Psalm 40 3

Psalm 40:3 kjv

And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Psalm 40:3 nkjv

He has put a new song in my mouth? Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD.

Psalm 40:3 niv

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.

Psalm 40:3 esv

He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.

Psalm 40:3 nlt

He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the LORD.

Psalm 40 verses

Psalm 40 3 Meaning

Psalm 40:3 articulates the psalmist's experience of divine deliverance and the resultant overflow of praise. Having been lifted from a desperate situation, the Lord inspired a fresh, unprecedented song of thanksgiving. This act of praise, borne out of God's specific redemptive work, is not only an expression of the psalmist's personal gratitude but also serves as a powerful public testimony. Its display, characterized by God's manifest action, is intended to cause onlookers to recognize God's greatness, fear Him with reverence, and consequently place their confidence and reliance upon the Lord.

Psalm 40 3 Context

Psalm 40 is a "mixed psalm" encompassing elements of both thanksgiving and lament/prayer. The opening verses (1-3) focus on a past act of glorious deliverance, where the psalmist was rescued from a "miry pit" and had a "new song" placed in his mouth. This forms the foundation for his praise and testimony. The middle section (vv. 4-10) broadens to an appreciation of God's wonderful works and an emphasis on obedience over sacrifice, specifically highlighting the Messiah's willingness to do God's will (Heb 10:5-7 directly quotes Ps 40:6-8 as Christ's words). The final section (vv. 11-17) transitions back to a plea for immediate help amidst current troubles. Verse 3 is embedded within the initial declaration of thanksgiving, highlighting the outcome of God's redemptive intervention: personal praise and public witness leading others to faith. Historically, such psalms often arose from specific life-threatening situations—illness, war, injustice—from which God miraculously delivered.

Psalm 40 3 Word analysis

• He has put (נָתַן - natan): This Hebrew verb means "to give, place, set." It denotes intentional divine action, emphasizing that the song is not self-generated but a direct gift from God. This highlights God's initiative in transforming the psalmist's condition and filling his heart and mouth with praise.
• a new song (שִׁיר חָדָשׁ - shir chadash):
  • New (chadash): Signifies freshness, something recently experienced or revealed. It implies a departure from previous sorrow or complaint. This isn't just another song, but a fresh response to a fresh and specific act of salvation, demonstrating God's continued, active involvement. It often anticipates a future, unique work of God.
  • Song (shir): A means of expressing deep emotion, typically praise or joy. The specific deliverance from the pit was so profound and distinct that it required a novel form of worship beyond mere repetition of old praises.
• in my mouth: This denotes immediate, public, and authentic proclamation. The praise is not merely an internal thought but an outward declaration, directly empowered by God. It implies the psalmist became God's instrument for glorifying Him.
• praise (תְּהִלָּה - tehillah): This term specifically refers to "praise," often a song of laudation. It clarifies the content and purpose of the new song—it is explicitly an anthem of glorification directed towards God. This counters any self-praise or focus on human agency.
• to our God (לֵאלֹהֵינוּ - l'Eloheinu): The preposition "to" (l' ) directs the praise explicitly towards God. The use of "our God" (Eloheinu) emphasizes a personal, covenantal relationship with the divine, implying a shared, communal understanding of God's identity and goodness within the community of faith. This also creates a bridge to the communal impact described next.
• many will see it: "See" (ra'ah) here means to perceive, observe, understand, or experience directly. This refers to an outward, public display of God's work in the psalmist's life, implying the testimony is visible and tangible to others. It suggests the redemptive act is not private but bears public witness.
• and fear (וְיִרְאוּ - v'yir'u): "Fear" (yare' ) in this context denotes a reverential awe and worshipful respect, rather than terror. Upon witnessing God's intervention, others will acknowledge His sovereignty, power, and holiness. This is a recognition of God's unmatched authority and His rightful place as Lord. It signifies a correct and humble response to divine revelation.
• and put their trust (וְיִבְטְחוּ - v'yivt'khu): "Trust" (batakh) means to rely on, confide in, or feel secure in. It represents a deep, enduring faith and dependence. This is the desired outcome of the public testimony and the resultant fear of God: people turn from self-reliance or trust in false gods to confide wholly in the one true God.
• in the LORD (בַּיהוָה - baYahweh): Referring to Yahweh (YHWH), the personal, covenantal, self-existent God of Israel. This specifies the unique object of their trust, differentiating Him from any pagan deity or human strength. It underlines the exclusive and singular devotion to the covenant God.

Words-group analysis:

• "He has put a new song in my mouth—praise to our God": This phrase encapsulates the divine initiative (God placing the song), the nature of the transformed response (a new song, distinct from past lament), and its specific recipient (praise directed to "our God," emphasizing a relational and communal context). It speaks to God's restorative power leading to authentic, Spirit-empowered worship.
• "many will see it and fear": This highlights the public, transformative impact of God's work. The visible demonstration of God's intervention (the psalmist's deliverance and praise) acts as a powerful witness, drawing others to a position of respectful awe towards God. It emphasizes that divine acts are often intended to produce a corporate response of reverence.
• "and put their trust in the LORD": This denotes the ultimate desired outcome of the witnessed miracle and subsequent fear—a shift from mere acknowledgment to active, confident reliance upon God. It signifies conversion, demonstrating that the ultimate purpose of God's public display of power is to draw people into a relationship of faith with Him. This moves beyond mere observation to committed discipleship.

Psalm 40 3 Bonus section

The "new song" motif appears several times in the Psalms and Isaiah, and significantly in Revelation, often associated with a new act of divine redemption or creation (e.g., deliverance from exile, or the salvation brought by Christ). This suggests that God is continually at work in fresh ways, demanding a correspondingly fresh response of worship that cannot be confined to previous expressions. The imagery of being "put in my mouth" implies the song is not merely adopted but divinely infused, reflecting a genuine heart transformation. The effect of "many will see and fear" contains a subtle polemic against any competing gods or sources of power. While pagan deities were thought to require propitiation, the LORD elicits reverential fear because of His mighty and gracious acts of salvation. This "fear" is distinct from the terror induced by unpredictable idols; it is a fear that leads to healthy, secure "trust" in the one true God, highlighting the unique nature of Israel's God. The psalmist's experience thus serves as a paradigm for God's redemptive strategy to draw humanity to Himself.

Psalm 40 3 Commentary

Psalm 40:3 encapsulates a fundamental principle of biblical faith: God's redemptive work inevitably elicits a response of profound praise from the recipient, which in turn becomes a potent testimony drawing others to Him. The "new song" is more than just a melody; it's a fresh theological articulation, born out of a fresh encounter with God's saving power. It stands in stark contrast to the former "miry pit" of despair, symbolizing the depth of God's rescue. This is not a humanly concocted song but divinely "put" into the mouth, indicating an authentic, God-inspired praise. The shift from personal praise ("my mouth") to communal impact ("our God," "many will see it") is crucial. God's mighty acts are often revealed publicly, not for His personal glorification alone, but so that others might recognize His sovereignty and turn to Him in humble reverence ("fear") and genuine faith ("trust"). The "fear" here is not terror but worshipful awe at His greatness, leading to active confidence in His faithfulness. This verse portrays the chain reaction of salvation: God saves -> believer praises -> praise is a testimony -> testimony leads others to fear God -> fear leads to trust in God. It underscores the evangelistic ripple effect inherent in personal testimony, demonstrating that genuine transformation serves as a compelling invitation to others to embrace God's sovereignty and grace.

• Practical Examples:
  • A person healed of a severe illness publicly sharing their testimony in church, inspiring others to pray and trust in God's power.
  • Someone delivered from a deep addiction sharing their story with vulnerability, causing friends to ask about their source of strength and consider faith.
  • A Christian community acting with extraordinary love and generosity during a crisis, leading non-believers to inquire about their beliefs and the God they serve.