Psalms 138:2

Translation
King James Version
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.
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KJV (with Strong's)
I will worship H7812 toward thy holy H6944 temple H1964, and praise H3034 thy name H8034 for thy lovingkindness H2617 and for thy truth H571: for thou hast magnified H1431 thy word H565 above all thy name H8034.
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Complete Jewish Bible
I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your grace and truth; for you have made your word [even] greater than the whole of your reputation.
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Berean Standard Bible
I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness; You have exalted Your name and Your word above all else.
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American Standard Version
I will worship toward thy holy temple, And give thanks unto thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
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World English Bible Messianic
I will bow down toward your holy temple, and give thanks to your Name for your loving kindness and for your truth; for you have exalted your Name and your Word above all.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
I will worship toward thine holy Temple and praise thy Name, because of thy louing kindenesse and for thy trueth: for thou hast magnified thy Name aboue all things by thy word.
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Young's Literal Translation
I bow myself toward Thy holy temple, And I confess Thy name, For Thy kindness, and for Thy truth, For Thou hast made great Thy saying above all Thy name.
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See also
Matthew 5:18Isaiah 42:21Psalms 56:10Matthew 24:35Psalms 5:7Psalms 28:21 Kings 8:29
In the KJVVerse 16,234 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Psalm 138:2 is a profound declaration of King David's personal commitment to worship and gratitude, articulating the foundational reasons for his praise. He pledges to worship God in the direction of the holy temple, giving thanks for God's steadfast love and unwavering truth. The verse culminates in a powerful theological statement: God has elevated His divine promises and revealed will—His word—above even His own renowned name, underscoring His absolute commitment to the integrity and fulfillment of His declarations.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Psalm 138 is a heartfelt psalm of thanksgiving, likely composed by David in response to a significant divine intervention or answered prayer, possibly after a period of distress or victory. It opens with David's resolute commitment to praise God "with my whole heart" (Psalm 138:1), even "before the gods" or earthly rulers, emphasizing the unparalleled sovereignty of Yahweh. Verse 2 elaborates on the manner and motivation of this worship, specifying both the physical orientation ("toward thy holy temple") and the divine attributes that inspire such profound devotion: God's lovingkindness and truth. The psalm continues to extol God's greatness, His attentiveness to the humble, and His enduring faithfulness, contrasting His character with the pride of the wicked. The concluding verses (Psalm 138:7-8) express David's confidence in God's continued preservation and the completion of His work, rooted firmly in God's unfailing love.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: As a psalm attributed to King David, this text reflects the established worship practices of ancient Israel during his reign. The "holy temple" (Hebrew: heykâl) in David's time would refer to the Tabernacle, which served as the central place of worship and the symbolic dwelling place of God's manifest presence among His people in Jerusalem. Worshiping "toward" it signified reverence for God's presence and His covenantal relationship with Israel. This practice was a physical posture reflecting a spiritual orientation towards the divine presence. In the ancient Near East, a person's "name" (Hebrew: shêm) was far more than a mere label; it encapsulated their entire character, reputation, authority, and essence. To "magnify" one's word above one's name was an extraordinary and deeply significant claim, indicating an unparalleled commitment to one's promises, especially in a culture where oaths, covenants, and spoken declarations held immense legal and social weight.
  • Key Themes: This verse encapsulates several core themes prevalent throughout the Psalms and the broader Old Testament narrative. Worship is presented not as a mere ritual but as a heartfelt, intentional response to God's character and His faithful actions. The attributes of God's lovingkindness (חֶסֶד, chesed) and truth (אֱמֶת, emeth) are highlighted as foundational to His very nature and the basis of His covenant relationship with Israel. These complementary attributes are frequently celebrated in psalms that praise God's unwavering faithfulness, such as Psalm 89:1-2 and Psalm 117:2. Most profoundly, the verse emphasizes the supremacy and inviolability of God's Word. This concept—that God's spoken word, His promises, and His revealed will are so utterly reliable that they transcend even His own reputation—is a powerful affirmation of divine faithfulness, echoing sentiments found in Numbers 23:19 and Isaiah 55:11.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • magnified (Hebrew, gâdal', H1431): A primitive root meaning "to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride); advance, boast, bring up, exceed, excellent, be(-come, do, give, make, wax), great(-er, come to... estate, [phrase] things), grow(up), increase, lift up, magnify(-ifical), be much set by, nourish (up), pass, promote, proudly (spoken), tower." In this context, it signifies God's deliberate act of exalting, elevating, or giving supreme importance and preeminence to His word, placing it above all other aspects of His renown or character.
  • lovingkindness (Hebrew, chêçêd', H2617): Derived from חָסַד, meaning "kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty; favour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing." Chesed is a rich and multifaceted theological term denoting God's steadfast, loyal, and covenantal love. It encompasses His unfailing mercy, faithfulness, and benevolent commitment that forms the very foundation of His relationship with His people, a love that endures and actively pursues their good.
  • word (Hebrew, ʼimrâh', H565): Or אֶמְרָה, feminine of אֵמֶר, meaning "something said; commandment, speech, word." This refers to God's spoken declarations, His divine promises, decrees, commandments, and revealed will. The verse asserts that God has elevated the reliability, certainty, and binding nature of these divine utterances to the highest possible degree, making them the ultimate guarantee of His character and actions.

Verse Breakdown

  • "I will worship toward thy holy temple,": David expresses his personal and unwavering commitment to worship God. The act of "worship" (H7812, shâchâh, to depress, i.e., prostrate oneself, especially in homage to royalty or God) is directed "toward thy holy temple" (H1964, hêykâl, a large public building, such as a palace or temple; H6944, qôdesh, a sacred place or thing). This signifies a posture of profound reverence for God's designated dwelling place and His manifest presence, even if the permanent Temple was not yet built. It points to the Tabernacle or the future Temple as the symbolic and actual locus of God's presence and Israel's corporate worship, a place where God's glory was uniquely revealed.
  • "and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth:": David's worship is intimately connected with and accompanied by fervent praise (H3034, yâdâh, literally to use or hold out the hand, to throw, but especially to revere or worship with extended hands, to confess, to give thanks). This praise is directed to God's "name" (H8034, shêm, an appellation, character, authority, reputation). The profound reasons for this praise are God's "lovingkindness" (H2617, chêçêd, His steadfast, covenantal love and mercy) and His "truth" (H571, ʼemeth, His stability, certainty, and trustworthiness). These two attributes are inextricably linked and fundamental to God's character, highlighting His unwavering faithfulness and absolute reliability in all His dealings with humanity and His covenant people.
  • "for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.": This climactic and profound statement provides the ultimate reason for David's deep trust, unwavering praise, and confident hope. God has "magnified" (H1431, gâdal, to make great, to elevate, to cause to increase in honor) His "word" (H565, ʼimrâh, His spoken declarations, promises, and commandments) "above all thy name" (H8034, shêm, His reputation, character, authority, and renown). This means that God places the utmost, incomparable importance on the integrity, certainty, and fulfillment of His promises. His word is not merely an expression of His character; it is the ultimate guarantee of His character and actions, serving as the supreme and most reliable indicator of who He is and what He will do.

Literary Devices

The verse employs several powerful Literary Devices to convey its profound theological message. The most striking is Hyperbole in the phrase "for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name." This is a rhetorical exaggeration not meant to suggest that God's word is ontologically greater than God Himself, but rather to emphasize the supreme importance, inviolability, and absolute reliability of God's promises and revealed will. It powerfully underscores God's unwavering commitment to His own declarations. Parallelism is evident in the pairing of "lovingkindness and for thy truth," which are two complementary and often conjoined attributes of God's character, frequently linked in Hebrew poetry to describe His covenant faithfulness and reliability. Furthermore, Metonymy is present in "thy holy temple" and "thy name." The temple serves as a metonym for God's presence and the designated locus of His worship, while God's "name" is a metonym for His entire character, reputation, authority, and very essence. The verse's structure moves from an outward act of worship to the internal, theological reasons for that worship, culminating in a profound truth that undergirds all genuine trust and praise.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Psalms 138:2 provides a cornerstone for understanding the very nature of divine faithfulness. It asserts that God's spoken word is not merely an expression of His character but is, in a profound sense, the very guarantor of His character. This means that God's integrity is intrinsically and immutably tied to the fulfillment of His promises. His chesed (lovingkindness) and emeth (truth) are not abstract qualities but are actively demonstrated and made manifest through His unwavering commitment to what He has declared. This theological truth assures believers that God's plans and purposes, once revealed, are immutable and will surely come to pass, providing an unshakeable foundation for faith, hope, and confident expectation in every circumstance.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Psalms 138:2 calls us to a worship that is deeply rooted in the unwavering character of God. It reminds us that our praise should not be based on fleeting circumstances or emotional highs, but on the eternal bedrock of His lovingkindness and truth. The profound declaration that God has magnified His word above His name should fill us with immense confidence and provide an anchor for our souls in turbulent times. In a world where promises are often broken, words are cheap, and trustworthiness is scarce, this verse assures us that God's every declaration is utterly reliable and eternally binding. This truth empowers us to trust His promises for our salvation, sanctification, provision, and future hope, knowing that His commitment to His word is the ultimate guarantee of His faithfulness. It challenges us to align our lives with His magnified word, making it the supreme authority and guide for our thoughts, words, and actions, just as God Himself honors it above all else. Our response to such a God should be one of wholehearted worship, confident obedience, and joyful proclamation of His unfailing truth.

Questions for Reflection

  • How does understanding God's magnification of His word above His name impact your trust in His promises for your life, especially during times of uncertainty or waiting?
  • In what practical ways can you demonstrate that you value God's word as highly as He does, allowing it to shape your decisions and priorities?
  • How do God's lovingkindness and truth serve as the foundational motivations for your personal worship and praise, moving beyond mere ritual to heartfelt adoration?

FAQ

Why did David worship "toward thy holy temple" if the permanent temple wasn't built yet?

Answer: In David's time, the "holy temple" (Hebrew: heykâl) referred to the Tabernacle, which served as the central place of worship and the symbolic dwelling place of God's presence among His people in Jerusalem. While Solomon would later build the permanent Temple, the Tabernacle functioned as the designated sanctuary, the place where God's glory resided and where His people met with Him. Worshiping "toward" it was a common and significant practice in ancient Israel, signifying reverence for God's manifest presence and His covenantal relationship with His people. It was a physical orientation that reflected a spiritual posture of seeking God where He had chosen to reveal Himself and receive worship. This practice is also seen in other psalms, such as Psalm 5:7, where the psalmist declares, "But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple."

What does it mean that God "magnified His word above all His name"?

Answer: In the ancient world, a person's "name" (Hebrew: shêm) represented their entire character, reputation, authority, and essence. To say that God has "magnified" (exalted, made great, elevated in importance) His "word" (His spoken declarations, promises, and revealed will) above all His name is an incredibly powerful and profound theological statement. It means that God places the utmost, incomparable importance on the integrity and absolute fulfillment of His own declarations. His commitment to His word is so absolute that it is the ultimate expression and guarantee of His character. It assures us that God is utterly trustworthy; His promises are inviolable and will be fulfilled because His very being and reputation are bound to them. This concept is reinforced in passages like Isaiah 55:11, where God declares that His word "shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." It highlights God's perfect faithfulness and the certainty of His divine plan.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Psalms 138:2 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is the very embodiment of God's magnified word, lovingkindness, and truth. The Old Testament "word" (Hebrew: davar or imrah) of God, which David praises as magnified above God's name, becomes flesh in the person of Jesus, the eternal Logos. As John 1:14 so eloquently declares, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." Jesus is the living, breathing manifestation of God's truth (emeth) and grace (which perfectly aligns with and fulfills the concept of chesed, God's steadfast lovingkindness). All of God's promises, His "word" magnified throughout history, find their definitive "Yes" and "Amen" in Christ, as 2 Corinthians 1:20 affirms: "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." When we worship Christ, we are worshiping the very Word of God made manifest, the ultimate expression of God's unwavering faithfulness and covenantal love, who perfectly fulfills every declaration and promise God has ever made, thereby supremely magnifying God's word and name for all eternity.

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Commentary on Psalms 138 verses 1–5

I. How he would praise God, compare Psa 111:1. 1. He will praise him with sincerity and zeal - "With my heart, with my whole heart, with that which is within me and with all that is within me, with uprightness of intention and fervency of affection, inward impressions agreeing with outward expressions." 2. With freedom and boldness: Before the gods will I sing praise unto thee, before the princes, and judges, and great men, either those of other nations that visited him or those of his own nation that attended on him, even in their presence. He will not only praise God with his heart, which we may do by pious ejaculations in any company, but will sing praise if there be occasion. Note, Praising God is work which the greatest of men need not be ashamed of; it is the work of angels, the work of heaven. Before the angels (so some understand it), that is, in religious assemblies, where there is a special presence of angels, Co1 11:10. 3. In the way that God had appointed: I will worship towards thy holy temple. The priests alone went into the temple; the people, at the nearest, did but worship towards it, and that they might do at a distance. Christ is our temple, and towards him we must look with an eye of faith, as Mediator between us and God, in all our praises of him. Heaven is God's holy temple, and thitherward we must lift up our eyes in all our addresses to God. Our Father in heaven.

II. What he would praise God for. 1. For the fountain of his comforts - for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth, for thy goodness and for thy promise, mercy hidden in thee and mercy revealed by thee, that God is a gracious God in himself and has engaged to be so to all those that trust in him. For thou hast magnified thy word (thy promise, which is truth) above all thy name. God has made himself known to us in many ways in creation and providence, but most clearly by his word. The judgments of his mouth are magnified even above those of his hand, and greater things are done by them. The wonders of grace exceed the wonders of nature; and what is discovered of God by revelation is much greater than what is discovered by reason. In what God had done for David his faithfulness to his work appeared more illustriously, and redounded more to his glory, than any other of his attributes. Some good interpreters understand it of Christ, the essential Word, and of his gospel, which are magnified above all the discoveries God had before made of himself to the fathers. He that magnified the law, and made that honourable, magnifies the gospel much more. 2. For the streams flowing from that fountain, in which he himself had tasted that the Lord is gracious, Psa 138:3. He had been in affliction, and he remembers, with thankfulness, (1.) The sweet communion he then had with God. He cried, he prayed, and prayed earnestly, and God answered him, gave him to understand that his prayer was accepted and should have a gracious return in due time. The intercourse between God and his saints is carried on by his promises and their prayers. (2.) The sweet communications he then had from God: Thou strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. This was the answer to his prayer, for God gives more than good words, Psa 20:6. Observe, [1.] It was a speedy answer: In the day when I cried. Note, Those that trade with heaven by prayer grow rich by quick returns. While we are yet speaking God hears, Isa 65:24. [2.] It was a spiritual answer. God gave him strength in his soul, and that is a real and valuable answer to the prayer of faith in the day of affliction. If God give us strength in our souls to bear the burdens, resist the temptations, and do the duties of an afflicted state, if he strengthen us to keep hold of himself by faith, to maintain the peace of our own minds and to wait with patience for the issue, we must own that he has answered us, and we are bound to be thankful.

III. What influence he hoped that his praising God would have upon others, Psa 138:4, Psa 138:5. David was himself a king, and therefore he hoped that kings would be wrought upon by his experiences, and his example, to embrace religion; and, if kings became religious, their kingdoms would be every way better. Now, 1. This may have reference to the kings that were neighbours to David, as Hiram and others. "They shall all praise thee." When they visited David, and, after his death, when they sought the presence of Solomon (as all the kings of the earth are expressly said to have done, Ch2 9:23), they readily joined in the worship of the God of Israel. 2. It may look further, to the calling of the Gentiles and the discipling of all nations by the gospel of Christ, of whom it is said that all kings shall fall down before him, Psa 72:11. Now it is here foretold, (1.) That the kings of the earth shall hear the words of God. All that came near David should hear them from him, Psa 119:46. In the latter days the preachers of the gospel should be sent into all the world. (2.) That then they shall praise God, as all those have reason to do that hear his word, and receive it in the light and love of it, Act 13:48. (3.) That they shall sing in the ways of the Lord, in the ways of his providence and grace towards them; they shall rejoice in God, and give glory to him, however he is pleased to deal with them in the ways of their duty and obedience to him. Note, Those that walk in the ways of the Lord have reason to sing in those ways, to go on in them with a great deal of cheerfulness, for they are ways of pleasantness, and it becomes us to be pleasant in them; and, if we are so, great is the glory of the Lord. It is very much for the honour of God that kings should walk in his ways, and that all those who walk in them should sing in them, and so proclaim to all the world that he is a good Master and his work its own wages.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–5. Public domain.
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Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 138
"I will worship toward Your holy Temple" [Psalm 138:2]. What holy Temple? That where we shall dwell, where we shall worship. For we hasten that we may adore. Our heart is pregnant and comes to the birth, and seeks where it may bring forth. What is the place where God is to be worshipped?..."The Temple of God is holy," says the Apostle, "which Temple you are." [1 Corinthians 3:17] But assuredly, as is manifest, God dwells in the Angels. Therefore when our joy, being in spiritual things, not in earthly, takes up a song to God, to sing before the Angels, that very assembly of Angels is the Temple of God, we worship toward God's Temple. There is a Church below, there is a Church above also; the Church below, in all the faithful; the Church above, in all the Angels. But the God of Angels came down to the Church below, and Angels ministered to Him on earth, [Matthew 4:11] while He ministered to us; for, "I came not," says He, "to be ministered unto, but to minister." [Matthew 20:28] ...The Lord of Angels died for man. Therefore, "I will worship toward Your holy Temple;" I mean, not the temple made with hands, but that which You have made for Yourself.
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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