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Psalms 145:3

Psalms 145:3 in Multiple Translations

Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable.

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.

Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised; And his greatness is unsearchable.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; his power may never be searched out.

The Lord is great and deserves much praise! His greatness cannot be measured!

Great is the Lord, and most worthy to be praysed, and his greatnes is incomprehensible.

Great [is] Jehovah, and praised greatly, And of His greatness there is no searching.

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised! His greatness is unsearchable.

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.

In the children of men, in whom there is no salvation.

Yahweh you are great, and ◄you ought to be praised/people should praise you► very much; we cannot fully realize how great you are.

Study Highlights

Key words in the translations above are automatically highlighted. Names of God and Jesus are marked in purple, the Holy Spirit in orange, divine action verbs are underlined, and repeated key words are highlighted in yellow.

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Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 145:3

BAB
Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Psalms 145:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB
HEB גָּ֘ד֤וֹל יְהוָ֣ה וּ/מְהֻלָּ֣ל מְאֹ֑ד וְ֝/לִ/גְדֻלָּת֗/וֹ אֵ֣ין חֵֽקֶר
גָּ֘ד֤וֹל gâdôwl H1419 Great (Sea) Adj
יְהוָ֣ה Yᵉhôvâh H3068 The Lord N-proper
וּ/מְהֻלָּ֣ל hâlal H1984 to shine Conj | V-Pual-Inf-c
מְאֹ֑ד mᵉʼôd H3966 much Adv
וְ֝/לִ/גְדֻלָּת֗/וֹ gᵉdûwlâh H1420 greatness Conj | Prep | N-fs | Suff
אֵ֣ין ʼayin H369 nothing Part
חֵֽקֶר chêqer H2714 search N-ms
Hebrew Word Study

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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 145:3

גָּ֘ד֤וֹל gâdôwl H1419 "Great (Sea)" Adj
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means something or someone great, whether in size, age, or importance. It appears in descriptions of the Great Sea and the Philistines. The word is used to convey a sense of magnitude or grandeur.
Definition: adj great Also named: pe.lish.ti (פְּלִשְׁתִּי "(Sea of the )Philistines" H6430I)
Usage: Occurs in 499 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] aloud, elder(-est), [phrase] exceeding(-ly), [phrase] far, (man of) great (man, matter, thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble, proud thing, [idiom] sore, ([idiom]) very. See also: Genesis 1:16; Joshua 7:26; 1 Kings 20:13.
יְהוָ֣ה Yᵉhôvâh H3068 "The Lord" N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
וּ/מְהֻלָּ֣ל hâlal H1984 "to shine" Conj | V-Pual-Inf-c
To be foolish means to act wildly or make a show, like the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:29. It can also mean to celebrate or boast, as in Psalm 38:5.
Definition: 1) to shine 1a) (Qal) to shine (fig. of God's favour) 1b) (Hiphil) to flash forth light
Usage: Occurs in 140 OT verses. KJV: (make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool(-ish, -ly), glory, give (light), be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, (sing, be worthy of) praise, rage, renowned, shine. See also: Genesis 12:15; Psalms 113:1; Psalms 5:6.
מְאֹ֑ד mᵉʼôd H3966 "much" Adv
Meod means 'much' or 'very' and is used to emphasize something. It can mean 'exceedingly' or 'greatly' and is often used to show strong feelings or actions.
Definition: adv 1) exceedingly, much subst 2) might, force, abundance n m 3) muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly 3a) force, might 3b) exceedingly, greatly, very (idioms showing magnitude or degree) 3b1) exceedingly 3b2) up to abundance, to a great degree, exceedingly 3b3) with muchness, muchness
Usage: Occurs in 278 OT verses. KJV: diligently, especially, exceeding(-ly), far, fast, good, great(-ly), [idiom] louder and louder, might(-ily, -y), (so) much, quickly, (so) sore, utterly, very ([phrase] much, sore), well. See also: Genesis 1:31; 1 Samuel 11:6; Psalms 6:4.
וְ֝/לִ/גְדֻלָּת֗/וֹ gᵉdûwlâh H1420 "greatness" Conj | Prep | N-fs | Suff
This noun refers to greatness, whether of a person or God. It describes mighty acts and dignity, emphasizing the importance and majesty of the subject.
Definition: 1) greatness 1a) of man 1b) of God's greatness (as an attribute)
Usage: Occurs in 11 OT verses. KJV: dignity, great things(-ness), majesty. See also: 2 Samuel 7:21; Esther 1:4; Psalms 71:21.
אֵ֣ין ʼayin H369 "nothing" Part
This word means nothing or not, often used to indicate the absence of something, as in Genesis 1:2 where the earth was without form. It emphasizes the idea of something lacking or non-existent.
Definition: 1) nothing, not, nought n 1a) nothing, nought neg 1b) not 1c) to have not (of possession) adv 1d) without w/prep 1e) for lack of
Usage: Occurs in 686 OT verses. KJV: else, except, fail, (father-) less, be gone, in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any, thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable), well-nigh, without. Compare H370 (אַיִן). See also: Genesis 2:5; Deuteronomy 14:27; 1 Kings 15:22.
חֵֽקֶר chêqer H2714 "search" N-ms
This word refers to a search or investigation, like trying to find something out. It is used in the Bible to describe examining or inquiring about something, and is often translated as search or finding out.
Definition: a search, investigation, searching, enquiry, thing to be searched out
Usage: Occurs in 12 OT verses. KJV: finding out, number, (un-) search(-able, -ed, out, -ing). See also: Judges 5:16; Job 36:26; Psalms 145:3.

Study Notes — Psalms 145:3

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1 Psalms 147:5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.
2 Romans 11:33 O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!
3 Job 5:9 the One who does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.
4 Isaiah 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out.
5 Job 9:10 He does great things beyond searching out, and wonders without number.
6 Psalms 139:6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
7 Psalms 48:1 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, His holy mountain.
8 Psalms 96:4 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.
9 Job 11:7–9 Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
10 Job 26:14 Indeed, these are but the fringes of His ways; how faint is the whisper we hear of Him! Who then can understand the thunder of His power?”

Psalms 145:3 Summary

God is so great that we cannot even begin to comprehend His power and wisdom, as stated in Psalms 145:3, and this should lead us to worship and praise Him, as seen in Revelation 4:11, where all creatures praise God for His creation. We can trust in His goodness and love, even when we do not understand everything, and this trust can be built by reading and meditating on His word, as encouraged in Psalms 119:97-100.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean that the LORD's greatness is 'unsearchable'?

This phrase, found in Psalms 145:3, suggests that God's greatness is beyond human comprehension, as also stated in Romans 11:33, which says that God's ways are 'unsearchable' and His judgments 'unfathomable'.

How can we praise God if His greatness is unsearchable?

Although we cannot fully understand God's greatness, we can still praise Him for what we do know about Him, as seen in Psalms 103:1-5, where David praises God for His benefits and works.

Is God's greatness limited to certain areas of life?

No, God's greatness is all-encompassing, as stated in Psalms 145:3, and is evident in all aspects of creation and our lives, as seen in Colossians 1:16-17, which says that all things were created by and for Him.

What is the relationship between God's greatness and our worship?

Recognizing God's greatness should lead us to worship and praise Him, as seen in Psalms 145:3, where the psalmist declares that God is 'greatly to be praised' because of His unsearchable greatness, similar to Revelation 4:11, which says that God is worthy of praise and glory because He created all things.

Reflection Questions

  1. In what ways have you experienced God's greatness in your life, and how has it led you to praise Him?
  2. What are some attributes of God's greatness that you are thankful for, and how can you express your gratitude to Him?
  3. How can meditating on God's unsearchable greatness impact your daily life and relationships?
  4. What are some ways you can declare God's greatness to others, as seen in Psalms 145:4-5, and what role can you play in commending His works to the next generation?

Gill's Exposition on Psalms 145:3

Great [is] the Lord, and greatly to be praised,.... Christ is the great God as well as our Saviour; great in all the perfections of his nature, of great wisdom, power, faithfulness, holiness, grace,

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 145:3

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. Psalms 48:1 is drawn from this by the sons of Korah.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 145:3

His greatness, in his being, majesty, and glory, and all perfections.

Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 145:3

Psalms 145:3 Great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness [is] unsearchable.Ver. 3. Great is the Lord] See his greatness set forth by Moses, Deuteronomy 10:17. And greatly to be praised] viz. According to his excellent greatness, Psalms 150:2, which yet cannot be. And his greatness is unsearchable] Tantum recedit quantum capitur, saith Nazianzen. He is above all name, all notion, all parallel in nature: we can see but his back parts, and live; we need see no more that we may live.

Ellicott's Commentary on Psalms 145:3

(3) Greatly to be praised.—See Psalms 18:3 and comp. Psalms 48:1. And his greatness.—Literally, more expressive, and for his greatness no search. (Comp. Isaiah 40:28; Job 11:7.)

Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 145:3

Verse 3. His greatness is unsearchable.] Literally, To his mightinesses there is no investigation. All in God is unlimited and eternal.

Cambridge Bible on Psalms 145:3

3. There can be no worthier object of praise than Jehovah. The verse re-echoes Psalms 48:1 a; Psalms 96:4 a; Job 11:7 ff.; Isaiah 40:28. greatly to be praised] Better, exceeding worthy to be praised. In most editions of the Prayer Book this verse reads Great is the Lord, and marvellous, worthy to be praised. The comma after marvellous does not appear in the MS annexed as the authoritative copy to the Act of Uniformity of 1662, but was wrongly introduced into the earliest printed copies by the printers, who failed to see that marvellous was an adverb, as in Psalms 31:23.

Barnes' Notes on Psalms 145:3

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised - See Psalms 96:4, note; Psalms 18:3, note. And his greatness is unsearchable - See Job 5:9, note; Job 9:10, note; Job 11:7-8, notes.

Sermons on Psalms 145:3

SermonDescription
Evan Roberts Evan Roberts Preaching in 1905 by Evan Roberts Evan Roberts reflects on the glorious deeds of God, emphasizing that no amount of time could fully express His greatness. He challenges the congregation to consider what they offer
Paul Washer Ten Indictments Against the Modern Church - Full Service With Music by Paul Washer In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of focusing on spiritual matters rather than worldly distractions. He encourages believers to be absorbed in the teachings of
Jim Cymbala A Personal Promise by Jim Cymbala In this sermon, the speaker discusses the story of David from the book of 1 Samuel. David goes from being an unknown shepherd boy to a famous warrior and leader of the army. Howeve
Francis Chan No Just a Baby by Francis Chan This sermon emphasizes the importance of shifting our focus from earthly matters to the sacred presence of God, as seen in moments like a wedding communion and a perspective on hea
Colin Peckham "The Great God" by Colin Peckham This sermon emphasizes the greatness and glory of God, highlighting the distinction between God's heavenly majesty and our earthly limitations. It calls for a reverent recognition
John Owen The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded #2 by John Owen In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of focusing on the word of God to detach our hearts and affections from worldly things. He encourages believers to have a con
Bro. Tiasto The Triumphant Church in China by Bro. Tiasto In this sermon, the speaker discusses the training of missionaries in China and highlights five major subjects taught to them. The first subject focuses on how to witness and live

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