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Psalms 145:1

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¶ David's [Psalm] of praise. I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.

David's {H1732} Psalm of praise {H8416}. I will extol {H7311} thee, my God {H430}, O king {H4428}; and I will bless {H1288} thy name {H8034} for ever {H5769} and ever {H5703}.

Praise. By David: I will praise you to the heights, my God, the king; I will bless your name forever and ever.

I will exalt You, my God and King; I will bless Your name forever and ever.

I will extol thee, my God, O King; And I will bless thy name for ever and ever.

Commentary

Context of Psalms 145:1

Psalm 145 is uniquely titled "David's Psalm of praise," indicating its authorship and primary purpose. It is the last of David's psalms in the Psalter and is notable for being an acrostic psalm in the original Hebrew, where each verse (or pair of verses) begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet (though one letter's verse is missing in the Masoretic Text, some ancient versions include it). This structural feature suggests a comprehensive and ordered declaration of God's greatness and faithfulness. Verse 1 serves as a powerful introduction, setting the tone for the entire psalm as a personal and resolute commitment to worship and exaltation of God.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Personal Devotion: David's declaration, "I will extol thee, my God," highlights a deep, personal relationship with the divine. It's not just a general statement of praise, but a commitment born from an intimate connection.
  • God's Sovereignty: Addressing God as "O king" acknowledges His supreme authority and universal dominion. This title underscores God's rightful place as ruler over all creation and over David's own life.
  • Unending Praise: The phrase "for ever and ever" expresses an eternal and unwavering commitment to praise. It signifies that God's worthiness of praise is timeless and transcends all circumstances, echoing the sentiment found in Psalm 103:1, "Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name."
  • Exaltation and Blessing: David's intent to "extol" and "bless" God's name reveals a desire to lift God up, to speak highly of His character, and to acknowledge His goodness and power.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV translation captures the essence of the original Hebrew verbs:

  • "Extol" (Hebrew: רוּם, rum): This verb means "to be high," "to be exalted," "to lift up." When applied to God, it signifies a profound act of raising Him to the highest honor and acknowledging His supreme position above all else. It's an active lifting up of His name and character in praise, much like the call to "greatly to be praised" in Psalm 96:4.
  • "Bless" (Hebrew: בָּרַךְ, barak): This word often implies kneeling or bowing down, signifying an act of reverence and adoration. To "bless God's name" means to speak well of His character, His attributes, and His deeds, thereby declaring His inherent goodness and worthiness of honor. In biblical thought, a "name" represents the very essence and reputation of an individual.
  • "My God, O king": This dual address combines intimacy ("my God") with universal authority ("O king"), illustrating a relationship that is both personal and acknowledges God's cosmic reign.

Practical Application

Psalm 145:1 serves as a powerful model for personal worship and offers timeless principles for believers today:

  • Intentional Praise: David’s "I will" is a volitional act, reminding us that praise is not merely a feeling but a deliberate choice and commitment, regardless of circumstances.
  • Daily Devotion: The commitment to praise "for ever and ever" encourages a consistent, lifelong practice of acknowledging God's goodness and sovereignty in our daily lives.
  • Acknowledge God's Authority: Recognizing God as "King" calls us to submit to His will and trust in His sovereign control over all things, bringing comfort and stability in an uncertain world.
  • Proclaim His Character: By "blessing His name," we are called to articulate and share God's attributes—His love, faithfulness, power, and mercy—with others, both in our words and our lives. This verse encourages a life of active and continuous worship.
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 (May 20, 2025) 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 47:6 (13 votes)

    Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.

  • Psalms 47:8 (13 votes)

    God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.

  • Psalms 45:6 (11 votes)

    ¶ Thy throne, O God, [is] for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom [is] a right sceptre.

  • Psalms 30:12 (8 votes)

    To the end that [my] glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

  • Psalms 34:1 (7 votes)

    ¶ [A Psalm] of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise [shall] continually [be] in my mouth.

  • Matthew 25:34 (6 votes)

    Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

  • Psalms 30:1 (5 votes)

    ¶ A Psalm [and] Song [at] the dedication of the house of David. I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.