1 Chronicles 16:8

Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.

Give thanks {H3034} unto the LORD {H3068}, call {H7121} upon his name {H8034}, make known {H3045} his deeds {H5949} among the people {H5971}.

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

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

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

Commentary

1 Chronicles 16:8 is a foundational verse from a psalm of thanksgiving, sung by King David as the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem. This momentous occasion marked a significant step in Israel's worship life, establishing a formal system of praise before the Lord. The verse encapsulates three vital aspects of a believer's relationship with God: gratitude, dependence, and proclamation.

Context

This verse is part of a longer psalm (1 Chronicles 16:8-36) that David delivered on the day the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's presence, was finally placed in the tent David had prepared for it in Jerusalem. This was a day of great celebration, sacrifices, and the appointment of Levites to minister before the Ark. The psalm itself is a composite, drawing heavily from parts of Psalm 105, Psalm 96, and Psalm 106, emphasizing God's faithfulness to His covenant people and His mighty works throughout history. It sets a tone for national worship and remembrance of God's character.

Key Themes

  • Thanksgiving and Praise: The opening command, "Give thanks unto the LORD," establishes gratitude as the primary posture of worship. It's a recognition of God's goodness, provision, and mighty acts. This theme is central to biblical worship, as seen in many psalms.
  • Prayer and Dependence: "Call upon his name" signifies seeking God in prayer, invoking His character, and expressing reliance on Him. To "call upon His name" implies appealing to His authority, power, and covenant promises. It's an invitation to intimate communion and trust.
  • Proclamation and Witness: The final command, "make known his deeds among the people," highlights the outward expression of faith. It's a call to share God's powerful interventions, His character, and His saving acts not only within Israel but also among the nations. This anticipates the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "give thanks" is hodu (הֹדוּ), derived from the root yadah, which means to confess, praise, or give thanks, often with an extended hand. It denotes an active, outward expression of gratitude. "Call upon his name" (qir'u bishmo) implies a public invocation or appeal to God's revealed character and authority. "Make known his deeds" (hodi'u ba'ammim 'alilotav) uses a form of the verb "to know" that means to cause to know, or to declare, specifically His "doings" or "mighty acts" (alilotav), emphasizing the narrative of God's historical interventions and power.

Practical Application

For believers today, 1 Chronicles 16:8 serves as a timeless call to worship and witness. It reminds us that our faith is not merely private but has a public dimension. We are encouraged to:

  • Cultivate a Heart of Gratitude: Regularly express thanksgiving to God for His blessings, His faithfulness, and His salvation. This can transform our perspective, as echoed in Philippians 4:6.
  • Engage in Consistent Prayer: Make prayer a vital part of daily life, calling upon the Lord in all circumstances, trusting in His name and character.
  • Share God's Story: Be ready to tell others about God's "deeds"—His work in history, in the world, and in our personal lives. This involves sharing our testimony and the good news of the Gospel, making His mighty acts known to those who don't yet know Him.

This verse encourages a dynamic faith that is both deeply rooted in personal devotion and actively expressed in proclaiming God's glory to the world.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 105:1 (22 votes)

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

  • Psalms 105:15 (22 votes)

    [Saying], Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

  • Isaiah 12:4 (18 votes)

    ¶ 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.

  • 2 Kings 19:19 (11 votes)

    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.

  • Psalms 145:5 (7 votes)

    I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.

  • Psalms 145:6 (7 votes)

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

  • 1 Corinthians 1:2 (7 votes)

    Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: