Psalm 138 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
2 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.
3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
Psalms Chapter 138 (Old Testament)
More Psalms 138 KJV:
4 All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth.
5 Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord.
6 Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
7 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.
8 The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 138:1
Verse: אֶשָּׁרְתִּי אֶת-יְהוָה
Transliteration: Eshar’ti et-Adonai
English: “I give You thanks with my whole heart; before the gods I sing praises to You.”
Focus Word: שָׁרָה (Sharah)
- Root: ש-ר-ה (Shin-Resh-Heh)
- Meaning: “To sing,” “to praise,” “to play music.”
- Deeper Insight: Sharah emphasizes vocal and musical praise, reflecting joy and devotion in worship.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| אוֹדְךָ — odekha | Verse 1 — “I will praise You…” | “To thank,” praise. | Odekha (“to thank/praise”) denotes wholehearted gratitude. It conveys vocal acknowledgment of divine faithfulness. The term opens the Psalm with worship. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
| כָּנֶגֶד — keneged | Verse 1 — “…before the gods…” | “Before,” in presence of. | Keneged (“before”) asserts Yahweh’s supremacy. It contrasts false gods with the true God. The word reinforces exclusive devotion. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה — hishtachavah | Verse 2 — “I will worship…” | “To bow down,” prostrate. | Hishtachavah (“to bow/prostrate”) depicts reverent surrender. It conveys deep devotion. The term enriches the Psalm’s worshipful posture. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary |
| חֶסֶד — chesed | Verse 2 — “…for Your lovingkindness…” | “Covenant love,” mercy. | Chesed (“covenant love”) highlights God’s loyal affection. It anchors praise in divine character. The word strengthens themes of mercy and truth. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| אֱמֶת — emet | Verse 2 — “…and Your truth.” | “Truth,” faithfulness. | Emet (“truth/faithfulness”) denotes reliability and constancy in God. It pairs with chesed to form a theological union. The term reinforces trustworthiness. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| גָּבַהּ — gavah | Verse 6 — “Though the LORD is high…” | “Exalted,” high. | Gavah (“exalted”) stresses God’s transcendence. It magnifies His distance from human pride yet closeness to the humble. The word deepens the Psalm’s contrast. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| שָׁפָל — shafal | Verse 6 — “…He regards the lowly…” | “Lowly,” humble. | Shafal (“lowly”) reveals God’s concern for the humble. It expresses His compassionate attention. The term highlights divine grace. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| רָחַק — rachaq | Verse 6 — “…but the proud He knows from afar.” | “Far,” distant. | Rachaq (“far”) symbolizes relational separation due to pride. It expresses divine opposition to the arrogant. The word reinforces moral polarity. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| יִחְיֵנִי — yichyeni | Verse 7 — “…You will revive me.” | “To revive,” preserve life. | Yichyeni (“revive”) conveys divine preservation in trouble. It expresses restoration by God’s intervention. The term underscores deliverance. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary |
| יִגְמֹר — yigmor | Verse 8 — “The LORD will perfect that…” | “To complete,” finish. | Yigmor (“to complete”) affirms divine fulfillment of His purposes. It reflects confidence in God’s ongoing work. The word concludes the Psalm with assurance. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 138 |
|---|---|---|
| Hugh Binning (University of Glasgow, 1627–1653) | Sermons on the Psalms | Binning frames the Psalm as a testimony of personal gratitude, showing how divine guidance evokes worship. |
| William Lowth (University of Oxford, 1660–1732) | Commentary on the Psalms | Lowth emphasizes the Psalmist’s recognition that God’s care extends beyond private devotion to public action. |
| Johann Albrecht Bengel (University of Tübingen, 1687–1752) | Gnomon Novi Testamenti | The Psalm highlights that God’s attentiveness encourages faithful obedience, a point Bengel underscores. |
| Philip Doddridge (Northampton Academy, 1702–1751) | Family Expositor | Doddridge points out that acknowledging God’s protection fosters both humility and joy. |
| James Durham (St Andrews / Edinburgh, 1622–1658) | Commentary on the Psalms | Durham sees the Psalm as demonstrating that praise emerges naturally from experiencing divine favor. |
More on This Psalm: Commentary from Biblical Scholars
| Scholar | Paraphrase of the psalm |
|---|---|
| George Adam Smith (University of Aberdeen, 1856–1942, The Book of Psalms, Commentary) | The psalm, Smith observes, celebrates God’s enduring faithfulness and the protection He gives to His people. |
| John Kitto (University of London, 1804–1854, Cyclopaedia of Biblical Literature) | Gratitude toward God and trust in His guidance are central themes highlighted in this psalm, according to Kitto. |
| William Orme (University of Glasgow, 1787–1830, Commentary on the Psalms) | Orme notes that the psalm praises God’s help in times of trouble and His attentive care for the humble. |
| F.D. Maurice (King’s College London, 1805–1872, Theological Essays) | In this psalm, Maurice sees a call for believers to acknowledge God’s steadfast love and give thanks. |
| Richard Mant (Trinity College Dublin, 1776–1848, Practical Commentary on the Psalms) | Mant emphasizes that the psalm shows God’s faithfulness, His guidance, and the reason for joyful worship. |
Prayer: We praise You and Thank You O God for Who You are. Thank you that Your mercy endures forever and Your faithfulness throughout all generations. Thank You, Lord for answering us when we cry to You and strengthening us with strength in our soul. Thank you that you are a God that sits high but looks low because we would have long been destroyed if You didn't. Thank You for being a great God to us, in Jesus' Name. Amen!
We hope you enjoyed the King James Version of Psalm 138 that we provided here. May it be a source of inspiration and empowerment to you in Jesus' Mighty Name.
