King James Version

What Does Psalms 145:6 Mean?

Psalms 145:6 in the King James Version says “And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness. declare: Heb. declare it” — study this verse from Psalms chapter 145 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness. declare: Heb. declare it”

Psalms 145:6 · KJV

Context

4

One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.

5

I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. works: Heb. things, or, words

6

And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness. declare: Heb. declare it

7

They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.

8

The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. of great: Heb. great in mercy

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness. The corporate testimony—ve-ezuz nora'oteka (וֶעֱזוּז נוֹרְאֹתֶיךָ) "the strength of your awesome deeds"—will be proclaimed by others. Nora (נוֹרָא) "terrible/awesome" conveys fear-inspiring power: God's acts command reverence, not casual familiarity. This includes both redemptive works (Red Sea crossing) and judicial acts (drowning Pharaoh's army).

I will declare thy greatness (gĕdullateka asapĕrennah, גְּדֻלָּתְךָ אֲסַפְּרֶנָּה)—David adds personal commitment to the collective witness. Gĕdullah (גְּדֻלָּה) "greatness/magnitude" describes God's incomparable supremacy. The interplay between corporate ("men shall speak") and individual ("I will declare") shows that both community testimony and personal witness are necessary to adequately proclaim God's majesty.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Israel's history centered on God's 'terrible acts'—plagues on Egypt, the drowning of Pharaoh's army, victories over Canaan's inhabitants, and judgment on covenant-breakers. These acts inspired both reverence among believers and fear among enemies, demonstrating that God is not to be trifled with.

Reflection Questions

  1. How can believers maintain appropriate fear of God's terrible power while also enjoying intimate relationship with Him?
  2. What role should recounting God's judicial acts play in contemporary worship alongside celebrating His mercy?
  3. How does your personal declaration of God's greatness complement the church's corporate testimony?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 5 words
וֶעֱז֣וּז1 of 5

“of the might”

H5807

forcibleness

נוֹרְאֹתֶ֣יךָ2 of 5

“of thy terrible acts”

H3372

to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten

יֹאמֵ֑רוּ3 of 5

“And men shall speak”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

וּגְדלָּותְיךָ֥4 of 5

“thy greatness”

H1420

greatness; (concretely) mighty acts

אֲסַפְּרֶֽנָּה׃5 of 5

“and I will declare”

H5608

properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e., (by implication) to inscribe, and also to enumerate; intensively, to recount, i.e., celebra

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Psalms. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Psalms 145:6 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Psalms 145:6 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Habakkuk 2:14Daniel 3:28-29Psalms 107:31-32Psalms 126:2-3Psalms 22:31Psalms 22:27

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