Psalm 34:3 kjv
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
Psalm 34:3 nkjv
Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.
Psalm 34:3 niv
Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.
Psalm 34:3 esv
Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!
Psalm 34:3 nlt
Come, let us tell of the LORD's greatness;
let us exalt his name together.
Psalm 34 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 70:4 | May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, “God is great!” | Desire for God's greatness to be proclaimed. |
| Psa 95:1-2 | Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving… | Call to collective worship and praise. |
| Psa 100:1-2 | Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing! | Universal call to joyous worship. |
| Luke 1:46 | And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, | Mary's personal magnifying of God. |
| Isa 2:2 | It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains… | God's supremacy to be recognized universally. |
| Psa 29:2 | Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. | Direct command to give God His due glory. |
| Psa 99:5 | Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he! | Command to exalt and worship God. |
| Psa 145:1 | I will extol you, my God, O King, and I will bless your name forever and ever. | Personal commitment to exalt God's name. |
| Psa 148:13 | Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven. | God's name is supremely exalted. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… | Exaltation of Jesus' name above all. |
| John 17:6 | “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world." | Christ reveals God's character (name). |
| Exo 3:15 | God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers… has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever…” | God's self-revealed eternal covenant name. |
| Psa 69:30 | I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. | Linking praise, song, and magnifying God. |
| Heb 13:15 | Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. | Continual corporate praise, acknowledging God. |
| Acts 4:24 | And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them…" | Unified prayer and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him… | Believers' purpose to declare God's praise. |
| Col 3:16 | Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs… | Corporate teaching and worship through song. |
| Psa 113:1-3 | Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD! Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore! | Call for continuous praise of God's name. |
| 1 Chr 29:13 | And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. | Corporate thanks and praise to God's name. |
| Psa 40:16 | But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the LORD!” | Continuous proclamation of God's greatness. |
| 2 Sam 7:26 | And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is God over Israel… | Desire for God's name to be perpetually glorified. |
| Psa 149:1 | Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly! | Call to sing praise in the community. |
Psalm 34 verses
Psalm 34 3 Meaning
Psalm 34:3 is an urgent invitation from the psalmist to join in unified and corporate praise of God. It is a call to declare the greatness and supremacy of the LORD, making His infinite worth and power visible and honored among His people. The verse emphasizes that such worship is a shared act, where individuals collectively uplift and glorify God's revealed character and authority.
Psalm 34 3 Context
Psalm 34 is a thanksgiving psalm of David, composed after his deliverance from King Abimelech (Achish of Gath) where he feigned madness (1 Sam 21:10-15). It recounts his personal experience of seeking God and receiving deliverance, prompting a desire to share his testimony and invite others into a similar worship experience. Verse 3 is a direct invitation, following the psalmist's personal commitment to praise (v. 1: "I will bless the LORD at all times...") and his public declaration of God's work (v. 2: "My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad"). The call to "magnify" and "exalt" is not merely an emotional response but a public declaration rooted in tangible experience of God's goodness and a shared understanding of His supreme worth.
Psalm 34 3 Word analysis
"O magnify": Gadalu (גַּדְּל֥וּ) from the root gadal (גָּדַל), meaning "to be great," "to become great," "to make great." This is not suggesting God's inherent greatness needs increase, but that His greatness, though infinite, should be publicly displayed, made visible, or declared to be great in the perception of others. It implies acknowledging His immense worth and power. This concept inherently contrasted with the worship of lesser, limited Canaanite deities, asserting YHWH's incomparable majesty.
"the LORD": Yahweh (יְהוָ֑ה), the covenant name of God. This distinct name emphasizes God's self-existence, eternal nature, faithfulness, and personal relationship with His people. It distinguishes Him from any pagan deity and highlights His active involvement in the lives of those who trust Him.
"with me": The invitation extends to others to participate alongside the psalmist. It transforms personal praise into shared worship, building community around a common experience and object of adoration. It’s an act of shared testimony and corporate response.
"and let us exalt": N’romemah (וּֽנְרוֹמְמָ֖ה) from the root rum (רוּם), meaning "to be high," "to lift up," "to raise." It signifies elevation, dignity, or honor. This active lifting up of God suggests a public and deliberate elevation of His status above all other powers or authorities, affirming His sovereignty and supremacy. It means to hold God in the highest possible esteem and express that reverence.
"His name": Represents God's revealed character, His attributes, His identity, and His authority. Honoring "His name" is equivalent to honoring God Himself in His complete essence. In ancient cultures, a name encompassed a person's reputation, power, and identity. To exalt His name is to recognize and declare His true nature and rightful position above all else. This stood in sharp contrast to the multiplicity and often scandalous characters of polytheistic gods.
"together": Yahdav (יַחְדָּֽו), emphasizing unity, solidarity, and corporate participation. This word highlights the communal nature of worship and mutual encouragement in glorifying God. It underscores that this act is not just individual piety but a shared expression of devotion.
Psalm 34 3 Bonus section
The call to "magnify" God often carries an imperative to spread His fame. It means to declare His deeds and attributes, causing others to see His greatness, similar to a telescope that makes distant objects appear larger. "Exalting His name" implies making it famous and respected universally, distinguishing it from any earthly title or power. This corporate worship serves as both an invitation to others and an act of spiritual discipline for the participants, affirming their trust in God's goodness experienced by the psalmist. It counters self-exaltation and redirects all praise and attention to the One true God, challenging the prevailing idol worship and polytheism of the time. The very act of declaring God's name to be great shapes the worshiper's own perspective and priorities.
Psalm 34 3 Commentary
Psalm 34:3 is a compelling summons to communal worship. After personally experiencing God's delivering hand, David transitions from personal boast and testimony (v. 1-2) to an impassioned plea for others to join him in praising the LORD. To "magnify" God is to declare His greatness, making His already vastness apparent to human understanding. To "exalt His name" is to lift up and honor His very character and authority above all things, attributing supreme dignity to Him. The collective aspect, "with me" and "together," is crucial; it reflects that worship, though deeply personal, finds its fullest expression in corporate unity. It moves from private awe to public proclamation, fostering a shared recognition of God’s sovereignty and grace within the community of believers. This communal exultation of God strengthens faith and unity among those who seek Him.