Psalms 105:1

KJV

¶ O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.

KJV (with Strong's)

O give thanks {H3034} unto the LORD {H3068}; call {H7121} upon his name {H8034}: make known {H3045} his deeds {H5949} among the people {H5971}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Give thanks to ADONAI! Call on his name! Make his deeds known among the peoples.

Berean Standard Bible

Give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the nations.

American Standard Version

Oh give thanks unto Jehovah, call upon his name; Make known among the peoples his doings.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 105:1 serves as a foundational call to worship, remembrance, and proclamation, setting the tone for a psalm that meticulously recounts God's covenant faithfulness and mighty acts throughout Israel's history. This opening verse is a powerful exhortation, urging the community to actively express gratitude, intimately invoke God's character, and widely declare His wondrous interventions, thereby establishing a posture of responsive faith and communal witness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 105 is a historical psalm, part of a larger collection (Psalms 105-107) that often appears together in ancient liturgical settings, particularly in 1 Chronicles 16 where parts of it are sung during the bringing of the ark to Jerusalem. It meticulously chronicles God's unwavering covenant faithfulness to His people, Israel, from the patriarchal promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, through the miraculous deliverance from Egyptian bondage in the [Exodus](/exodus/1 "Exodus 1 - The Enslavement of Israel"), and His providential guidance through the wilderness to the promised land. This opening verse functions as an immediate, imperative summons to the worshipping community, inviting them to engage with the divine narrative that follows. It stands in thematic contrast to Psalm 106, which focuses on Israel's repeated unfaithfulness, highlighting God's steadfastness even in the face of human failure.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** This psalm likely served as a vital component of Israel's communal worship, perhaps during major festivals like Passover or Sukkot (Tabernacles), which were deeply rooted in historical remembrance. In a culture where oral tradition and communal memory were paramount, recounting God's "deeds" was not merely a historical exercise but a reaffirmation of national identity and divine election. The act of "calling upon His name" and "making known His deeds" would have been central to the covenant community's self-understanding and their witness to surrounding nations. The emphasis on God's historical interventions served to strengthen faith, reinforce the covenant, and remind the people of their unique relationship with the sovereign Lord, who actively works in history.
* **Key Themes:** The verse introduces several major theological and narrative themes that permeate the entire psalm and the broader biblical narrative. **Thanksgiving and Praise** are primary, establishing a posture of gratitude that acknowledges God's character and His historical interventions (cf. [Psalm 100:4](/psalms/100-4 "Psalm 100:4 - Entering God's Gates with Thanksgiving")). **Prayer and Intimacy** are underscored by the command to "call upon his name," signifying a deep reliance on God's revealed essence and an appeal to His authority and presence. This is not a casual mention but an invocation of His very being, reflecting the intimacy seen in Abraham's walk with God in [Genesis 12:8](/genesis/12-8 "Genesis 12:8 - Abraham Calls on the Name of the Lord"). Finally, **Proclamation and Witness** emerge as an outward-focused mandate, urging believers not to privatize God's wondrous works but to declare them widely. This echoes the consistent biblical call for God's people to be a light to the nations and to share His truth, as exemplified by the prophet Isaiah's exhortation in [Isaiah 12:4](/isaiah/12-4 "Isaiah 12:4 - Proclaiming God's Name Among the Nations").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Yadah (Hebrew, _yadah'_):** Translated "give thanks," this Hebrew verb often implies more than mere verbal gratitude. Its root suggests an "outstretched hand," signifying an active, often physical, expression of praise, confession, and adoration. It denotes an acknowledgment of God's goodness and faithfulness that moves beyond internal sentiment to outward, public declaration, often in a corporate worship setting. It is a surrender of self in recognition of divine beneficence.
* **Qara' b'shem (Hebrew, _qara' b'shem'_):** Rendered "call upon his name," this phrase is a profound theological concept. It means to invoke, appeal to, or proclaim the very essence, character, and authority of God. It is not simply uttering a word, but appealing to God based on His revealed nature and covenant promises. This act implies dependence, seeking God's presence, and trusting in His divine attributes for deliverance, guidance, or communion. It signifies a personal, relational engagement with the Almighty.
* **'Alilot (Hebrew, _‘alilot'_):** Translated "deeds," this word refers specifically to God's powerful acts, His exploits, and wondrous interventions in history. Unlike general "works" (מַעֲשִׂים, _ma'asim_), _‘alilot_ emphasizes the extraordinary, the miraculous, and the decisive actions that demonstrate God's might, faithfulness, and providential care in the unfolding narrative of salvation history. These are the tangible evidences of His power and commitment to His people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"O give thanks unto the LORD;":** This is an imperative command, an urgent summons to the worshipping community. It establishes the primary posture of faith: a profound gratitude that acknowledges God's inherent goodness, His character, and His active involvement in their lives and history. It is the foundational response to God's being and His acts, setting the stage for all subsequent worship and obedience.
* **"call upon his name:":** Following the general command to give thanks, this clause introduces a more specific and intimate form of engagement. It is an invitation to invoke God's revealed character and authority, appealing to Him in prayer and dependence. This is not a casual mention but a deliberate act of seeking His presence, power, and intervention, trusting in the very essence of who He has revealed Himself to be.
* **"make known his deeds among the people.":** This final clause shifts the focus from internal and relational engagement to outward proclamation. It is a missional imperative, urging believers not to keep God's wondrous works to themselves but to widely declare them. "His deeds" refers to the specific historical interventions that demonstrate His faithfulness (as detailed in the rest of the psalm). "Among the people" (בָּעַמִּים, _ba'ammim_) can refer both to the covenant community (for remembrance and instruction) and to the surrounding nations (for witness and evangelism), underscoring a universal scope to God's glory.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey its urgent message. The most prominent is the **Imperative Mood**, as indicated by the three direct commands: "give thanks," "call," and "make known." This creates a sense of immediate obligation and active participation, emphasizing that worship is not passive but requires intentional engagement. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **Parallelism**, specifically a form of climactic or ascending parallelism. The commands build upon one another, moving from an internal posture of gratitude ("give thanks") to an intimate, relational act ("call upon his name"), and finally to an outward, public declaration ("make known his deeds among the people"). This progression demonstrates a holistic understanding of worship that encompasses personal devotion, communal invocation, and missional witness. Finally, **Metonymy** is present, where "his name" stands for God's entire character, presence, and authority, and "his deeds" represents the entirety of His redemptive history and powerful interventions.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 105:1 encapsulates a profound theological truth: true worship is a dynamic, three-fold response to God's character and actions. It begins with a heart of gratitude, acknowledging God's inherent goodness and His active presence in history. This gratitude then deepens into an intimate reliance, expressed through calling upon His revealed name, trusting in His essence and power. Finally, this internal and relational experience overflows into outward proclamation, recognizing that God's mighty acts are not just for the benefit of His people but are meant to be declared to all. This verse underscores the biblical emphasis on corporate memory as a catalyst for faith and the inherent missional nature of God's people, who are called to be witnesses to His glory.

* [1 Chronicles 16:8](/1_chronicles/16-8 "1 Chronicles 16:8 - A Parallel Call to Worship")
* [Psalm 100:4](/psalms/100-4 "Psalm 100:4 - Entering God's Presence with Thanksgiving")
* [Isaiah 12:4](/isaiah/12-4 "Isaiah 12:4 - Proclaiming God's Name Among the Nations")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 105:1 provides a timeless blueprint for a vibrant and impactful faith. It challenges believers to cultivate a lifestyle steeped in gratitude, recognizing God's sovereign hand not only in the grand sweep of redemptive history but also in the intimate details of their personal lives. This call to "give thanks" invites us to actively acknowledge His blessings, His faithfulness, and His very nature, transforming our perspective even in challenging circumstances. The command to "call upon his name" urges a deeper, more intentional prayer life, moving beyond rote petitions to an intimate reliance on God's revealed character, trusting in His power and presence in every situation. Most profoundly, the directive to "make known his deeds among the people" reminds us of our inherent responsibility as witnesses. Our worship is not solely for our personal benefit; it compels us to share the incredible story of God's faithfulness, His mighty works, and His redemptive plan with those around us, both within the community of faith and to a watching world. It is a call to live out our testimony, allowing our lives to be a living proclamation of His glory.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does a lifestyle of thanksgiving transform our perspective on daily challenges and deepen our appreciation for God's constant presence?**
* **In what specific ways can we more intentionally "call upon His name," moving beyond casual prayer to a deeper, more reliant invocation of His character?**
* **What are "His deeds" that we are called to make known in our contemporary context, and how can we effectively proclaim them to both the church and the wider world?**

### FAQ
**Why is "giving thanks" so prominent at the beginning of this historical psalm?**

Answer: The prominence of "giving thanks" at the very beginning of this historical psalm is crucial because it establishes the proper posture and theological lens through which all of God's subsequent historical acts are to be viewed. It frames the entire recounting of God's faithfulness not as a dry historical lesson, but as a living narrative that evokes worship and gratitude. Thanksgiving acknowledges God's sovereignty, His goodness, and His active involvement in the lives of His people. It is an act of faith, recognizing His unwavering commitment and beneficence, and it sets the heart to receive and celebrate the detailed account of His "deeds" that follows, ensuring that the historical memory leads to adoration and praise rather than mere intellectual assent.

**Does "make known his deeds among the people" refer only to Israel, or to all nations?**

Answer: While primarily addressed to the covenant community of Israel, urging them to remember and teach their heritage, the phrase "among the people" (בָּעַמִּים, _ba'ammim_) in Hebrew often carries the broader connotation of "among the nations" or "among the Gentiles." Many psalms, including those in this collection, possess a universal scope, calling all the earth to praise God and acknowledge His glory (e.g., [Psalm 96:3](/psalms/96-3 "Psalm 96:3 - Proclaiming God's Glory Among the Nations")). Therefore, this command implies a dual dimension: an internal call for Israel to preserve and celebrate its unique history with God, and an external, missional call to declare God's mighty acts to those who do not yet know Him, inviting them to witness His power and character. It foreshadows the universal reach of God's redemptive plan.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 105:1 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus, who is the supreme "deed" of God made known to humanity. The call to "give thanks unto the LORD" is now most fully realized as believers offer a "sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name" through Jesus Christ, as exhorted in [Hebrews 13:15](/hebrews/13-15 "Hebrews 13:15 - Offering a Sacrifice of Praise Through Jesus"). The command to "call upon his name" reaches its zenith in the New Covenant, where salvation is promised to "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord" (as declared in [Romans 10:13](/romans/10-13 "Romans 10:13 - Calling on the Name of the Lord for Salvation")), a name now revealed as Jesus, who is Lord of all. Most profoundly, the imperative to "make known his deeds among the people" is transformed into the Great Commission, where disciples are commanded to "go and make disciples of all nations" ([Matthew 28:19-20](/matthew/28-19 "Matthew 28:19-20 - The Great Commission")), proclaiming the ultimate "deed" of God: the Gospel of Jesus Christ—His incarnation, atoning death, glorious resurrection, and promised return. In Christ, God's historical interventions culminate, and the ancient call to worship and witness finds its perfect object and its global mission.

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 12:4

¶ And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.

Psalms 145:11

They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;

Psalms 145:12

To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.

Romans 10:13

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Psalms 106:1

¶ Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.

Psalms 145:4

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

Psalms 145:6

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