King James Version
Psalms 138
8 verses with commentary
I Give You Thanks, O Lord
A Psalm of David. I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.</strong> This opening verse of Psalm 138 establishes David's resolute commitment to wholehearted worship of Yahweh. The emphasis on "whole heart" (בְּכָל־לִבִּי/<em>bekhol-libbi</em>) signifies complete, undivided devotion—not partial or halfhearted praise but total engagement of one's entire being in wor...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(1) **Before the gods.—**Undoubtedly, as in Psalm 82:1 : “before the great” or “mighty.” (Comp. Psalm 119:46, “before kings.”)
**Sing praise.—**Rather, *play.*
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**22. To bind--**Not literally bind; but exercise over them absolute control, as the parallel in the second clause shows; also Ge 41:40, 44, in which not literal fettering, but commanding obedience, is spoken of. It refers to Psa 105:18. The soul that was once bound itself now binds others, even princes. The same moral binding is assigned to the saints (Psa 149:8).
**teach ... senators wisdom--*...
Read full commentary →I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.</strong> This verse deepens David's worship by specifying its direction, motivation, and remarkable theological claim about God's word.<br><br>"I will worship toward thy holy temple" (אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה אֶל־הֵיכַל קָדְשְׁךָ/<em>eshtachaveh el-...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(2) Notice that “loving-kindness” and “truth” are joined as inseparable attributes of Jehovah in His relation to the chosen race.
**For thou hast magnified—***i.e.,* the promise made for help and deliverance has been fulfilled, and more than fulfilled. The psalmist often speaks of *Jehovah’s name, *or *reputation, *or *honour *being at stake. Here the poet can say that the praise won is even beyon...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**23-25. Israel ... and Jacob--**that is, Jacob himself is meant, as Psa 105:24 speaks of "his people." Still, he came with his whole house (Ge 46:6, 7).
**sojourned--**(Ge 47:4).
**land of Ham--**or, Egypt (Psa 78:51).
In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.</strong> This verse provides the evidence for David's thanksgiving—God's past faithfulness in answering prayer. "In the day when I cried" (<em>be-yom karati</em>, בְּיוֹם קָרָאתִי) identifies specific historical moment when David called to God in distress. <em>Kara</em> (קָרָא) means "to call, cry o...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(3) **Strengthenedst me with strength.**—Or, *encouragest me strongly. *(See Note to Song of Solomon 6:5, where the same Hebrew form occurs.)
**In my soul.**—Or, *at my desire.*
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**23-25. Israel ... and Jacob--**that is, Jacob himself is meant, as Psa 105:24 speaks of "his people." Still, he came with his whole house (Ge 46:6, 7).
**sojourned--**(Ge 47:4).
**land of Ham--**or, Egypt (Psa 78:51).
All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.</strong> This verse transitions from David's personal testimony (vv. 1-3) to prophetic vision of universal worship. The scope expands dramatically: "all the kings of the earth" (<em>kol-malkhei-eretz</em>, כָּל־מַלְכֵי־אָרֶץ) encompasses every nation's leadership, not just Israel's king. <em>Kol</e...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(4, 5) The general sense of these verses is plain, though there are slightly different ways of understanding the expressions. The psalmist imagines that the word or *promise, *which has been so abundantly fulfilled, will, by its performance, convince all the kings of the earth, and bring them in confession and praise to Jehovah. For a Hebrew the expression “hear the words of Thy mouth,” referring ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**23-25. Israel ... and Jacob--**that is, Jacob himself is meant, as Psa 105:24 speaks of "his people." Still, he came with his whole house (Ge 46:6, 7).
**sojourned--**(Ge 47:4).
**land of Ham--**or, Egypt (Psa 78:51).
Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.</strong> This verse continues describing the universal worship anticipated in v. 4, specifying that kings won't merely praise grudgingly but will "sing" (<em>yashiru</em>, יָשִׁירוּ)—joyful, exuberant expression. <em>Shir</em> (שִׁיר) means "to sing," often in context of worship or celebration. Singing repres...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(5) **In the ways.—**Rather, *of the ways, *this preposition being so used frequently after verbs of speaking praising (comp. Psalm 20:7; Psalm 44:8; Psalm 87:3; Psalm 105:2), though there is no parallel instance of such a use with this particular verb *sing.*
For *ways *used of God’s mighty works in creation see Job 26:14; Job 40:19; of His action in history, Psalm 18:30; Deuteronomy 32:4. It see...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**26. Moses ... chosen--**both what they were by divine choice (Psa 78:70).
Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.</strong> This verse presents a profound paradox: the transcendent, exalted God relates inversely to human pride—drawing near to the humble while keeping distance from the proud. This theological principle appears throughout Scripture and stands radically opposed to human hierarchical thinking.<b...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(6) **Knoweth afar off.**—Or, *recognises from afar. *From His exaltation Jehovah looks down alike on the lowly and on the proud, but it is to show a gracious interest in the former, while the latter are merely marked as persons to be kept at a distance. “Lowliness and humility are the court dress of God; he who wears them will please Him well.”
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**27. signs--**literally, "words of signs," or rather, as "words" in Hebrew means "things," "things of His signs," that is, His marvellous tokens of power (Psa 145:5, Margin). Compare the same Hebraism (Psa 65:3, Margin).
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.</strong> This verse transitions from theological principle to personal testimony, declaring God's faithful protection and deliverance during crisis. David speaks from experience—he knew trouble intimately through years of perse...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(7) This verse echoes Psalm 23:4; Psalm 30:3; Psalm 71:20.
**Against the wrath.—**Or perhaps, *upon the wrath.*
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
28-36. The ninth plague is made prominent as peculiarly wonderful.
**they rebelled not--**Moses and Aaron promptly obeyed God (He 11:27); (compare Ex 7:1-11:10 and Psa 78:44-51, with which this summary substantially agrees). Or, rather, the "darkness" here is figurative (Jr 13:16), the literal plague of darkness (Ex 10:22, 23) being only alluded to as the symbol of God's wrath which overhung Egy...
Read full commentary →The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.</strong> This concluding verse of Psalm 138 moves from past and present experience to future confidence. David expresses assurance that God will complete what He has begun, anchoring this confidence in God's enduring mercy and appealing to God's commitment to His ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(8) **Perfect that which concerneth me.**—Or, as in the analogous phrase (Psalm 57:2), *will complete for me*—*i.e., *either *“*all my undertakings,” or, as in Philippians 1:6, “what he has begun in and for me.”
**Forsake not.**—Better, *the works of Thine hands; do not leave them unfinished. *(See for the same verb Nehemiah 6:3; Proverbs 4:13 : “let her not go.”)
The special intention of the pray...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
28-36. The ninth plague is made prominent as peculiarly wonderful.
**they rebelled not--**Moses and Aaron promptly obeyed God (He 11:27); (compare Ex 7:1-11:10 and Psa 78:44-51, with which this summary substantially agrees). Or, rather, the "darkness" here is figurative (Jr 13:16), the literal plague of darkness (Ex 10:22, 23) being only alluded to as the symbol of God's wrath which overhung Egy...
Read full commentary →