Psalm 35:18 kjv
I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
Psalm 35:18 nkjv
I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people.
Psalm 35:18 niv
I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you.
Psalm 35:18 esv
I will thank you in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise you.
Psalm 35:18 nlt
Then I will thank you in front of the great assembly.
I will praise you before all the people.
Psalm 35 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 22:22 | I will tell of Your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise You. | Public praise, sibling psalm themes |
| Ps 40:9-10 | I have proclaimed righteousness within the great assembly... | Proclamation of God's deeds in public |
| Ps 66:13-14 | I will come into Your house with burnt offerings... I will pay You my vows, which my lips uttered... | Paying vows of thanks and praise |
| Jon 2:9 | But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD. | Thanksgiving for deliverance from trouble |
| Ps 107:32 | Let them extol Him in the congregation of the people and praise Him in the assembly of the elders. | Exaltation of God in public assemblies |
| Ps 111:1 | Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright and in the assembly. | Thanksgiving in community |
| Heb 2:12 | saying, “I will proclaim Your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.” | Christ's public proclamation (Quoting Ps 22:22) |
| Ps 7:17 | I will give thanks to the LORD for His righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High. | Thanksgiving for God's righteous judgment |
| Ps 18:49 | For this I will give thanks to You among the nations, O LORD, and sing praises to Your name. | Praise to God for deliverance, reaching nations |
| Isa 12:4 | And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name... Declare His doings among the peoples.” | Command to publicly declare God's acts |
| Ps 34:1-3 | I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth... Magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together! | Communal praise for deliverance |
| Ps 109:30 | With my mouth I will give great thanks to the LORD; I will praise Him in the midst of many. | Echoing Ps 35:18's public thanksgiving |
| Ps 9:1-2 | I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of Your wonderful deeds... I will be glad and exult in You. | Heartfelt thanksgiving and recounting deeds |
| Ps 26:12 | My foot stands on level ground; in the great congregation I will bless the LORD. | Thanksgiving after rescue from instability |
| Acts 2:47 | praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. | Early church public praise and growth |
| 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 sacrifice of public praise |
| 1 Chr 16:8-9 | Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name... Tell of all His wondrous works. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him. | Call to recount God's deeds publicly |
| Rev 7:11-12 | And all the angels were standing around the throne... saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” | Heavenly praise, emphasizing thanksgiving |
| 1 Sam 7:12 | Then Samuel took a stone... and called its name Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us." | Public monument/declaration of God's help |
| Neh 9:5 | Then the Levites, Jeshua... said, "Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be Your glorious name..." | Call to public corporate blessing and praise |
Psalm 35 verses
Psalm 35 18 Meaning
Psalm 35:18 expresses a solemn vow by the psalmist to offer public and profound gratitude to God following anticipated divine deliverance from adversaries. It signifies a commitment to acknowledge God's saving power and righteousness openly within the assembly of His people, thereby proclaiming His goodness and faithfulness before a wide audience.
Psalm 35 18 Context
Psalm 35 is a deeply emotive prayer of David, or a psalmist in similar straits, crying out for God's intervention against his ruthless enemies who have attacked him unjustly. The psalm swings between fervent petition for judgment on his foes and confident declaration of future praise to God. Verses 1-8 describe the enemies and appeal for divine action. Verses 9-16 detail the psalmist's personal suffering and the malicious ingratitude of his attackers. Amidst this anguish, verse 18 is a pivotal shift, expressing a confident vow that once God acts, the psalmist will fulfill his promise of open worship. This verse stands as an act of faith, looking beyond current suffering to anticipated deliverance and the resultant public declaration of God's saving power within the corporate worship setting of Israel. Historically, it reflects the practice of Israelites giving thanks and offering sacrifices in the sanctuary upon being delivered from distress (e.g., in fulfillment of vows made in times of trouble).
Psalm 35 18 Word analysis
- I: The psalmist, specifically David in many traditions, representing a righteous individual facing severe opposition. It's a personal declaration and commitment.
- will give You thanks: The Hebrew word here is
yāḏâ(יָדָה), which means to praise, confess, give thanks, or laud. It often involves extending the hand or throwing. Here, it signifies open, active acknowledgment and grateful proclamation. It is a sacrifice of praise. - in the great: Hebrew
rāb(רָב) meaning abundant, numerous, much, great. It emphasizes the significant scale of the gathering. - congregation: The Hebrew word is
qāhāl(קָהָל), which refers to an assembly, congregation, or community. In a biblical context, it frequently denotes the formally assembled people of Israel for religious or communal purposes. It suggests an official, communal gathering for worship and testimony, rather than a private act. This implies the psalmist desires his testimony to be publicly known and integrated into the communal worship life. - I will praise You: The Hebrew is
ʾahallelka(אֲהַלֶּלְךָ), from the roothālal(הָלַל), meaning to praise, boast, shine, celebrate. It is the root from which "Hallelujah" (Praise Yah) is derived. This word often implies active, joyful, even exultant praise. It complements "give You thanks," reinforcing the public, enthusiastic nature of the vowed response. - among many: Again, Hebrew
rāb(רָב), here used adverbially with "people." It echoes "great congregation," amplifying the notion of a large audience. - people: The Hebrew word is
ʿam(עַם), referring to a people, nation, or kin. Used in conjunction withqāhāl rāb, it broadens the scope to include all of God's gathered people, not just a select group. The declaration will be heard by all.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "I will give You thanks... I will praise You": This pairing indicates both gratitude (
yāḏâ) and jubilant adoration (hālal). It signifies a complete, heartfelt response to God's intervention, encompassing both thankfulness for the act of deliverance and honor for who God is. This dual expression underscores the depth of the psalmist's future public worship. - "in the great congregation; among many people": These two phrases are parallel, synonymous terms that strongly emphasize the public nature of the psalmist's intended thanksgiving. They highlight that his praise will not be a private whisper, but a loud, communal proclamation heard by a significant portion of the Israelite community, serving as a testimony to God's righteousness and faithfulness. This public setting aligns with Israelite custom where deliverances were celebrated communally, reinforcing faith and acknowledging God's hand among His chosen nation.
Psalm 35 18 Bonus section
The vow in Psalm 35:18 implies a covenantal relationship between God and the psalmist. In the Old Testament, making a vow of praise or sacrifice for deliverance was common. This specific verse emphasizes not just that thanksgiving will occur, but where—publicly, within the gathered worshiping community. This served to bolster the faith of others, reminding them that Yahweh indeed sees the suffering of His righteous ones and acts on their behalf. It counters the taunts of the ungodly who might question God's presence or justice (cf. Ps 35:25), showing that God truly intervenes. The polemical undertone lies in contrasting the transparent, communal, and righteous worship of Yahweh with the often clandestine and wicked plots of the enemies detailed elsewhere in the psalm.
Psalm 35 18 Commentary
Psalm 35:18 articulates a profound spiritual principle: a vow of public thanksgiving for anticipated divine deliverance. In a psalm consumed by the plea for justice against unjust enemies, this verse marks a transition to hopeful faith, envisioning a future where God’s vindication allows the psalmist to joyfully and publicly declare His goodness. It is not just private gratitude, but a commitment to an open confession of God’s work within the assembled community of faith (qāhāl). This public declaration serves to honor God, encourage fellow believers, and testify to His active involvement in human affairs. The double emphasis on "great congregation" and "many people" underscores the collective nature of worship in ancient Israel, where the community played a vital role in affirming and celebrating God’s mighty deeds. The psalmist understands that God's deliverance is not only for his personal benefit but also for the glory of God before His people, making His salvation manifest for all to witness and rejoice in. For believers today, this verse echoes the importance of sharing testimonies of God's faithfulness within the church, bringing glory to Him and building up the faith of others.