Psalm 96:7 kjv
Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
Psalm 96:7 nkjv
Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples, Give to the LORD glory and strength.
Psalm 96:7 niv
Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Psalm 96:7 esv
Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
Psalm 96:7 nlt
O nations of the world, recognize the LORD;
recognize that the LORD is glorious and strong.
Psalm 96 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 29:1-2 | Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name... | Call for celestial beings to give God glory and strength. |
| 1 Chr 16:28-29 | Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name... | Direct parallel, part of a hymn for the Ark's procession. |
| Psa 22:27-28 | All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD... For kingship belongs to the LORD, and He rules over the nations. | Prophecy of universal conversion and God's dominion. |
| Psa 66:4 | All the earth worships You and sings praises to You; they sing praises to Your name. | Universal worship acknowledging God's worth. |
| Psa 86:9 | All the nations You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name. | Eschatological promise of future universal worship. |
| Psa 95:6 | Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! | General call to worship God as Creator. |
| Psa 145:10-13 | All Your works shall give You thanks, O LORD, and all Your saints shall bless You! They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom... | Universal praise acknowledging God's glorious kingdom. |
| Isa 45:22-23 | "Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other... Every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance to Me." | God's unique identity and the universal submission to Him. |
| Isa 66:18-21 | "I am coming to gather all nations and tongues... and they shall declare My glory among the nations." | God's future global evangelistic purpose and glory. |
| Jer 10:6-7 | There is none like You, O LORD... for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like You. Who would not fear You... for to You belongs all honor? | Contrasts God with idols, asserting His uniqueness and supreme worth. |
| Mal 1:11 | "For from the rising of the sun to its setting My name will be great among the nations..." | Prophecy of global recognition of God's greatness. |
| Hab 2:14 | For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. | Universal knowledge of God's manifest presence and worth. |
| Zech 14:9 | And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and His name one. | Eschatological prophecy of God's universal reign. |
| Rom 15:9-12 | ...so that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy... "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!" ... "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol Him!" | Gentile inclusion in God's plan for glorifying Him. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth... | Universal submission and confession to Christ, fulfilling God's universal kingship. |
| Rev 5:12-13 | ...saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb... to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth... saying, "To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" | Eschatological vision of all creation giving ultimate praise to God and the Lamb. |
| Rev 19:1 | After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God..." | Heavenly hosts acknowledging God's exclusive attributes. |
| Psa 115:1-8 | Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name give glory... Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases. Their idols are silver and gold... they have mouths, but do not speak... | Polemic against idols, emphasizing God's real power versus their futility. |
| Acts 14:15-17 | ...urging you to turn from these vain things to a living God... | Calls for conversion from idolatry to the true and living God. |
| Acts 17:28 | "For 'in Him we live and move and have our being'..." | God's absolute immanence and the source of all life. |
Psalm 96 verses
Psalm 96 7 Meaning
Psalm 96:7 is a powerful call to all the diverse family groups and nations of the earth to recognize and acknowledge the one true God, the Lord YHWH. It is an imperative, urging them to render to Him what is inherently His: His supreme glory, which encompasses His honor, majesty, and splendor, and His unparalleled strength, representing His power, might, and dominion. This verse demands that global humanity abandon all false allegiances and unite in ascribing the unique attributes of divine honor and omnipotence exclusively to the Lord.
Psalm 96 7 Context
Psalm 96 is a triumphant psalm that serves as a profound call to worship God as the universal King, celebrating His righteous rule over all the earth. It is categorized among the "Enthronement Psalms" (Psalms 93, 95-100), which anticipate or celebrate the Lord's universal reign, often with a future-oriented, eschatological tone. The psalm begins with an exhortation to "sing a new song to the LORD" (v. 1), urging all the earth to praise Him, proclaim His salvation, and declare His glory among the nations (v. 2-3). It explicitly contrasts the Lord's greatness with the idols of the nations, declaring them to be "worthless" (v. 5).
Within this grand scope, verse 7 particularly focuses on the global responsibility of all humanity. It follows a declaration of God's power over idols, underscoring that His reign is not confined to Israel but extends to every family group and people. Historically, this would have challenged Israel's understanding of their unique covenant, broadening their perspective to God's ultimate desire for universal acknowledgment. Culturally, it stood in stark contrast to the polytheistic environments of the ancient Near East, where different "gods" had limited territorial or ethnic influence. Psalm 96:7 asserts that the Lord YHWH, the God of Israel, is the only deserving recipient of true divine glory and strength from every corner of the world, thereby issuing a strong polemic against the territorial deities and limited powers attributed to pagan idols and gods.
Psalm 96 7 Word analysis
- Ascribe (הָב֤וּ - habu): This verb is a masculine plural imperative form of נָתַן (natan), meaning "to give, put, set, allow, present." Here, it conveys a strong command to "bring to," "attribute to," or "render" something to someone. It implies not merely stating something, but actively recognizing and declaring that God alone possesses these qualities and is therefore worthy of them. The repetition of habu within the verse emphasizes the urgency and importance of this command. It's an active transfer of recognition and honor.
- to the LORD (לַֽיהוָה֙ - laYahweh): This specifies the exclusive recipient. Yahweh (יהוה) is the covenant name of God, revealed to Moses, emphasizing His self-existence, eternal nature, and covenant faithfulness. It distinguishes Him from all other so-called "gods" of the nations. The preposition "to" (la) signifies direction and attribution – these qualities are to be given exclusively to Him. The repetition here further stresses that Yahweh, and no other deity, is worthy of this glory and strength.
- O families (מִשְׁפְּח֣וֹת - mishpechot): The plural of מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpachah), which refers to a "family," "clan," or "tribe." This term signifies not just individuals, but social and kinship units. It emphasizes the collective responsibility and identity of peoples. The Hebrew thought system saw humanity organized into families, clans, and tribes before evolving into "nations."
- of the peoples (עַמִּ֔ים - ammim): The plural of עַם (am), meaning "people" or "nation." In this context, used in the plural with mishpechot, it unmistakably refers to all the diverse nations and ethnic groups on earth, not just Israel. This underscores the universal scope of the psalm's command – the worship and recognition of God's glory and strength are due from every existing human community, irrespective of their current culture or religion.
- glory (כָּב֣וֹד - kavod): From the root כָּבֵד (kaved), meaning "heavy" or "weighty." In this context, it denotes honor, reputation, majesty, splendor, dignity, and divine manifestation. Giving God kavod means acknowledging His intrinsic weightiness, His supreme importance, His awe-inspiring presence, and His radiant nature. It encompasses both His inherent divine radiance and the honor humanity should confer upon Him.
- and strength (וָעֹֽז - v'oz): From the root עָזַז (azaz), meaning "to be strong" or "to be mighty." This refers to God's inherent power, might, vigor, and impregnable defense. Giving God oz means acknowledging His omnipotence, His capacity to create, sustain, deliver, and judge. It's an recognition of His effective and absolute power that distinguishes Him from any limited human or false deity.
- "Ascribe to the LORD... ascribe to the LORD": This repetition, known as an anaphora, provides intense emphasis. It underscores that giving God glory and strength is not a casual suggestion but an urgent, repeated, and mandatory act of recognition and worship from all. It signifies a solemn, binding obligation.
- "O families of the peoples": This phrase is a powerful descriptor for humanity in its entirety, structured by its various ethnic and kinship groupings. It ensures that no group or nation is excluded from this divine imperative. It reflects a comprehensive universalism. The language hints at the Adamic family dispersion, yet a universal call to come together in worship of the true God. This grouping is specifically mentioned elsewhere (Gen 10) regarding the Table of Nations, suggesting a theological scope spanning all descendant lines of humanity.
- "glory and strength": These two attributes are inextricably linked. God's glory is not merely aesthetic but is empowered by His infinite strength. His strength is not brute force but purposeful, reflecting His righteous and majestic character. Together, they represent His awe-inspiring, inherent divine nature and active sovereign rule over creation. They are the twin pillars of God's majesty and efficacy that are to be universally acknowledged.
Psalm 96 7 Bonus section
This verse is often paralleled with Psalm 29:1-2 and 1 Chronicles 16:28-29, indicating a shared liturgical theme in ancient Israelite worship where these core attributes of God were specifically extolled. The Chronicler’s inclusion of this specific wording for the dedication of the ark highlights its significance for understanding God's reign established not just over Israel, but prophetically over all humanity through the Messianic kingdom. The "families of the peoples" speaks to God's original intent for humanity to be one global family under His sovereign rule, a truth echoed from Genesis' Table of Nations, all stemming from one origin (Acts 17:26). Thus, the call in Psalm 96:7 is a return to proper, unified worship by all who descended from Adam, fulfilling their created purpose to give God what is His due. The language resonates deeply with the missional heart of God throughout the Scriptures, from Abraham's call to be a blessing to all nations to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.
Psalm 96 7 Commentary
Psalm 96:7 delivers an unyielding imperative for universal worship. It's a foundational theological statement affirming God's sole right to receive ultimate honor and power from every existing family, clan, and nation. The repetition of "Ascribe to the LORD" isn't merely for poetic rhythm; it is a forceful insistence on direct and exclusive acknowledgment of YHWH over all other claimed divinities. This call highlights that God's glory (His intrinsic radiance and infinite worth) and His strength (His omnipotence and absolute dominion) are not transferable; they belong uniquely to Him. This makes the verse a direct challenge to all forms of idolatry and polytheism, implicitly asserting that the "gods" of other nations have no genuine glory or strength worthy of worship (as stated explicitly in verse 5). For the ancient worshiper, this would mean turning away from the false securities and cultural ties of pagan religion to embrace the sovereign God of Israel as the King of all creation. For believers today, it serves as a global summons to mission, recognizing that God desires and deserves the praise of all peoples, foreshadowing the global Church where "every nation, tribe, people and language" will worship Him. The essence of this verse calls for worship rooted in the deep conviction of God's unmatched majesty and irresistible power, making worship not just an act, but a proper response to who God truly is.