Psalms 66:16

Come [and] hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

Come {H3212}{H8798)} and hear {H8085}{H8798)}, all ye that fear {H3373} God {H430}, and I will declare {H5608}{H8762)} what he hath done {H6213}{H8804)} for my soul {H5315}.

Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for me.

Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for me.

Come, and hear, all ye that fear God, And I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

Commentary

Psalms 66:16 is a powerful invitation to hear a personal testimony of God's faithfulness and work in an individual's life. Following a broader call to all the earth to praise God for His mighty deeds (Psalm 66:1-12) and the psalmist's commitment to fulfill vows (Psalm 66:13-15), this verse shifts to an intimate, yet public, declaration.

Context

Psalm 66 is a psalm of thanksgiving, likely composed after a significant deliverance or blessing for the people of Israel. It begins with a universal call to worship, acknowledging God's awe-inspiring works and His dominion over creation and history. The psalmist recounts how God tested His people, bringing them through trials ("fire and water," Psalm 66:12), but ultimately leading them to a place of abundance. Verse 16 transitions from a communal acknowledgement of God's greatness to a personal, heartfelt confession of His specific acts of grace and intervention, inviting those who share a reverence for God to listen.

Key Themes

  • Invitation to Listen: The phrase "Come and hear" is an earnest summons, emphasizing the importance and sincerity of the message that follows. It's an appeal for attentive ears, not just casual acknowledgment.
  • Audience: Those Who Fear God: The psalmist specifically addresses "all ye that fear God." This refers to those who possess a deep reverence, respect, and obedient awe for the Lord. It signifies a shared spiritual understanding and a readiness to appreciate God's work. This concept is foundational in wisdom literature, as seen in Proverbs 9:10, where the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
  • The Power of Personal Testimony: The core of the verse is the commitment, "I will declare what he hath done for my soul." This highlights the importance of sharing personal experiences of God's intervention. Such testimonies serve to glorify God, encourage fellow believers, and potentially draw others to faith. This echoes the sentiment in Psalm 107:2, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so," underscoring the value of proclaiming God's goodness.
  • God's Personal Work in the Soul: The phrase "what he hath done for my soul" signifies a deeply personal and profound impact. It speaks to God's direct involvement in the psalmist's inner being, perhaps delivering from distress, providing comfort, or transforming their spiritual state. It's not just about external events, but the internal spiritual sustenance and restoration that God provides, much like Psalm 23:3 declares, "He restoreth my soul."

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "fear God" (ื™ึดืจึฐืึตื™ ืึฑืœึนื”ึดื™ื, yire'ei Elohim) implies more than just being afraid. It denotes a profound reverence, respect, and submission to God's authority and holiness. It's a key descriptor for those who truly worship and obey Him.

The word "declare" (ืึฒืกึทืคึฐึผืจึธื”, asapperah) means to recount, to tell in detail, to narrate. It suggests a thorough and genuine sharing of one's experience, not just a casual mention.

"My soul" (ื ึทืคึฐืฉึดืื™, nafshi) in Hebrew often refers to the entire person, their life, their inner being, their mind, will, and emotions. It signifies that God's work was comprehensive and deeply impactful to the psalmist's very essence.

Reflection and Application

Psalms 66:16 serves as a timeless encouragement for believers today to openly share their testimonies of God's faithfulness. In a world often skeptical or indifferent, personal accounts of God's work in one's life can be powerfully convincing and uplifting. This verse reminds us that:

  • Our personal stories of God's intervention are valuable and meant to be shared.
  • Sharing our experiences glorifies God and encourages others in their faith.
  • God is intimately involved in the lives of those who fear Him, working not just in external circumstances, but profoundly "for our souls."

Just as the psalmist invited others to hear, we are called to be ready to declare what the Lord has done for us, strengthening the community of faith and pointing others to His goodness.

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Cross-References

  • Psalms 34:11

    ยถ Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

  • Psalms 71:15

    My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness [and] thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers [thereof].

  • Malachi 3:16

    Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard [it], and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

  • Psalms 66:5

    Come and see the works of God: [he is] terrible [in his] doing toward the children of men.

  • Psalms 71:18

    Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto [this] generation, [and] thy power to every one [that] is to come.

  • 1 John 1:3

    That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship [is] with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

  • Psalms 71:24

    My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.