Psalm 66 4

Psalm 66:4 kjv

All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.

Psalm 66:4 nkjv

All the earth shall worship You And sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your name." Selah

Psalm 66:4 niv

All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name."

Psalm 66:4 esv

All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name." Selah

Psalm 66:4 nlt

Everything on earth will worship you;
they will sing your praises,
shouting your name in glorious songs." Interlude

Psalm 66 verses

Psalm 66 4 Meaning

Psalm 66:4 declares a prophetic vision and command for all the inhabitants of the earth to prostrate themselves in worship and joyfully sing praises to the Living God and to His holy Name. It anticipates a universal recognition of God's supreme authority and awe-inspiring works, calling forth a unified act of reverence and adoration from every people, tribe, and nation. The repetition of "sing praises" emphasizes the enthusiastic and heartfelt nature of this anticipated worldwide homage.

Psalm 66 4 Context

Psalm 66 is primarily a psalm of thanksgiving, both communal and individual, for God's powerful acts of deliverance. The opening verses (1-7) serve as a communal call for "all the earth" to acknowledge and celebrate God's awesome deeds and His might shown through historical events, particularly His bringing Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness (implied in "He turned the sea into dry land," vs. 6). Verse 4 fits within this grand, global invocation of praise. It describes the expected, rightful response of creation to the Creator King. The chapter then shifts (vs. 8-12) to describe how God tested and refined Israel through hardship but brought them to a place of abundance. The latter part (vs. 13-20) becomes a personal declaration of thanksgiving and vow fulfillment for answered prayer. Psalm 66:4 therefore stands as a foundational assertion of God's universal sovereignty and the due response from His creation, anticipating a future fulfillment. The "Selah" at the end of the verse serves as a musical or meditative pause, emphasizing the profound truth just stated.

Psalm 66 4 Word analysis

• All the earth (כָּל־הָאָרֶץ, kāl-hā’āreṣ):

  • כָּל (kāl): Means "all," "every," "the whole." Denotes totality and comprehensiveness.
  • הָאָרֶץ (hā’āreṣ): From אֶרֶץ (’ereṣ), meaning "earth," "land," "ground." With the definite article 'ha-', it signifies "the earth" in a global, cosmic sense, referring to all its inhabitants, not merely a geographical location.
  • Significance: This phrase expresses a universal scope, far beyond Israel, anticipating a day when every living being on the planet, regardless of nation or creed, will recognize the true God. This is both a hopeful prophetic declaration and a statement of God's ultimate claim over all creation, implying His singular deity and rightful authority over any other claimed gods or idols of the nations. It stands in contrast to localized deities and reinforces a monotheistic worldview.

• worships you (יִשְׁתַּחֲוּוּ לָךְ, yištahaʾû lāḵ):

  • יִשְׁתַּחֲוּוּ (yištahaʾû): From the root שָׁחָה (shachah), in the Hithpael (reflexive/reciprocal) stem. It means "to bow down," "prostrate oneself," "to do obeisance," "to make homage." This is a physical act of submission, reverence, and profound humility before a superior. It goes beyond mere intellectual assent to God's existence; it signifies utter devotion and recognition of authority.
  • לָךְ (lāḵ): "to You." The pronoun explicitly directs this act of worship towards God alone.
  • Significance: This emphasizes absolute submission and adoration. It highlights the direct, personal nature of this worship. In the ancient world, prostration was a sign of deference to kings or gods, asserting a master-servant relationship. For "all the earth" to prostrate themselves before YHWH polemically implies His universal kingship and repudiates any claim of other deities.

• and sings praises to you (וִיזַמְּרוּ לָךְ, wîzammerû lāḵ):

  • וִיזַמְּרוּ (wîzammerû): From the root זָמַר (zamar), meaning "to pluck (strings)," "make music," "sing," "sing praises," "celebrate with song." It implies joyful, celebratory, vocal, and often instrumental praise.
  • לָךְ (lāḵ): "to You." Again, directing the praise solely to God.
  • Significance: This shows that the worship is not just formal reverence but also active, joyful, and expressive. It combines the awe-filled bowing with a resounding declaration of praise. It also distinguishes Israel's worship, which includes music and song, from forms of worship that might only involve ritual.

• they sing praises to your name (יְזַמְּרוּ שְׁמֶךָ, yəzammerû šəmeḵā):

  • יְזַמְּרוּ (yəzammerû): Repetition of the root זָמַר (zamar), reinforcing the action of joyful singing and celebrating. The repetition emphasizes the certainty and abundance of this praise.
  • שְׁמֶךָ (šəmeḵā): From שֵׁם (shēm), "name," with the suffix for "your." In biblical thought, "name" refers to a person's entire character, reputation, authority, and essence—all that defines them.
  • Significance: Praising God's "name" means praising all that He is: His attributes (holiness, power, love, justice, faithfulness), His acts, and His revelation. It's a comprehensive praise of His divine being and manifestation. The direct address ("to You") combined with the reference to "Your Name" indicates both a personal and comprehensive form of worship, encompassing His known character and identity. The emphasis on "Your Name" subtly asserts God's unique identity against other so-called gods who also have names; only His Name truly encapsulates ultimate reality and deserved praise.

Psalm 66 4 Bonus section

The "Selah" at the end of the verse invites pause and meditation. It underscores the weight and profound truth of the statement, allowing the worshiper or reader to fully absorb the idea of the universal worship of God. This pause also often suggests a climax or particularly significant thought. The prophetic nature of this verse stands out, presenting not merely a human aspiration but a divine expectation and future certainty rooted in God's ultimate reign. While Israel was unique in knowing God's Name and mighty acts, this Psalm asserts that the revelation of God's glory is for "all the earth," implying a future expansion of knowledge and worship.

Psalm 66 4 Commentary

Psalm 66:4 is a powerful declaration of God's universal sovereignty and the corresponding response owed to Him by all creation. It prophesies a day when the entire world will willingly prostrate themselves in humility and worship before God, not only in silent reverence but also with joyful, musical praise directed specifically to His character and being. This universal worship is the fitting response to the God whose "awesome deeds" are proclaimed in the surrounding verses—deeds like the deliverance of Israel which hint at His unmatched power. The dual expression of "worships you" (bowing) and "sings praises to you/your name" (singing) conveys a comprehensive act of homage—one of profound submission and another of ecstatic adoration. It sets a theological expectation for global acknowledgement of the one true God, a theme that resonates throughout prophetic literature and culminates in the New Testament vision of every knee bowing to Jesus Christ, recognizing His divine authority which is in unity with God the Father's. It challenges localized or partial understandings of God, proclaiming His undisputed reign over every corner of the earth.