Psalm 89 16

Psalm 89:16 kjv

In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.

Psalm 89:16 nkjv

In Your name they rejoice all day long, And in Your righteousness they are exalted.

Psalm 89:16 niv

They rejoice in your name all day long; they celebrate your righteousness.

Psalm 89:16 esv

who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted.

Psalm 89:16 nlt

They rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation.
They exult in your righteousness.

Psalm 89 verses

Psalm 89 16 Meaning

Psalm 89:16 describes the profound and enduring joy of the faithful in the character and acts of God. "They rejoice in your name all day long" means that their continuous gladness is rooted in God's revealed nature, attributes, and authority. "They exult in your righteousness" signifies that their boasting, elevation, or highest joy is found not in themselves, but in God's faithful, just, and salvific acts which always align with His perfect character. This verse portrays a life permeated by adoration and delight in the God who is consistently good and true.

Psalm 89 16 Context

Psalm 89 is a "Maskil" or instructive psalm, reflecting upon the Lord's steadfast love (hebrew: hesed) and faithfulness (hebrew: emunah). The first section (vv. 1-18) celebrates God's immense power, sovereign reign, and unwavering character, particularly emphasizing His covenant with David. This specific verse (v.16) is part of a beatitude, immediately following the declaration, "Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound; they walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance" (v.15). The "they" in verse 16 refers to these blessed individuals—those who are deeply acquainted with God's presence and receive His favor. It highlights the characteristics and privileges of those who walk in intimate relationship with the Almighty, providing a striking contrast to the lament that dominates the latter part of the Psalm (vv. 38-51) where the psalmist questions God's faithfulness amidst national crisis. Despite the later lament, this verse establishes the foundational truth of God's character as the unchangeable source of joy and exaltation.

Psalm 89 16 Word analysis

• They rejoice (יְהַלְּלוּ - yehallēlū): From the Hebrew root HLL (הָלַל), which means to praise, laud, boast, or be light/shine. This word is strongly associated with hallelujah (Praise the Lord!). It implies active, jubilant, and often public celebration. It's not a passive happiness but an energetic outpouring of delight rooted in who God is.
• in your name (שִׁמְךָ - šimkā): In biblical understanding, God's "name" signifies His revealed character, attributes, reputation, and essence. It encompasses all that God has shown Himself to be—His power, faithfulness, holiness, wisdom, and love. To rejoice in His name means to rejoice in His very being and identity, as He has made it known. It implies worship and reliance on His divine authority.
• all day long (כָּל־הַיּוֹם - kāl-hayyōm): This phrase emphasizes the continuous, pervasive, and sustained nature of their rejoicing. It indicates a joy that is not fleeting or occasional, but constant, deeply ingrained in their daily experience and mindset. It reflects a life lived consistently in awareness and adoration of God.
• they exult (יָרוּמוּ - yārūmū): From the Hebrew root RWM (רוּם), meaning to be high, be lifted up, to rise, or to be exalted. In this context, it conveys a sense of being honored, elevated, or publicly boasting in God. It's a joyful lifting up, an expression of high honor and pride, not in themselves, but in their association with God and His qualities.
• in your righteousness (וּבְצִדְקָתְךָ - ūḇəṣidqāṯəḵā): From the Hebrew word tzedakah (צדקה). God's "righteousness" is not merely abstract justice or strict adherence to rules, but encompasses His moral purity, His covenant faithfulness, His saving acts, and His just dealings with humanity, particularly in delivering His people and upholding His promises. Their exaltation comes from God's consistent faithfulness to His covenant and His people, demonstrating His upright character through saving action.

Words-group analysis:

• They rejoice in your name all day long: This phrase describes an intimate and continuous relationship where the entire person, throughout their whole life, finds their delight and satisfaction in the person and character of God as revealed through His name. It's a total, unwavering commitment of joy to His essence.
• they exult in your righteousness: This indicates that the grounds for their high esteem and confident boasting is not their own merit, achievements, or circumstances, but rather God's unwavering faithfulness, His moral integrity, and His saving, redemptive acts which demonstrate His justice and love. It directs all glory and honor back to Him alone.

Psalm 89 16 Bonus section

The profound connection between God's "Name" and His "Righteousness" is central here. God's Name encapsulates His self-revelation (Exod 3:14; 34:5-7), and His righteousness is the practical outworking of His covenant faithfulness and saving character. Therefore, rejoicing in His Name and exulting in His righteousness are two facets of the same profound relationship of trust and adoration. This constant joy is not born of mere emotion but is rooted in an unwavering theological conviction about God's perfect and consistent nature, even when human circumstances appear contrary to divine promises, as implied later in this very Psalm. This sustained joy in God serves as a witness to His unwavering character in a world marked by fleeting happiness and shifting foundations.

Psalm 89 16 Commentary

Psalm 89:16 powerfully articulates the heart of genuine worship: perpetual delight and honor directed towards God. The "blessed people" mentioned in the preceding verse derive their ultimate joy from an intimate knowledge of God's revealed being ("your name") and His consistent, salvific acts ("your righteousness"). Their rejoicing is not fleeting or circumstantial, but "all day long," signifying a joy that pervades every aspect of life, unwavering through trials, because its source is immutable God Himself. Their "exulting" implies a public acknowledgement and internal elevation of God's righteousness as the sole ground for their hope and confidence. This verse stands as a testament to the truth that ultimate human fulfillment and exaltation come from revering and celebrating God’s faithful and just nature.