Psalm 61 8

Psalm 61:8 kjv

So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

Psalm 61:8 nkjv

So I will sing praise to Your name forever, That I may daily perform my vows.

Psalm 61:8 niv

Then I will ever sing in praise of your name and fulfill my vows day after day.

Psalm 61:8 esv

So will I ever sing praises to your name, as I perform my vows day after day.

Psalm 61:8 nlt

Then I will sing praises to your name forever
as I fulfill my vows each day.

Psalm 61 verses

Psalm 61 8 Meaning

Psalm 61:8 expresses a resolute commitment by David to perpetually praise God's character and continuously fulfill the solemn promises he has made to Him. This commitment stems from God's demonstrated faithfulness and protection, as experienced throughout David's life and detailed in the preceding verses. It signifies a life of sustained gratitude, active worship, and faithful obedience, recognizing that God's deliverance prompts a lifelong response of devotion.

Psalm 61 8 Context

Psalm 61 is a heartfelt prayer of David, likely composed during a time of exile or distress when he was far from Jerusalem, the spiritual center. Many scholars connect it to his flight from his son Absalom (2 Sam 15-19) or from Saul (1 Sam 23). The psalm opens with a cry for God to hear his supplication (v.1-2), a plea from a place of physical and emotional distance and vulnerability ("the end of the earth"). David recounts God as his established refuge and strong tower (v.3), expressing a deep desire to dwell perpetually in God's presence and security (v.4). He acknowledges God's previous actions of giving him an "inheritance" and a "heritage" among those who fear His name, signifying a received blessing and divine protection for his kingship (v.5). He then prays for the king's long life and God's continued faithfulness and truth to preserve him (v.6-7). Verse 8 serves as David's promised response to this divine faithfulness—a pledge to offer lifelong, continuous praise and to fulfill the vows he made in reliance on God's future and past help. It seals his commitment to God's covenantal loyalty with a corresponding pledge of human loyalty and devotion.

Psalm 61 8 Word analysis

• So: (u-makkeh - וּמַכֵּה). This conjunctive particle links the verse strongly to the preceding verses. It indicates a consequential action; because God has been his refuge and will extend mercy to the king, therefore David will respond in kind. It reflects a covenantal understanding where divine action elicits human response.
• will I ever: (l'olam - לְעוֹלָם). l'olam signifies perpetuity, eternity, or a very long duration. Here, it denotes an unending, ceaseless commitment. It is not a temporary praise but a fundamental, lifelong dedication, reinforcing the steadfast nature of David's worship.
• sing praises: (azammerah - אֲזַמְּרָה). From the root zamar (זָמַר), meaning to pluck strings, make music, or sing. The Piel form (azammerah) implies active, fervent, and intentional praise. It denotes not just internal devotion but an outward, audible expression of worship, often with musical accompaniment, indicating heartfelt and purposeful adoration.
• unto thy name: (shimkha - שִׁמְךָ). The "name" of God in Hebrew thought (שֵׁם - shem) represents His entire revealed character, attributes, reputation, and authority. To sing praises to God's name is to worship who He is in His essence – His power, holiness, steadfast love, and faithfulness. It signifies comprehensive praise of His being and all His acts.
• that I may daily perform: (l'shallêm yom yom - לְשַׁלֵּם יוֹם יוֹם).
  • l'shallêm: From the root shalem (שָׁלַם), meaning to be whole, complete, or sound. In this Piel form, it means to make complete, to pay, to perform, or to fulfill. It underscores the act of diligently carrying out what has been promised, with integrity and wholeness.
  • yom yom: A repetition of yom (יוֹם - day). This intensive repetition means "day by day," "every day," or "daily." It emphasizes consistency, regularity, and an unbroken habit of action. It points to a life of sustained, practical faithfulness rather than sporadic effort.
• my vows: (nedarai - נְדָרַי). neder (נֶדֶר) refers to a solemn promise or oath made to God, often conditional or made in a time of crisis or prayer (e.g., "If God will grant deliverance, I will do X"). These were considered highly binding commitments in ancient Israel, requiring serious adherence. Performing them demonstrates integrity, gratitude, and a genuine fear of the Lord.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "So will I ever sing praises unto thy name": This phrase marks David's determined resolution. It signifies a direct, unceasing response to God's faithfulness, where all his worship is directed to the totality of God's character and being. It's a pledge of continuous, active, and vocal adoration, highlighting the perpetual nature of the praise ("ever") toward God's essence ("thy name").
• "that I may daily perform my vows": This explains the purpose or result of his enduring praise and underscores the practical, obedient aspect of his devotion. It's a commitment to consistent obedience and integrity in fulfilling solemn promises made to God. The combination of "daily" and "vows" indicates a life disciplined by fidelity to commitments, demonstrating an active, consistent response of covenant loyalty and thanksgiving for God's interventions and promises. It grounds spiritual devotion in practical, ethical living.

Psalm 61 8 Bonus section

The structure of Psalm 61 moves from distress to trust, from prayer to assurance, and finally to a promise of lifelong gratitude and obedience. Verse 8 acts as the culminating point of David’s response, showing that experiencing God's deliverance prompts a covenantal reaction. In a broader biblical context, the concept of "name" encapsulates the entire being and authority of God. To praise His "name" is to acknowledge and extol all that He is. This aligns with a deeper Old Testament theological understanding where the "name of the Lord" invoked His presence and power. The commitment to fulfill vows was a significant aspect of covenant living for the Israelites, emphasizing sincerity, honesty, and reverent fear of God. Breaking a vow was considered a grave offense against the divine. The daily nature of performing vows implies that devotion is a constant, integrated part of life, not just for special occasions, reinforcing the idea of an unbroken walk with God.

Psalm 61 8 Commentary

Psalm 61:8 is David's profound pledge of responsive devotion, sealing the heartfelt supplication and trust articulated in the preceding verses. Having acknowledged God as his unfailing refuge and preserver, David binds himself to an eternal covenant of praise and obedience. The "singing praises to thy name forever" signifies a lifelong dedication to active worship, glorifying God's intrinsic character and all His mighty acts. This is not merely an emotional outburst but a perpetual, reasoned response to who God is. Coupled with this is the practical commitment to "daily perform my vows." This underscores that true spiritual devotion is not abstract; it includes diligent adherence to promises made to God. These "vows" often represent acts of thanksgiving, sacrifices, or specific duties undertaken in reliance upon divine help or after experiencing deliverance. The "daily" aspect emphasizes that genuine faith and gratitude are manifested not sporadically but through consistent, day-by-day integrity and faithfulness. Thus, the verse harmonizes worship with obedience, reflecting a holistic life lived in covenant fidelity with God, demonstrating that God's grace prompts humanity's enduring gratitude and righteous living.