Psalms 57:9 — Word Study
WLCאוֹדְךָ֖ בָעַמִּ֥ים׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י אֲ֝זַמֶּרְךָ֗ בַּל־ אֻמִּֽים׃
BSAto rouseʻûwr glorykâbôwd to rouseʻûwr bagnebel lyrekinnôwr to rouseʻûwr dawnshachar
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אוֹדְךָ֖ | I will give thanks to you | Verb hiphil imperfect first person common singular, suffix |
| בָעַמִּ֥ים׀ | among the peoples | Preposition, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| אֲדֹנָ֑י | O Lord | Noun proper |
| אֲ֝זַמֶּרְךָ֗ | I will sing praises to you | Verb piel imperfect first person common singular, suffix |
| בַּל־ | not | Particle |
| אֻמִּֽים׃ | nations | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | I will praise You, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing Your praises among the peoples. |
| KJV | I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. |
| ASV | I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the peoples: I will sing praises unto thee among the nations. |
| YLT | I thank Thee among the peoples, O Lord, I praise Thee among the nations. |
| WEB | I will give thanks to you, Lord, among the peoples. I will sing praises to you among the nations. |
| BBE | I will give you praise, O Lord, among the peoples; I will make songs to you among the nations. |
Where they part company is in the translation of אוֹדְךָ — see How Translations Differ.
The structure features two main clauses, each followed by a prepositional phrase indicating the context of the praise and singing.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 57:9
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Declaration of Praisegenerated
Psalm 57:9 expresses a commitment to praise God not only in private but among all nations and peoples. This reflects the psalmist's understanding of God's universal sovereignty and the desire to share His glory with the world. The surrounding verses emphasize awakening one's spirit to worship and acknowledging God's greatness, which is further explored in Psalm 57:8 and Psalm 57:10.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 2:1 | Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? |
| 2 | Psalm 18:49 | Therefore I will praise You, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to Your name. |
| 3 | Psalm 22:22–23 | I will proclaim Your name to my brothers; I will praise You in the assembly. |
| 4 | Psalm 96:3 | Declare His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all peoples. |
| 5 | Psalm 138:1–4 | I give You thanks with all my heart; before the gods I sing Your praises. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אוֹדְךָ֖, 'od.Khagenerated
The verb אוֹדְךָ ('od.Kha') is a Hiphil imperfect form, meaning 'I will give thanks to you.' It originates from the root יָדָה (yadah), which conveys the idea of throwing or casting, often symbolizing worship through extended hands. This word emphasizes the act of expressing gratitude and praise, particularly in a communal setting.
In this verse, the psalmist declares his intention to publicly acknowledge God's greatness among the nations. The use of the first-person singular indicates a personal commitment to worship, while the context of the verse suggests a broader call to all peoples to recognize and honor God.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of two main clauses, both starting with a finite verb: אוֹדְךָ ('I will give thanks') and אֲ֝זַמֶּרְךָ ('I will sing praises'). Each clause is followed by a prepositional phrase indicating the context of the praise — among the nations and peoples.
The structure emphasizes the psalmist's commitment to worship in a communal setting, with the verbs leading the statements and the prepositional phrases providing the context.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates אוֹדְךָ as ἐχεγέρθητι, indicating a similar emphasis on public acknowledgment of God. This choice reflects the translators' understanding of the psalmist's intent to declare praise broadly.
The Greek rendering maintains the essence of the Hebrew, focusing on the act of praising God among various groups, which aligns with the psalm's theme of universal worship.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 57:9 shows the psalmist's commitment to praise God publicly. He expresses his desire to give thanks and sing hymns to the Lord among all nations and peoples, highlighting the importance of worshiping God in a communal context.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Praising God among the nations means publicly acknowledging His greatness and sharing His glory with all people, not just within one's own community.
Singing praises to God is a form of worship that expresses gratitude, joy, and reverence, and it can inspire others to recognize God's goodness.
We can apply this verse by actively sharing our faith and praising God in our communities, encouraging others to join in worship and acknowledgment of His greatness.
Music plays a vital role in worship by helping to express emotions, unite congregations, and create an atmosphere of reverence and praise.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I share my praise for God with others in my community?
- How does singing praises to God impact my personal worship experience?
- What are some specific examples of God's faithfulness that I can share with others?
- How can I encourage others to recognize and praise God in their lives?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The earliest commentary on this verse comes from Augustine of Hippo, who reflects on the psalmist's call to glorify God after trials.
"Rise up, my glory" [Psalms 57:9]. He that had fled from the face of Saul into a cavern, says, "Rise up, my glory:" glorified be Jesus after His Passion.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 57 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 57:9 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleI will praise thee, O Lord, among the people,.... Either among the people of Israel, as Aben Ezra, when each of the tribes meet together; and so it denotes the public manner in which he would praise
Read John Gill on Psalms 57 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryMy heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. -Determination to praise God. Verse 7. My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed - literally, prepared, established.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 57 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleAmong the people; in the great congregations; amongst the Israelites of all tribes, who are called by this name, , and amongst the heathens, as I shall have occasion, as he often had.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 57 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 57:9 I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. Ver. 9. I will praise thee, O Lord … among the nations] This was done by Christ calling the Gentiles, Psalms 18:49 Romans 15:9.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 57 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 9. Among the people] The Israelites. Among the nations.] The Gentiles at large. A prophecy either relating to the Gospel times, Christ being considered as the Speaker: or a prediction that these Divine compositions should be sung, both in synagogues and in Christian churches, in all the nations of the earth. And it is so: wherever the name of Christ is known, there is David's known also.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 57 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges9. I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the peoples: I will make melody unto thee among the nations. This verse at any rate, it is said, could never have been written by David, and is only really intelligible, if the Psalmist speaks in the name of the nation. But the words are not unsuitable for one who was chosen to be king over a nation which had a special calling in relation to the nations of the world. If the nations were to be brought under the sway of Israel that they might be taught to know Jehovah, it was fitting that they should hear of Jehovah’s faithfulness exhibited in the deliverance of His servant. Cp. Psalms 18:49 (with the context); Psalms 9:11.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 57 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleI will praise thee, O Lord, among the people - So great a deliverance as he here hoped for, would make it proper that he should celebrate the praise of God in the most public manner; that he should
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 57 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible9. People… nations—In each place the original word is the same. The repetition is for emphasis, and the plural (peoples, nations) must be understood of the Gentile nations.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 57 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
I will praise You, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing Your praises among the peoples.
I will give thanks to you, Lord, among the peoples. I will sing praises to you among the nations.
I will praise You, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing Your praises among the peoples.
I will give you thanks before the nations, O Master! I will sing praises to you before foreigners!
Tyndale line
I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.
I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the peoples: I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the peoples: I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: I will sing to thee among the nations.
I will prayse thee, O Lord, among the people, and I wil sing vnto thee among the nations.
Strictly literal
I will give thee thanks among the peoples, O Lord; of thee will I sing psalms among the nations:
I thank Thee among the peoples, O Lord, I praise Thee among the nations.
I thank You among the peoples, O Lord, || I praise You among the nations.
(57:10) I will thank thee among the people, O Lord: I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
I will give thanks to you, Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.
From the Latin
Like wax that melteth they shall be taken away: fire hath fallen on them, and they shall not see the sun.
Simplified
I will thank you among the peoples, Lord; I will sing your praises among the nations.
I will give you praise, O Lord, among the peoples; I will make songs to you among the nations.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads אוֹדְךָ֖ בָעַמִּ֥ים׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י אֲ֝זַמֶּרְךָ֗ בַּל־ אֻמִּֽים׃, while the Septuagint matches five of the six words. This indicates a strong agreement between the two texts, affirming the psalmist's call to praise God among the nations.
אוֹדְךָ֖ בָעַמִּ֥ים׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י אֲ֝זַמֶּרְךָ֗ בַּל־ אֻמִּֽים׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 57:9
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
יָדָה (yadah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to throw or cast, particularly in the context of shooting arrows or stones. It also encompasses the meanings of giving thanks, praising, and confessing, especially in a ritual context. The word is built from a primitive root and has various forms, including Qal, Piel, Hiphil, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances of action.
[יָדָה] vb. throw, cast
Qal shoot (arrows) at
Pi. and they cast (stones) on me
Hiph.
give thanks, laud, praise
confess
Hithp.
confess
give thanks, in ritual worship
base
H3034 [יָדָה] throw, cast .shoot (arrows) at
. and they cast (stones) on me
. . give thanks, laud, praise
. confess
. . confess
. give thanks, in ritual worship
3034 yadah yaw-daw'
a primitive root; used only as denominative from 3027;
literally, to use (i.e. hold out) the hand; physically, to
throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or
worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by
wringing the hands):--cast (out), (make) confess(-ion),
praise, shoot, (give) thank(-ful, -s, -sgiving).
see HEBREW for 03027
יָדָה (ya.dah) — to give thanks.
1) to throw, shoot, cast
1a) (Qal) to shoot (arrows)
1b) (Piel) to cast, cast down, throw down
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to give thanks, laud, praise
1c2) to confess, confess (the name of God)
1d) (Hithpael)
1d1) to confess (sin)
1d2) to give thanks
Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדָא "to praise" H3029)
HVhi1cs/Sp2ms — Verb hiphil imperfect first person common singular · suffixHVhi1cs/Sp2ms
עַם (am) primarily means 'people' or 'nation,' referring to a collective group, often in the context of tribes such as those of Israel. It can also denote kinsmen or compatriots. The term appears in various contexts, including military and familial references. There is a mention of a specific individual named Ammi in Song of Solomon 6:12.
עַם, עָם 1810 n.m. people
a people, nation
= smaller units
= common people
people in gen., persons
phrases
base
[עַם] n.[m.] kinsman (on father's side)
base
H5971a עַם, עָם people H5971b עַם kinsman (on father's side)
5971 `am am
from 6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a
tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or
attendants; figuratively, a flock:--folk, men, nation,
people.
see HEBREW for 06004
עַם (am) — people.
: people/nation
1) nation, people
1a) people, nation
1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men
עַם (am) — kinsman.
kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — Ammi.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at Sng.6.12
§ kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — People's (Gate).
§ kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — (Ibleam)-am.
Combined with yiv.le.am (יִבְלְעָם "Ibleam" H2991)
§ kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — Amaw.
This name means nation, people
עַם (am) — people: soldiers.
: soldiers/army
1) nation, people
1a) people, nation
1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men
עַם (am) — people: creatures.
: creatures
1) nation, people
1a) people, nation
1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men
HRd/Ncmpa — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absoluteHRd/Ncmpa
אֲדֹנָי (Adonay) means 'Lord' and is an emphatic form of another Hebrew word for lord. It is used specifically as a title for God, often in place of Yahweh to show reverence. Variations include אֲדֹנִי and אֲדֹנַי, which help distinguish divine from human references.
אָדוֹן n.m. lord (אֲדֹנִי, אֲדֹנַי, אֲדֹנָי are variations of Mass. pointing to distinguish divine reference fr. human. Pl., with few exc. an intens. pl. of rank; word takes sf. as pl. in all other pers.; so doubtless here. Orig. reading prob. in all cases אֲדֹנַי; אֲדֹנִי now found in J 51 t.)
base
H136 אָדוֹן lord (אֲדֹנִי, אֲדֹנַי, אֲדֹנָי are variations of Mass. pointing to distinguish divine reference fr. human. Pl., with few exc. an intens. pl. of rank; word takes sf. as pl. in all other pers.; so doubtless here. Orig. reading prob. in all cases אֲדֹנַי; אֲדֹנִי now found in J 51 t.)
136 'Adonay ad-o-noy'
am emphatic form of 113; the Lord (used as a proper name of
God only):--(my) Lord.
see HEBREW for 0113
אֲדֹנָי (a.do.nai) — Lord.
Lord - a title, spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence
Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
HNpt — Noun properHNpt
Lord
There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.
(1.) Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form “Jehovah” is retained only in Ex. 6:3; Ps. 83:18; Isa. 12:2; 26:4, both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.
(2.) Heb. ‘adon, means one possessed of absolute control. It denotes a master, as of slaves (Gen. 24:14, 27), or a ruler of his subjects (45:8), or a husband, as lord of his wife (18:12).
The old plural form of this Hebrew word is ’adonai. From a superstitious reverence for the name “Jehovah,” the Jews, in reading their Scriptures, whenever that name…
[GOD]
This name belongs to God by preeminence; and in this sense ought never to be given to any creature. Jesus Christ, as the Messiah, the Son of God, and equal with the Father, is often called Lord in Scripture, especially in the writing of Paul. The word LORD, in the English Bible, when printed in small capitals, stands always for JEHOVAH in the Hebrew. See JEHOVAH.
זָמַר (zamar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to sing or make music, particularly in praise of God. It is derived from a root that suggests touching the strings of a musical instrument. The word covers actions like singing, playing instruments, and celebrating through music. The Piel form specifically emphasizes making music in worship.
[זמר] vb. only Pi. make music in praise of God
base
H2167 זמר only Pi. make music in praise of God
2167 zamar zaw-mar'
a primitive root (perhaps ident. with 2168 through the idea
of striking with the fingers); properly, to touch the strings
or parts of a musical instrument, i.e. play upon it; to make
music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song
and music:--give praise, sing forth praises, psalms.
see HEBREW for 02168
זָמַר (za.mar) — to sing.
1) to sing, sing praise, make music
1a) (Piel)
1a1) to make music, sing
1a2) to play a musical instrument
Aramaic equivalent: ze.mar (זְמָר "music" H2170)
HVpi1cs/Sp2ms — Verb piel imperfect first person common singular · suffixHVpi1cs/Sp2ms
בַּל (bal) is an adverb meaning 'not' or 'none.' It conveys a sense of negation, indicating absence or failure. The word is derived from a root that implies nothingness and can also be used in contexts like 'lest' or 'neither.' The entries consistently emphasize its function as a negation in various forms.
בַּל 69 adv. not
base
H1077 בַּל not
1077 bal bal
from 1086; properly, a failure; by implication nothing;
usually (adverb) not at all; also lest:--lest, neither, no,
none (that...), not (any), nothing.
see HEBREW for 01086
בַּל (bal) — not.
not, hardly, else
HTn — ParticleHTn
אֻמָּה (ummah) refers to a community or collection of persons, encompassing meanings such as tribe and nation. It is derived from a root related to gathering, specifically linked to the concept of people. The term appears in contexts relating to groups within the Old Testament.
[אֻמָּה] n.f. tribe, people
base
H523 אֻמָּה tribe, people
523 'ummah oom-maw'
from the same as 517; a collection, i.e. community of
persons:--nation, people.
see HEBREW for 0517
אֻמָּה (um.mah) — people.
people, tribe, nation
Aramaic equivalent: um.mah (אֻמָּה "people" H0524)
HNcmpa — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
na'-shunz.
See GENTILES; GOIIM; HEATHEN; TABLE OF NATIONS.