Psalm 65:1 kjv
Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
Psalm 65:1 nkjv
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. A Song. Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion; And to You the vow shall be performed.
Psalm 65:1 niv
For the director of music. A psalm of David. A song. Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled.
Psalm 65:1 esv
Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed.
Psalm 65:1 nlt
What mighty praise, O God,
belongs to you in Zion.
We will fulfill our vows to you,
Psalm 65 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 62:1 | "Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation." | Waiting in silent dependence on God. |
| Ps 76:11 | "Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God..." | Command to make and fulfill vows. |
| Ecc 5:4-5 | "When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it... better that thou | Warning about unfulfilled vows. |
| Deut 23:21 | "When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to | Divine command for prompt vow fulfillment. |
| Num 30:2 | "If a man vow a vow unto the LORD... he shall do according to all that pr | Principles governing vows and their sanctity. |
| Ps 9:11 | "Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion..." | God's presence in Zion as cause for praise. |
| Ps 48:1 | "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God..." | Praise directed to God in His holy city. |
| Ps 145:3 | "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised..." | God's intrinsic worthiness of profound praise. |
| Ps 100:4 | "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise." | Call to enter worship with gratitude and praise. |
| Is 62:7 | "...give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a prai | Prayer/watchfulness for Zion's establishment. |
| Zec 8:3 | "Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst | God's promised return and dwelling in Zion. |
| Heb 13:15 | "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, | Continuous New Covenant praise. |
| Rom 12:1 | "...present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, whi | Life as an offering/fulfillment of devotion. |
| Mal 1:11 | "For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my na | Future worldwide praise of God. |
| Php 2:10-11 | "...that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... and that every ton | Universal future confession and worship of Christ. |
| Rev 4:11 | "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power..." | Declaration of God's supreme worthiness of praise. |
| 2 Cor 1:20 | "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen..." | God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. |
| Matt 5:33 | "Ye have heard that it hath been said... Thou shalt not forswear thyself, | New Covenant emphasis on truthfulness, not vows. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "...ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house... to offer | Believers as a spiritual priesthood offering praise. |
| Rev 5:9 | "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy..." | Worship of the Lamb with new songs of praise. |
| Ps 66:13-14 | "I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows, wh | Personal commitment to fulfilling vows. |
| Is 30:15 | "For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and res | Strength in quietness and trust, mirroring "waiting". |
Psalm 65 verses
Psalm 65 1 Meaning
Psalm 65:1 proclaims that true praise for God involves both a deep, silent reverence and the faithful fulfillment of promises made to Him. It suggests that praise is not just an outward expression but an inward posture of expectant awe, uniquely belonging to God in Zion, His holy dwelling. It also declares the certainty that all vows made to the Almighty will indeed be honored and performed there.
Psalm 65 1 Context
Psalm 65 is a psalm of thanksgiving, likely for God's provision, particularly bountiful harvests, and His sustaining presence in Zion. The opening verse establishes the setting and theme of God's exclusive right to praise and the faithful fulfillment of pledges made to Him within His dwelling place. Historically, Zion (Jerusalem) was the focal point of Israel's worship, symbolizing God's presence and reign among His people. The performance of vows was an integral part of Old Covenant worship, emphasizing integrity and obedience in devotion to God. The psalm would have been understood by the original audience as a response to divine blessing, acknowledging God's majesty and faithfulness.
Word Analysis
- Praise (תְּהִלָּה, tehillah): This Hebrew word means laudation, hymns, or songs of praise. It signifies vocal expression of adoration. Here, it suggests that even unuttered, profound worship awaits or is due to God. It reflects His intrinsic worthiness that naturally elicits adoration.
- waiteth (דֻּמִיָּה, dumiyyah): This is a rich and debated term. Derived from the root damam (to be silent, still), dumiyyah carries several profound nuances.
- Silent praise/reverence: The KJV's "waiteth" evokes a profound quietude, a reverent silence before God's majesty, an awe that words cannot fully express. It's an expectant, contemplative silence, where the soul is stilled in adoration. This meaning is reinforced by other passages like Ps 62:1.
- Praise that is due/belongs: Many modern translations render this as "praise is due" or "belongs to." In this sense, dumiyyah speaks to the proper recipient of all worship. Praise inherently and exclusively belongs to God in Zion; it is His rightful possession.
- Quiet expectation: Combined, it implies an anticipation of God's action, where even in silence, praise is held in readiness. It's the silent acknowledgement of God's sovereign power and faithfulness.
- for thee (לְךָ, lekha): Emphasizes exclusivity. Praise is not for humans or idols, but singularly and utterly for God.
- O God (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim): A common and general Hebrew term for God, often associated with His power as Creator and Sustainer of the universe, and His universal sovereignty. It underscores His immense capacity and authority.
- in Sion (בְּצִיּוֹן, b'Tzion): Zion represents God's dwelling place, specifically Jerusalem and the Temple mount. It signifies the place where God chose to reveal His presence and receive worship. It implies the localization of His covenant relationship with Israel, a physical nexus for His spiritual presence.
- and unto thee (וְלְךָ, v'lekha): A powerful repetition for emphasis. It reiterates the absolute exclusivity of God as the one to whom vows are directed and performed.
- shall the vow (נֶדֶר, neder): A solemn promise or pledge made to God, often in exchange for a specific blessing or deliverance, or as an expression of devotion. It could involve sacrifices, abstinence, or specific acts of service.
- be performed (יְשֻׁלַּם, yeshullam): From the verb shalem, meaning to make whole, complete, repay, or render. It emphasizes the absolute requirement and certainty of fulfilling such promises. Vows, once made, must be paid or discharged, underscoring the integrity demanded in covenant relationship with God.
Psalm 65 1 Commentary
Psalm 65:1 introduces a deep aspect of worship: an expectant, awe-filled silence before the Creator, knowing that all true praise belongs to Him alone. This isn't just about vocal adulation, but a profound stillness of soul that recognizes God's infinite worth. In Zion, the very heart of His presence, this silent, profound adoration culminates in the solemn fulfillment of vows. The verse teaches that our relationship with God encompasses not just expressions of praise, but also unwavering integrity in keeping the promises we make to Him. It links inner reverence with outward obedience, revealing that both aspects are essential to worship Him fully. True worship is thus reverent, expressive, expectant, and committed to integrity.
Bonus SectionThe dual interpretation of dumiyyah (silent waiting vs. praise that is due) highlights a profound theological truth: God is both inherently worthy of all praise (it "is due" Him) and His presence evokes a deep, inexpressible awe that leads to silent, expectant waiting. This silence is not emptiness but an overflow of worship where words fall short. In the New Covenant, while vows are not commanded as they were in the Old, the principle of solemn commitment to God is transformed into a life of consecrated obedience and integrity, where one's "yes" means yes, and "no" means no (Matt 5:37). The spiritual reality of Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb 12:22-24), signifies that ultimate praise and the fulfillment of all divine promises find their complete realization in God's eternal presence.