 kjv
While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
Psalm 146:2 nkjv
While I live I will praise the LORD; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
Psalm 146:2 niv
I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Psalm 146:2 esv
I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
Psalm 146:2 nlt
I will praise the LORD as long as I live.
I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.
Psalm 146 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 145:1-2 | "I will extol you, my God and King... Every day I will bless you..." | Lifelong, daily praise |
| Ps 104:33 | "I will sing to the Lord as long as I live..." | Echoes same commitment to continuous praise |
| Ps 63:4 | "So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands." | Actively praising throughout life |
| Ps 34:1 | "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth." | Continuous praise |
| Phil 1:21 | "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." | Life's purpose aligned with God's glory |
| Rev 5:9-10 | "...they sang a new song... Worthy are you to take the scroll..." | Heavenly, eternal praise of the Lamb |
| Rev 7:10-12 | "...Salvation belongs to our God... Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom..." | Eternal praise from a multitude |
| Rev 19:1, 6 | "...Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God..." | Resounding praise in heaven |
| 1 Cor 10:31 | "...whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." | All of life dedicated to God's glory |
| Ps 86:12 | "I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify your name forever." | Heartfelt, everlasting glorification |
| Isa 12:4 | "...Praise the Lord, call upon his name..." | Call to worship and praise |
| Ps 9:1 | "I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart..." | Wholehearted worship |
| Ex 15:2 | "The Lord is my strength and my song..." | Lord as the subject of praise |
| Deut 10:21 | "He is your praise. He is your God..." | God as the object and source of praise |
| Jer 17:5-8 | Contrast between trusting man and trusting the Lord. | Reinforces theme of trusting/praising only God |
| Ps 118:8-9 | "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man." | Further emphasizes trusting God alone |
| Ps 42:1-2 | "As a deer pants for flowing streams, so my soul pants for you, O God." | Deep desire for God, expressed in praise |
| Eph 1:6 | "to the praise of his glorious grace..." | Purpose of redemption is God's praise |
| Heb 13:15 | "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God..." | Ongoing nature of praise as an offering |
| Col 3:16-17 | "...singing psalms and hymns... in the name of the Lord Jesus..." | Praise as a form of spiritual living |
| Judg 5:3 | "Hear, O kings... I will sing to the Lord..." | Example of leaders committed to singing praise |
| Isa 38:18-19 | "For Sheol does not thank you... The living, the living, he thanks you..." | Praise is for the living |
Psalm 146 verses
Psalm 146 2 Meaning
Psalm 146:2 expresses the psalmist's resolute and enduring commitment to praising the Lord. It signifies a lifelong dedication to worship, encompassing all aspects and duration of one's existence. The verse emphasizes that glorifying God is not merely an occasional act but a fundamental purpose woven into the very fabric of one's life, lasting as long as breath and consciousness persist.
Psalm 146 2 Context
Psalm 146 marks the beginning of the final collection of psalms (Psalms 146-150), all of which begin and end with "Hallelujah" (Praise the Lord). This particular psalm functions as a vibrant call to worship, primarily directing trust away from finite human rulers and institutions, and firmly placing it upon the eternal, faithful, and just God. Verses 3 and 4 immediately follow verse 2, warning against putting confidence in princes or in any human being who cannot save and whose breath departs. Therefore, the psalmist's declaration of lifelong praise to God in verse 2 is a foundational affirmation, setting the stage for the subsequent arguments for why God alone is worthy of such absolute and enduring devotion. Historically, Israel often faced the temptation to align with powerful nations or rulers for security, a reliance that frequently led to spiritual compromise. Psalm 146 strongly counters this tendency by elevating the divine King over any earthly authority, making the declaration of continuous praise to the Lord a statement of profound theological and practical allegiance for the original audience.
Psalm 146 2 Word analysis
- "I will praise" (אֲהַלְלָה - ahallelah): This word derives from the Hebrew root halal (הָלַל), meaning "to praise," "to boast," "to make a show of." It conveys a strong, enthusiastic, and often public expression of commendation. The initial 'a' sound (aleph) indicates a first-person singular cohortative imperfect tense, signifying a firm resolve or settled purpose: "I will indeed praise," rather than a mere intention or wish. It's a declared, unyielding commitment.
- "the Lord" (יְהוָה - Yahweh): This is God's covenant, personal name, often rendered as "LORD" in English Bibles. Its use here emphasizes a deeply personal and relational aspect of the psalmist's worship. It speaks to God's unchanging nature, His faithfulness to His promises, and His redemptive action. Praising Yahweh acknowledges His unique identity as the sovereign and covenant-keeping God of Israel.
- "while I live" (בְּחַיַּי - b'chayyay): This phrase uses chai (חַי), meaning "life" or "living." The suffix 'ay' (my) combined with the preposition 'b' (in, throughout, while) denotes "in my life" or "throughout my life." It expresses the temporal scope of the commitment: praise is not limited to specific occasions but encompasses the entirety of the psalmist's waking existence. It highlights a continuous state of worship as long as one draws breath.
- "I will sing praises" (אֲזַמְּרָה - azammerah): This comes from the Hebrew root zamar (זָמַר), which means "to sing," "to make music," or "to praise with musical instruments." Like ahallelah, it uses the cohortative form, again indicating a resolute determination to engage in melodic worship. This word suggests an intentional, joyful, and often skilled expression of praise through song and music, often accompanied by instruments, distinguishing it slightly from the broader halal.
- "to my God" (לֵאלֹהַי - lelohay): Elohay (אֱלֹהַי) is a possessive form of Elohim (אֱלֹהִים), the generic but powerful Hebrew word for God, referring to Him as the mighty Creator and sovereign Ruler. The prefix 'le' (לְ) means "to" or "for." By using "my God," the psalmist reaffirms a deeply personal relationship and allegiance to this ultimate divine power, asserting that this mighty Creator is specifically his God, worthy of his personal praise.
- "while I have my being" (בְּעוֹדִי - b'odi): This is a profound and perhaps more encompassing phrase than "while I live." Od (עוֹד) means "yet," "still," or "continuance," "duration." The suffix 'i' (my) combined with the preposition 'b' translates to "while I am still" or "while my existence endures." It emphasizes not just the span of life, but the very essence of continued consciousness, awareness, and identity. This expression extends the commitment to praise beyond mere physical vitality, implying a dedication that will persist as long as consciousness itself, even hinting at eternal existence or the spiritual being.
Psalm 146 2 Bonus section
The strong cohortative verbal forms (ahallelah, azammerah) express a deep, deliberate personal vow, highlighting the psalmist's active decision and steadfast commitment. This isn't merely a statement of fact about how the psalmist praises, but an earnest declaration of resolve. The two phrases describing the duration of praise, "while I live" and "while I have my being," complement each other, offering a comprehensive and total commitment. "While I live" (b'chayyay) emphasizes the span of one's physical earthly life, whereas "while I have my being" (b'odi) carries a richer, perhaps spiritual nuance, speaking to the continuation of consciousness or soul-existence. Some interpretations extend "while I have my being" to a profound eschatological hope, suggesting a praise that transcends death and continues into eternity, aligning with biblical concepts of eternal worship in the new heavens and new earth.
Psalm 146 2 Commentary
Psalm 146:2 encapsulates a core truth about human purpose: continuous and enthusiastic worship of God is paramount. The dual declaration of "praise" (halal) and "sing praises" (zamar) highlights both the general and the more active, musical expressions of worship, ensuring that devotion is all-encompassing. The repeated emphasis on duration ("while I live" and "while I have my being") is a powerful testament to unceasing commitment. It signals that praising the Lord and one's personal God is not a fleeting emotion or occasional duty, but the lifelong calling that defines existence. This psalm, positioned at the outset of the final Hallelujah collection, sets an eternal tone. It challenges the listener to align their deepest trust and life's pursuits not with the temporary promises of this world, but with the unwavering faithfulness of the Living God.