Psalm 44 8

Psalm 44:8 kjv

In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.

Psalm 44:8 nkjv

In God we boast all day long, And praise Your name forever. Selah

Psalm 44:8 niv

In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.

Psalm 44:8 esv

In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah

Psalm 44:8 nlt

O God, we give glory to you all day long
and constantly praise your name. Interlude

Psalm 44 verses

Psalm 44 8 Meaning

Psalm 44:8 is a profound declaration of exclusive and continuous trust in God amidst challenging circumstances. It expresses that the community's boast, their source of confidence and glory, is found solely and perpetually in God, and their commitment to praise His revealed character endures eternally. This statement serves as a bedrock of faith within a psalm of national lament, emphasizing an unwavering dependence on the divine, rather than on human strength or worldly achievements.

Psalm 44 8 Context

Psalm 44 is a communal lament in the Psalms of David. It expresses a fervent prayer and a cry of distress from the nation of Israel to God during a time of severe national calamity and defeat, which they do not attribute to their own sinfulness (vv. 17-19).

Before presenting their complaint, the psalm recounts God's historical acts of salvation (vv. 1-3), asserting that it was God, not human strength, that granted them victory in the past. This foundational understanding leads directly into verses 4-7, where the community explicitly affirms God as their King and Deliverer.

Verse 8, "In God we boast all day long, and praise your name forever," then serves as a confident, theological confession of their unwavering trust and loyalty despite their current, inexplicable suffering. It positions their reliance on God as their ultimate and perpetual source of identity and hope, even when His apparent presence seems absent. This declaration precedes the heart of their lament, underscoring that their complaint is born not of doubt, but of bewildered faith—a faithful community asking why their ever-reliable God has seemingly forsaken them. Historically, this psalm could apply to various periods of national humiliation, challenging the prevailing polytheistic worldview that equated a nation's strength with its patron deity's power. It firmly states that their trust remains with the One True God.

Psalm 44 8 Word analysis

• In God:

  • Original Hebrew: "bi-Elohim" (בֵּאלֹהִים). "Elohim" is a general, plural majestic term for God, emphasizing His power, sovereignty, and role as Creator, fitting for universal and all-encompassing boast.
  • Significance: The preposition "bi" (in/by) signifies the exclusive source and object of the boast. It's not about God in an external sense, but rooted in God Himself, indicating complete dependence and identification with His character and strength. It positions Him as the absolute foundation for their confidence.

• we boast:

  • Original Hebrew: "nishtabbakh" (נִשְׁתַּבַּח). This word comes from the Hithpael stem of "halal" (הָלַל), which means "to praise," "to commend," "to glorify," "to boast." The Hithpael form denotes a reflexive or intensive action: "to make oneself glorious," or "to glory oneself." The particular verb form used is actually "nodeh" (נוֹדֶה) for "praise/thank" and "hit'hallal" (הָלַל) in Hithpael (such as in Jer 9:24, 1 Cor 1:31) often translated as "boast." However, in this specific Psalm 44:8, some translations like ESV or NASB use "boast," implying "glorifying ourselves in God."
  • Significance: This "boast" is not human arrogance, but a reverent exultation. It is a public and confident declaration of ultimate dependence and triumphant allegiance to God alone, consciously contrasting with any boast in human strength, wealth, or wisdom (e.g., in pagan deities or military might). It's a joyful confession of reliance.

• all day long:

  • Original Hebrew: "kol ha-yom" (כָּל־הַיּוֹם). Literally "all the day" or "the whole day."
  • Significance: Denotes continuous, ceaseless, and enduring nature. It indicates that their trust and expression of glorying in God are not temporary or circumstantial, but a persistent and unwavering state of mind and heart, independent of external conditions or changes in fortune.

• and praise:

  • Original Hebrew: "u-shimkha l'olam nodeh" (וְשִׁמְךָ לְעוֹלָם נוֹדֶה). This is "and your name forever we give thanks/praise." "Nodeh" comes from "yadah" (יָדָה), which primarily means "to thank," "to confess," "to praise" by extending hands or giving thanks. It implies grateful acknowledgment and often public praise.
  • Significance: It shows an active and vocal expression of adoration. This is a commitment to grateful worship that acknowledges God's acts and attributes. The specific action implies an offering of thanksgiving.

• your name:

  • Original Hebrew: "shimkha" (שִׁמְךָ). The "Name" of God in the Bible is much more than a mere designation; it represents His entire revealed character, attributes, reputation, and essence.
  • Significance: To praise God's name means to praise Him in all His being – His power, holiness, faithfulness, steadfast love, and justice. It is an acknowledgment of His active presence and supreme authority in the world. It differentiates Him from other gods who are not truly active or defined by such character.

• forever:

  • Original Hebrew: "le'olam" (לְעוֹלָם).
  • Significance: This term stresses perpetuity and eternity. It underscores that the commitment to praise and the foundational trust in God are not time-bound. It’s a vow of unending allegiance and devotion that extends beyond any immediate crisis or even human lifetime into eternity, speaking to a covenantal relationship.

Words-group Analysis:

• "In God we boast all day long": This phrase highlights a singular object of faith and continuous practice. It sets a theological standard against all forms of self-reliance or trust in external powers, asserting that God is the sole and constant reason for their confidence and exaltation. This assertion functions as a powerful declaration of distinct identity in the face of pressures to conform to idolatrous or pragmatic worldviews.
• "and praise Your name forever": This section completes the declaration by linking internal confidence to external adoration and thanksgiving. "Praising His name" denotes active worship centered on God's nature and actions. The "forever" signifies the eternal duration and unbreakable nature of this commitment, showcasing an ultimate, unending loyalty regardless of temporal tribulations. This connects their current suffering to God’s eternal faithfulness.

Psalm 44 8 Bonus section

• Polemics against worldly boasts: The declaration "In God we boast" stands in direct opposition to the common human tendency to boast in physical strength (Psa 33:16-17), wealth (Psa 49:6-7), wisdom, or might (Jer 9:23). It affirms that true glory and lasting security come only from the Divine.
• Faith in Adversity: The placement of this verse within a lament is crucial. It’s a confession of faith before deliverance, not a boast after victory. This signifies a profound trust that endures and asserts God's ultimate sovereignty even when His ways are inscrutable and painful. It highlights that biblical faith is robust enough to question and lament while holding steadfast to fundamental truth.
• Collective Identity: The consistent use of "we" and "our" throughout Psalm 44 emphasizes that this is a communal declaration, reflecting the shared faith and identity of the entire nation, not just an individual. It's a statement of corporate conviction and dedication.
• Basis for Lament: This strong affirmation of faith and exclusive dependence on God sets the stage for the community's later cries of "Why?" (e.g., Psa 44:23-24). Their complaint isn't from doubt but from profound disillusionment born out of their unshakeable belief that God should protect those who faithfully trust Him.

Psalm 44 8 Commentary

Psalm 44:8 serves as a pivotal affirmation of unwavering faith within a profound communal lament. It is a courageous declaration by a people undergoing severe distress, asserting that despite their mysterious and painful circumstances, their ultimate source of pride, glory, and security remains exclusively in God. The "boast" is not arrogant self-exaltation, but a humble yet confident acknowledgment of God's greatness and past faithfulness, contrasting sharply with human boastfulness. The phrase "all day long" underscores the unceasing nature of this reliance, indicating that this faith is not situational but a foundational, continuous state of their national identity. Furthermore, linking this boast to praising God's "name forever" elevates their commitment from temporal dependency to an eternal, unshakeable covenantal allegiance. To praise His "name" is to laud His revealed character—His power, faithfulness, and righteous attributes. This verse profoundly expresses true worship: a complete, confident, and perpetual orientation of the entire community toward God, independent of immediate success or hardship, thereby solidifying their appeal to Him as their unchanging deliverer. It implicitly functions as a polemic against reliance on fleeting worldly strengths or gods.