1 Chronicles 16:24

KJV

Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations.

KJV (with Strong's)

Declare {H5608} his glory {H3519} among the heathen {H1471}; his marvellous works {H6381} among all nations {H5971}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Declare his glory among the nations, his wonders among all peoples!

Berean Standard Bible

Declare His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all peoples.

American Standard Version

Declare his glory among the nations, His marvellous works among all the peoples.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
This stands as a profound declaration within David's psalm of thanksgiving, serving as a timeless call for God's people to universally proclaim His inherent majesty and His mighty acts. This verse transcends a mere national celebration, articulating a foundational missional mandate for Israel to extend the knowledge of Yahweh's glory and wonders beyond their borders, inviting all peoples into the sphere of His worship and recognition. It encapsulates the expansive heart of God, who desires to be known and honored by every nation on earth.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within a grand psalm of thanksgiving and praise (1 Chronicles 16:8-36) recited by King David on the momentous occasion of the Ark of the Covenant being brought into Jerusalem and placed in the tent he had prepared for it. This event, detailed in [1 Chronicles 15](/1_chronicles/15 "1 Chronicles 15 - Bringing the Ark to Jerusalem"), marked a pivotal moment in Israel's spiritual history, signifying God's dwelling presence among His people. David's psalm is a composite, drawing heavily from elements found in [Psalm 105:1-15](/psalm/105-1 "Psalm 105:1-15 - God's Faithfulness to Israel"), [Psalm 96:1-13](/psalm/96-1 "Psalm 96:1-13 - A Call to Worship the Lord"), and [Psalm 106:1, 47-48](/psalm/106-1 "Psalm 106:1, 47-48 - Praise for God's Steadfast Love"). Within this larger liturgical piece, 1 Chronicles 16:24 shifts the focus from Israel's internal celebration to a prophetic vision of God's universal sovereignty, urging the proclamation of His truth to the entire world, thereby setting a global trajectory for the worship of Yahweh.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The bringing of the Ark to Jerusalem was a politically and spiritually unifying event for the nascent kingdom under David. The Ark, representing God's throne and presence, was central to Israel's identity and worship, having been in various temporary locations since its capture by the Philistines. In the ancient Near East, each nation typically worshipped its own patron deity, often associated with specific lands or peoples. Israel's God, Yahweh, however, was unique in His claim to universal sovereignty, creator of all nations. The command to "declare his glory among the heathen" challenged the prevailing ethnocentric religious paradigms, asserting Yahweh's rightful claim over all peoples, not just Israel. This was not merely a cultural expansion but a theological declaration that transcended geographical and ethnic boundaries, setting Israel apart as a light to the nations, a concept deeply rooted in the Abrahamic covenant (e.g., [Genesis 12:3](/genesis/12-3 "Genesis 12:3 - The Abrahamic Covenant")).

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully articulates several core themes. Firstly, it highlights **Universal Proclamation**, revealing God's desire for His glory to be known by all humanity. The command to declare His truth "among the heathen" and "among all nations" foreshadows the New Testament's [Great Commission](/matthew/28-19 "Matthew 28:19 - The Great Commission"), indicating an inherent missionary impulse within God's redemptive plan from the Old Testament era. Secondly, the verse emphasizes the content of this proclamation: **God's Glory and His Marvellous Works**. "Glory" refers to God's intrinsic worth, majesty, and character, while "marvellous works" points to His mighty acts in creation, salvation, and history—demonstrations of His power and faithfulness. These two aspects provide the compelling reasons for all peoples to acknowledge and worship Him. Lastly, it underscores the theme of **Worship and Witness**, demonstrating that the act of proclaiming God's glory and works is both an outflow of worship from those who declare it and an invitation to worship for those who hear. It calls God's people to be active participants in making His name renowned worldwide, integrating their praise with their purpose.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Glory (Hebrew, _kābôd'_):** This term literally means "weight" or "heaviness," but in a theological sense, it conveys the substantial majesty, honor, splendor, and inherent worth of God. It refers to His magnificent presence and the visible manifestation of His character and attributes. To "declare His glory" is to make known His intrinsic greatness and the awe-inspiring reality of who He is.
* **Marvellous works (Hebrew, _niplā’ôt'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to be distinct, extraordinary, wonderful," this word refers to God's wonders, miracles, and extraordinary deeds. These are acts that evoke astonishment and awe, demonstrating God's unique power, wisdom, and intervention in the world and in human history. They are the tangible proofs of His divine nature and active sovereignty.
* **Heathen / Nations (Hebrew, _gôyim'_):** This single Hebrew word, repeated for emphasis, refers to ethnic groups, peoples, or nations, often used in the Old Testament to denote non-Israelite nations or Gentiles. The repetition underscores the comprehensive and universal scope of the command: the message is not exclusively for Israel but for every distinct people group on earth, signifying a global, inclusive vision.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Declare his glory":** This is an imperative command, urging an active, vocal proclamation. The focus is on making known God's inherent nature, His weighty presence, His honor, and His majestic character. It is a call to articulate who God is in His essence.
* **"among the heathen":** This specifies the primary audience for this declaration: the non-Israelite nations. It highlights a mission that extends beyond the covenant community of Israel, indicating God's desire for all peoples to come to know His true identity.
* **"his marvellous works":** This second object of declaration shifts from God's inherent being to His active deeds. It calls for the recounting of God's miraculous interventions, His wonders in creation, His acts of deliverance, and His historical dealings that demonstrate His power and faithfulness.
* **"among all nations":** This phrase reiterates and reinforces the universal scope of the mission. It emphasizes that no people group is to be excluded from hearing about God's glory and His mighty acts, underscoring the comprehensive reach of God's redemptive plan.

#### Literary Devices
1 Chronicles 16:24 effectively employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message. The most prominent is **Synonymous Parallelism**, where the second line ("his marvellous works among all nations") largely repeats the thought of the first line ("Declare his glory among the heathen") using different words. This repetition serves to reinforce and intensify the core message of universal proclamation, emphasizing both the content (glory and works) and the scope (heathen and all nations). The use of the **Imperative Mood** ("Declare") transforms the verse into a direct command, underscoring the urgency and divine mandate behind the instruction. Furthermore, there is a subtle **Merism** at play, where "glory" (God's being) and "marvellous works" (God's doing) together encompass the totality of what God is and what He has done, providing a comprehensive scope for the proclamation. The repetition of the concept of "nations" (using _gôyim_ in both clauses) also functions as a form of **Emphasis**, ensuring that the global reach of God's desired fame is unmistakable.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse reveals a profound theological truth: God's character is not confined to one nation or people group. His glory and His mighty deeds are meant to be universally known and celebrated. It underscores the inherent missionary heart of God, demonstrating that even in the Old Testament, His redemptive plan was always global in scope, aiming to draw all peoples to Himself. This divine imperative to declare His greatness among the nations establishes a continuity between the Old Testament's vision for Israel as a light to the world and the New Testament's Great Commission. It reminds us that our worship of God is intrinsically linked to our witness of Him, as a heart truly captivated by His glory cannot help but declare it to others.

* [Psalm 67:1-2](/psalm/67-1 "God's Blessing for All Nations")
* [Isaiah 49:6](/isaiah/49-6 "A Light to the Nations")
* [Psalm 145:5](/psalm/145-5 "Meditating on God's Wondrous Works")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Chronicles 16:24 serves as a timeless and powerful reminder for believers today regarding our ongoing responsibility and privilege to participate in God's global mission. It challenges us to move beyond insular faith, recognizing that the God we worship is the God of all nations, whose desire is for every tongue and tribe to know His glory and His marvelous works. This means cultivating a heart of intentional witness, actively looking for opportunities to share the truth of God's character and His redemptive acts, particularly through Jesus Christ, with those in our immediate spheres and supporting efforts to reach the unreached globally. Our personal worship should fuel this outward declaration; the more we are awestruck by God's glory and wonders, the more compelled we will feel to make Him known, transforming our praise into purposeful proclamation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what practical ways can I "declare His glory" in my daily life, both through my words and my actions?**
* **How does understanding God's "marvellous works" deepen my appreciation for His character and empower my witness?**
* **What steps can I take to cultivate a more global perspective in my faith, recognizing God's heart for "all nations"?**
* **How does my personal worship connect with and fuel my desire to share God's greatness with others?**

### FAQ
**Was global evangelism a concept in the Old Testament, or is it primarily a New Testament idea?**

Answer: While the term "evangelism" as we understand it through the Great Commission is more explicit in the New Testament, 1 Chronicles 16:24 clearly demonstrates that the concept of God's glory being known among all nations was an integral part of Old Testament theology. From the Abrahamic covenant, where God promised to bless "all peoples on earth" through Abraham ([Genesis 12:3](/genesis/12-3 "Genesis 12:3 - The Abrahamic Covenant")), to the prophetic calls for Israel to be a "light for the Gentiles" ([Isaiah 49:6](/isaiah/49-6 "Isaiah 49:6 - A Light to the Nations")), the Old Testament consistently portrays God's universal redemptive purpose. 1 Chronicles 16:24 is a direct command for Israel to actively participate in this global declaration, showing that the missionary impulse originates with God Himself, long before the coming of Christ.

**What is the difference between declaring God's "glory" and His "marvellous works" in this verse?**

Answer: While closely related, "glory" and "marvellous works" refer to distinct yet complementary aspects of God to be proclaimed. "Glory" (Hebrew _kabod_) speaks to God's inherent nature, His intrinsic worth, majesty, and the radiant splendor of His being. It's about *who* God is—His character, holiness, and transcendent greatness. "Marvellous works" (Hebrew _niplā’ôt_), on the other hand, refers to God's active deeds, His wonders, miracles, and extraordinary interventions in history. It's about *what* God has done—His acts of creation, deliverance, judgment, and salvation. To declare both is to present a comprehensive picture of God: His magnificent being and His powerful, active engagement with His creation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
1 Chronicles 16:24 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the preeminent revelation of God's glory, the "radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being" ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - God Has Spoken by His Son")). In Christ, "the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). Furthermore, Jesus' life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection constitute God's most "marvellous works"—the ultimate demonstration of His power, love, and redemptive plan for humanity. The Old Testament call to declare God's glory and works among all nations culminates in the New Testament's [Great Commission](/matthew/28-18 "Matthew 28:18-20 - The Great Commission"), where Jesus commands His followers to "go and make disciples of all nations." Empowered by the Holy Spirit, believers are now commissioned to declare the glory of God as revealed in Christ, proclaiming His finished work of salvation to the ends of the earth ([Acts 1:8](/acts/1-8 "Acts 1:8 - Power to Witness")). This universal proclamation of Christ's glory will ultimately result in every knee bowing and every tongue confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father ([Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9 "Philippians 2:9-11 - Christ's Exaltation")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 12:2

Behold, God [is] my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH [is] my strength and [my] song; he also is become my salvation.

Isaiah 12:6

Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great [is] the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

Psalms 22:27

All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

Daniel 4:1

¶ Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

Daniel 4:3

How great [are] his signs! and how mighty [are] his wonders! his kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion [is] from generation to generation.

2 Kings 19:19

Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou [art] the LORD God, [even] thou only.