TRV
Translation
King James Version
Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
Complete Jewish Bible
Let them extol him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the leaders' council.
Berean Standard Bible
Let them exalt Him in the assembly of the people and praise Him in the council of the elders.
American Standard Version
Let them exalt him also in the assembly of the people, And praise him in the seat of the elders.
World English Bible Messianic
Let them exalt him also in the assembly of the people, and praise him in the seat of the elders.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And let them exalt him in the Congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the Elders.
Young's Literal Translation
And they exalt Him in the assembly of the people, And in the seat of the elders praise Him.
In the KJVVerse 15,732 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Psalms 107 verses 23–32
23 ¶ They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.
28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
The psalmist here calls upon those to give glory to God who are delivered from dangers at sea. Though the Israelites dealt not much in merchandise, yet their neighbours the Tyrians and Zidonians did, and for them perhaps this part of the psalm was especially calculated.
I. Much of the power of God appears at all times in the sea, Psa 107:23, Psa 107:24. It appears to those that go down to the sea in ships, as mariners, merchants, fishermen, or passengers, that do business in great waters. And surely none will expose themselves there but those that have business (among all Solomon's pleasant things we do not read of any pleasure-boat he had), but those that go on business, lawful business, may, in faith, put themselves under the divine protection. These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders, which are the more surprising, because most are born and bred upon land, and what passes at sea is new to them. The deep itself is a wonder, its vastness, its saltness, its ebbing and flowing. The great variety of living creatures in the sea is wonderful. Let those that go to sea be led, by all the wonders they observe there, to consider and adore the infinite perfections of that God whose the sea is, for he made it and manages it.
II. It especially appears in storms at sea, which are much more terrible than at land. Observe here, 1. How dangerous and dreadful a tempest at sea is. Then wonders begin to appear in the deep, when God commands and raises the strong wind, which fulfils his word, Psa 148:8. He raises the winds, as a prince by his commission raises forces. Satan pretends to be the prince of the power of the air; but he is a pretender; the powers of the air are at God's command, not at his. When the wind becomes stormy it lifts up the waves of the sea, Psa 107:25. Then the ships are kicked like tennis-balls on the tops of the waves; they seem to mount up to the heavens, and then they couch again, as if they would go down to the depths, Psa 107:26. A stranger, who had never seen it, would not think it possible for a ship to live at sea, as it will in a storm, and ride it out, but would expect that the next wave would bury it and it would never come up again; and yet God, who taught man discretion to make ships that should so strangely keep above water, does by his special providence preserve them, that they answer the end to admiration. When the ships are thus tossed the soul of the seaman melts because of trouble; and, when the storm is very high, even those that are used to the sea can neither shake off nor dissemble their fears, but they reel to and fro, and tossing makes them giddy, and they stagger and are sick, it may be, like a drunken man; the whole ship's crew are in confusion and quite at their wits' end (Psa 107:27), not knowing what to do more for their preservation; all their wisdom is swallowed up, and they are ready to give up themselves for gone, Jon 1:5, etc. 2. How seasonable it is at such a time to pray. Those that go to sea must expect such perils as are here described, and the best preparation they can make for them is to make sure a liberty of access to God by prayer, for then they will cry unto the Lord, Psa 107:28. We have a saying, "Let those that would learn to pray go to sea;" I say, Let those that will go to sea learn to pray, and accustom themselves to pray, that they may come with the more boldness to the throne of grace when they are in trouble. Even heathen mariners, in a storm, cried every man to his god; but those that have the Lord for their God have a present and powerful help in that and every other time of need, so that when they are at their wits' end they are not at their faith's end. 3. How wonderfully God sometimes appears for those that are in distress at sea, in answer to their prayers: He brings them out of the danger; and, (1.) The sea is still: He makes the storm a calm, Psa 107:29. The winds fall, and only by their soft and gentle murmurs serve to lull the waves asleep again, so that the surface of the sea becomes smooth and smiling. By this Christ proved himself to be more than a man that even the winds and the seas obeyed him. (2.) The seamen are made easy: They are glad because they are quiet, quiet from the noise, quiet from the fear of evil. Quietness after a storm is a very desirable thing, and sensibly pleasant. (3.) The voyage becomes prosperous and successful: So he brings them to their desired haven, Psa 107:30. Thus he carries his people safely through all the storms and tempests that they meet with in their voyage heaven-ward, and lands them, at length, in the desired harbour. 4. How justly it is expected that all those who have had a safe passage over the sea, and especially who have been delivered from remarkable perils at sea, should acknowledge it with thankfulness, to the glory of God. Let them do it privately in their closets and families. Let them praise the Lord for his goodness to themselves and others, Psa 107:31. Let them do it publicly (Psa 107:32), in the congregation of the people and in the assembly of the elders; there let them erect the memorials of their deliverance, to the honour of God, and for the encouragement of others to trust him.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 23–32. Public domain.
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Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 107
"And let them exalt Him in the assembly of the people, and praise Him in the seat of the elders" [Psalm 107:32]. Let them exalt, let them praise, peoples and elders, merchants and pilots. For what has He done in this assembly? What has He established? Whence has He rescued it? What has He granted it? Even as He resisted the proud, and gave grace to the humble: [James 4:6] the proud, that is, the first people of the Jews, arrogant, and extolling itself on its descent from Abraham, and because to that nation "were entrusted the oracles of God." [Romans 3:2] These things did not avail them unto soundness, but unto pride of heart, rather to swelling than to greatness. What then did God, resisting the proud, but giving grace to the humble; cutting off the natural branches for their pride; grafting in the wild olive for its humility?
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 107:32 serves as a climactic call to public worship and thanksgiving, urging both the general populace and their respected leaders to collectively exalt and praise God. This verse encapsulates the psalm's overarching message that God's consistent deliverance of His people from various forms of distress—from wilderness wandering to imprisonment, sickness, and maritime peril—demands a communal, joyous, and visible expression of gratitude and adoration for His steadfast love and wonderful works.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 107:32 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message. The verse utilizes parallelism, specifically synonymous parallelism, where "exalt him... in the congregation of the people" is echoed and reinforced by "praise him in the assembly of the elders." This repetition with slight variation emphasizes the dual aspects of public worship—exaltation and praise—and the inclusive nature of the participants. The use of imperative verbs ("Let them exalt," "praise him") serves as a direct command, underscoring the psalmist's urgent and authoritative call to action. Furthermore, the specific mention of "congregation of the people" and "assembly of the elders" functions as a form of merism, representing the entirety of the community by naming its two key constituent parts (the general populace and its leadership), thereby highlighting the universal expectation for communal thanksgiving. The verse also acts as a climax to the preceding narratives of deliverance, providing the ultimate, desired response to God's repeated acts of salvation.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 107:32 encapsulates the profound theological truth that God's redemptive acts demand a communal and public response of worship. It illustrates that thanksgiving is not merely an individual sentiment but a corporate declaration of God's character and deeds. This public praise serves to magnify God's name, edify the community, and bear witness to His faithfulness to those outside the covenant. The inclusion of elders underscores the importance of leadership in fostering and exemplifying genuine worship, ensuring that the community's spiritual life is guided by wisdom and reverence. This communal expression of gratitude reinforces the covenant relationship, reminding God's people of their dependence on Him and His unwavering commitment to them.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 107:32 offers a timeless blueprint for the nature of corporate worship. It challenges us to move beyond private devotion to actively participate in the communal exaltation of God. When we gather as believers, whether in a formal church service or a smaller fellowship, our collective praise amplifies God's glory and strengthens the bonds of faith within the community. This verse reminds us that our personal testimonies of God's goodness—His deliverance from our "wildernesses," "prisons," "sicknesses," or "storms"—are meant to be shared publicly, not for our own acclaim, but to inspire and encourage others, pointing them to the same faithful God. It also calls leaders to model fervent worship, recognizing their unique role in guiding the congregation into deeper adoration and thanksgiving. In a world increasingly fragmented, the unity in praise envisioned by this psalm serves as a powerful witness to the transforming power of God.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why is public worship so important in this psalm, especially after individual and group deliverances?
Answer: Public worship in Psalm 107 is crucial because it transforms individual experiences of deliverance into a communal testimony of God's faithfulness and power. While private gratitude is essential, public praise serves several vital functions: it magnifies God's name before His people and the world, reinforces the community's shared identity and covenant relationship with Him, and educates future generations about His enduring goodness. It also provides a collective expression of gratitude that transcends individual limitations, creating a powerful, unified witness to God's "wonderful works to the children of men" (Psalms 107:8). The repeated refrain throughout the psalm emphasizes that the appropriate response to God's saving acts is not just personal relief, but a public, corporate declaration of His praise.
Does "congregation of the people" and "assembly of the elders" refer to the same group or different groups?
Answer: While both phrases refer to the gathered community, they highlight different aspects or segments of it. "The congregation of the people" (קָהָל, qâhâl) refers to the general body of Israelites, the entire assembly. "The assembly of the elders" (מוֹשָׁב זְקֵנִים, môwshâb zâqên) specifically points to the respected leaders and wise individuals within that congregation. The inclusion of both emphasizes that all members of the community, from the general populace to its esteemed leaders, are called to participate in this public exaltation and praise. It signifies a complete, unified participation from every level of society, with leaders setting an example and validating the communal act of worship.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 107:32, with its call for communal exaltation and praise for God's deliverance, finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "wonderful works" of God, which the psalm celebrates, culminate in the unparalleled deliverance offered through Christ's atoning sacrifice and resurrection. He is the ultimate deliverer, rescuing humanity from the "wilderness" of sin and separation from God, the "prison" of spiritual bondage, the "sickness" of a fallen nature, and the "storms" of divine judgment. The New Testament church, as the new "congregation of the people" (the ekklesia), is called to continue this public exaltation and praise, not merely for past physical deliverances, but for the eternal salvation wrought by the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!. As the Head of the Church, Christ gathers His people, and through the Holy Spirit, enables them to offer "a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name" (Hebrews 13:15). The "assembly of the elders" foreshadows the New Testament call for spiritual leadership to guide the church in its corporate worship, ensuring that Christ remains central to all praise and thanksgiving, for it is through Him, and with Him, and in Him that all glory is given to God the Father.