Psalms 66:17 — Word Study
WLCאֵלָ֥יו פִּֽי־ קָרָ֑אתִי וְ֝רוֹמַ֗ם תַּ֣חַת לְשׁוֹנִֽי׃
BSAI cried outqârâʼ■ [with urgent need, to call upon] to Himʼêl [toward the Almighty] with my mouthpeh [my lips, the edge of my voice] and praised Himrôwmâm [extolled, lifted up] withtachath my tonguelâshôwn [the instrument of speech, my language]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אֵלָ֥יו | to him | Preposition, suffix |
| פִּֽי־ | mouth my | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| קָרָ֑אתִי | I called out | Verb, Qal, perfect first person common singular |
| וְ֝רוֹמַ֗ם | and exaltation | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| תַּ֣חַת | [was] under | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| לְשׁוֹנִֽי׃ | tongue my | Noun common both singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | I cried out to Him with my mouth and praised Him with my tongue. |
| KJV | I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue. |
| ASV | I cried unto him with my mouth, And he was extolled with my tongue. |
| YLT | Unto Him [with] my mouth I have called, And exaltation [is] under my tongue. |
| WEB | I cried to him with my mouth. He was extolled with my tongue. |
| BBE | My voice went up to him, and I was lifted up from the underworld. |
The translations agree on the essence of the verse, emphasizing the act of crying out and praising God.
The structure features a main action followed by two phrases that elaborate on how the psalmist engages in worship.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectרוֹמָם
verbקָרָא
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 66:17
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 Call to Worshipgenerated
Psalm 66:17 captures a moment where the psalmist invites all who fear God to listen to his testimony of God's deeds. He emphasizes his personal experience of crying out to God and praising Him, highlighting the importance of vocal worship in the life of faith. This verse is situated within a larger context of worship and acknowledgment of God's faithfulness, as seen in preceding verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 30:8 | To You, O LORD, I called, and I begged my Lord for mercy: |
| 2 | Psalm 34:3–4 | Magnify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together. |
| 3 | Psalm 116:1–2 | I love the LORD, for He has heard my voice— my appeal for mercy. |
| 4 | Psalm 30:1 | I will exalt You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up and have not allowed my foes to rejoice over me. |
| 5 | Psalm 145:1 | I will exalt You, my God and King; I will bless Your name forever and ever. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — רוֹמַ֗ם, ro.Mamgenerated
The word רוֹמַ֗ם (romam) is a noun that conveys the act of extolling or praising. It is derived from a root that means 'exaltation', indicating a high regard or elevation of someone, particularly in the context of worship. This word underscores the psalmist's intention to elevate God's name through his speech.
As a noun, it appears in a singular masculine form, indicating that the act of praise is a singular focus in the psalmist's worship. The context suggests that this exaltation is directed specifically towards God, emphasizing the personal and communal aspects of worship.
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 finite verb קָרָ֑אתִי, I cried out, governs the main action of the verse, with two phrases providing detail: a prepositional phrase indicating the direction of the cry, and a second phrase describing the act of praise. This structure emphasizes the psalmist's direct communication with God.
The Hebrew word order places the act of crying out first, highlighting its urgency, followed by the means of praise, which is the tongue. This arrangement draws attention to the physical expression of worship through speech.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates אֵלָ֥יו as αὐτὸν, meaning 'him', which simplifies the direction of the cry to God. This choice reflects a direct address to God without the additional nuance of 'toward the Almighty' found in the Hebrew.
For רוֹמַ֗ם, the LXX uses ὕψωσα, which means 'I exalted'. This translation aligns closely with the idea of lifting up God's name, reinforcing the act of praise.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 66:17 shows the psalmist calling out to God and praising Him. He expresses his need and gratitude using his mouth and tongue, indicating the importance of vocal worship. This verse is part of a larger call to worship, inviting others to listen to what God has done.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Crying out to God signifies a heartfelt plea for help or a declaration of praise, showing dependence on Him.
Praising God with the tongue is a way to express gratitude and acknowledge His greatness, reinforcing the believer's faith.
This verse reflects themes found in many psalms where the psalmist calls for worship and recounts God's deeds, as seen in Psalm 30:8 and Psalm 116:1–2.
Fearing God involves a deep respect and reverence for Him, recognizing His power and authority in one's life.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I incorporate more vocal praise into my worship?
- In what ways have I experienced God's help that I can share with others?
- What does it mean for me to cry out to God in my current circumstances?
- How can I encourage others to express their praise to God?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early church fathers, like Augustine of Hippo, reference this verse to discuss the significance of vocal praise and God's deeds in the believer's life.
"How great things He has done to my soul." "To Him with my mouth I have cried" [Psalms 66:17].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 66 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 66:17 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleI cried unto him with my mouth,.... Crying designs prayer, and supposes distress; and crying with the mouth denotes vocal, ardent, and fervent prayer; and he was extolled with my tongue: at the same
Read John Gill on Psalms 66 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryI cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 66 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWith my mouth; with a loud voice and great fervency: or it is a pleonasm, as , We have heard with our ears. Extolled, i.e. praised by me, to wit, for answering my prayers.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 66 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 66:17 I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.Ver. 17. I cried unto him] I prayed fervently and frequently. And he was extolled, &c.] My prayers were soon turned into praises, which I silently framed within myself even while I was praying.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 66 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(17) And he . . .—Literally, exaltation (i.e., praise) was under my tongue, apparently a Hebrew idiom akin to our “on the tip of the tongue,” i.e., ready at any moment for utterance.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 66 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 17. I cried unto him with my mouth] My prayer was fervent; he heard and answered; and my tongue celebrated his mercies; and he as graciously received my thanksgiving, as he compassionately heard my prayer.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 66 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges17. and he was extolled with my tongue] Better as R.V. marg., and high praise (Psalms 149:6) was under my tongue. Even while he prayed, he had praises ready, so sure was he of an answer. Cp. Psalms 10:7, though (see note) the idea there may be different.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 66 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleI cried unto him with my mouth - That is, in my trouble; when distress came upon me.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 66 →The verse in English, compared — 16 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 cried out to Him with my mouth and praised Him with my tongue.
I cried to him with my mouth. He was extolled with my tongue.
I cried out to Him with my mouth and praised Him with my tongue.
I cried out to him for help and praised him with my tongue.
Tyndale line
I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.
I cried unto him with my mouth, And he was extolled with my tongue.
I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.
I cried to him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.
I called vnto him with my mouth, and he was exalted with my tongue.
Strictly literal
I called unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.
Unto Him [with] my mouth I have called, And exaltation [is] under my tongue.
I have called to Him [with] my mouth, || And exaltation [is] under my tongue.
Unto him I cried with my mouth, and a song of extolling was on my tongue.
I cried to him with my mouth, and he was praised with my tongue.
Simplified
I called out to him, and praised him with my voice.
My voice went up to him, and I was lifted up from the underworld.
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 of Psalms 66:17 reads, "אֵלָ֥יו פִּֽי־ קָרָ֑אתִי וְ֝רוֹמַ֗ם תַּ֣חַת לְשׁוֹנִֽי׃" which translates to, "I cried out to Him with my mouth and praised Him with my tongue." The Septuagint matches the Masoretic Text in all six words, although the order and articles differ due to the nature of Greek syntax. The Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q83) also align with the Masoretic Text, but some words are reconstructed by editors as the manuscript is incomplete. Overall, both the Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls agree with the Masoretic Text in meaning and wording, with minor differences in presentation and completeness.
אֵלָ֥יו פִּֽי־ קָרָ֑אתִי וְ֝רוֹמַ֗ם תַּ֣חַת לְשׁוֹנִֽי׃
6 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.
[אלי׳ו] [פ׳י] [קראתי] [ורומם] [תחת] [לשונ׳י]
nothing on the leather here — 6 supplied entire by an editor.
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 66:17
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.
The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.
אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),
prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place
Where the limit is actually entered, into
Of direction towards anything
Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
Of rule or standard according to (rare)
Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
base
H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place
. Where the limit is actually entered, into
. Of direction towards anything
. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
. Of rule or standard according to (rare)
. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
413 'el ale
(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});
a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but
occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or
among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,
against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,
by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,
over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,
with(-in).
אֶל (el) — to(wards).
1) to, toward, unto (of motion)
2) into (limit is actually entered)
2a) in among
3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)
4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)
5) in addition to, to
6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of
7) according to (rule or standard)
8) at, by, against (of one's presence)
9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word פֶּה (*peh*) means 'mouth' and encompasses various meanings, including the mouth of a person or animal, as well as openings or orifices. It can also refer to speech, edges, and portions. Additionally, it denotes a weight equal to one third of a shekel, found in 1 Samuel 13:21.
פֶּה 485 n.m. mouth
mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking
external organ
much oftener, as organ of speech, of man
as laughing; panting
of God
of idols
of musical instr. = sound
of animals; hence of edge of sword
mouth = opening, orifice
extremity, end
= portion
with preps.
base
H6310 פֶּה mouth . . mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking
. external organ
. . much oftener, as organ of speech, of man
. as laughing; panting
. of God
. of idols
. of musical instr. = sound
. of animals
. mouth = opening, orifice
. . extremity, end
. = portion
. with preps.
6310 peh peh
from 6284; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether
literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically
edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition)
according to:--accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment,
assent, collar, command(-ment), X eat, edge, end, entry, +
file, hole, X in, mind, mouth, part, portion, X (should)
say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, X spoken, talk,
tenor, X to, + two-edged, wish, word.
see HEBREW for 06284
פֶּה (peh) — lip.
: lip/mouth
peh
1) mouth
1a) mouth (of man)
1b) mouth (as organ of speech)
1c) mouth (of animals)
1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)
1e) extremity, end pim
2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21
פֶּה (peh) — lip: edge.
: edge
peh
1) mouth
1a) mouth (of man)
1b) mouth (as organ of speech)
1c) mouth (of animals)
1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)
1e) extremity, end pim
2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21
פֶּה (peh) — lip: word.
: word/command
peh
1) mouth
1a) mouth (of man)
1b) mouth (as organ of speech)
1c) mouth (of animals)
1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)
1e) extremity, end pim
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word קָרָא (qara') is a primitive root meaning to call, proclaim, or read. It encompasses a range of actions including calling out, crying for help, reading aloud, and summoning. The word can also imply being called or named in various contexts. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
קָרָא 724 vb. call, proclaim, read
Qal
call, cry, utter a loud sound
call, cry
call unto some one
cry for help
proclaim
read aloud
read to oneself
summon
call = name
Niph.
reflex.
pass. be called
Pu. be called
base
H7121 קָרָא call, proclaim, read .. . call, cry, utter a loud sound
. call, cry
. . call unto some one
. cry for help
. proclaim
. . read aloud
. read to oneself
. summon
. call = name
. . reflex.
. pass. be called
. be called
7121 qara' kaw-raw'
a primitive root (rather identical with 7122 through the idea
of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly,
address by name, but used in a wide variety of
applications):--bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for,
forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite,
mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(- ation),
pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.
see HEBREW for 07122
קָרָא (qa.ra) — to call: call to.
: call_to/invite/entreat
1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound
1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God)
1a3) to proclaim
1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read
1a5) to summon, invite, call for, call and commission, appoint, call and endow
1a6) to call, name, give name to, call by
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to call oneself
1b2) to be called, be proclaimed, be read aloud, be summoned, be named
1c) (Pual) to be called, be named, be called out, be chosen
קָרָא (qa.ra) — to call: call by.
: call_by/name
1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound
1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God)
1a3) to proclaim
1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read
V-Qal-Perf-1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singularHVqp1cs
רוֹמָם (rowmam) refers to the act of extolling or praising, derived from the root meaning 'exaltation.' It encompasses the concept of high regard or elevation in a figurative sense. The term is associated with expressions of admiration and is linked to another word for 'high' (רוֹמְמָה, H7319).
רוֹמָם n.[m.] extolling, praise
base
H7318 רוֹמָם
7318 rowmam ro-mawm'
from 7426; exaltation, i.e. (figuratively and specifically)
praise:--be extolled.
see HEBREW for 07426
רוֹמָם (ro.mam) — extolling.
(Polal) praise, exaltation, extolling
Also means: ro.me.mah (רוֹמְמָה "high" H7319)
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
→ OF CHRIST
See JESUS, EXALTATION OF
→ OF SELF
See SELF-EXALTATION
תַּחַת (tachath) refers to the concept of being underneath or below. It can function as a noun meaning 'the under part,' or as an adverb and preposition indicating position or substitution, such as 'instead of' or 'for the sake of.' The word encompasses various uses, including physical placement and metaphorical meanings related to subjection or exchange.
תַּחַת n.[m.] the under part, hence as adv. accus. and prep. underneath, below, instead of
base
H8478 תַּחַת the under part, hence as adv. accus. and prep. underneath, below, instead of
8478 tachath takh'-ath
from the same as 8430; the bottom (as depressed); only
adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix
underneath), in lieu of, etc.:--as, beneath, X flat,
in(-stead), (same) place (where...is), room, for...sake, stead
of, under, X unto, X when...was mine, whereas, (where-)fore,
with.
see HEBREW for 08430
תַּחַת (ta.chat) — underneath: under.
: under/below
1) the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas n m
1a) the under part adv accus
1b) beneath prep
1c) under, beneath
1c1) at the foot of (idiom)
1c2) sweetness, subjection, woman, being burdened or oppressed (fig)
1c3) of subjection or conquest
1d) what is under one, the place in which one stands
1d1) in one's place, the place in which one stands (idiom with reflexive pronoun)
1d2) in place of, instead of (in transferred sense)
1d3) in place of, in exchange or return for (of things mutually interchanged)
conj
1e) instead of, instead of that
1f) in return for that, because that in compounds
1g) in, under, into the place of (after verbs of motion)
1h) from under, from beneath, from under the hand of, from his place, under, beneath
תַּחַת (ta.chat) — underneath: instead.
: instead/in_place/exchange
Prep — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
The Hebrew word לָשׁוֹן (*lashon*) primarily means 'tongue,' referring to both the organ of speech in humans and animals. It can also denote 'language' and has figurative uses, such as a 'tongue-shaped' wedge or bay. The entries highlight its literal and metaphorical applications, but do not present any significant disagreements among the lexicons.
לָשׁוֹן n.m. and (more oft.) f. tongue
tongue of men
= language
tongue of animals
tongue of fire
= (tongue-shaped) wedge of gold
= (tongue-shaped) bay of sea
base
H3956 לָשׁוֹן tongue . tongue of men
. = language
. tongue of animals
. tongue of fire
. = (tongue-shaped) wedge of gold
. = (tongue-shaped) bay of sea
3956 lashown law-shone'
or lashon {law-shone'}; also (in plural) feminine lshonah
{lesh-o-naw'}; from 3960; the tongue (of man or animals), used
literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech),
and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of
water):--+ babbler,bay, + evil speaker, language, talker,
tongue, wedge.
see HEBREW for 03960
לָשׁוֹן (la.shon) — tongue.
: tongue/words
1) tongue
1a) tongue (of men)
1a1) tongue (literal)
1a2) tongue (organ of speech)
1b) language
1c) tongue (of animals)
1d) tongue (of fire)
1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)
לָשׁוֹן (la.shon) — tongue: language.
: language
1) tongue
1a) tongue (of men)
1a1) tongue (literal)
1a2) tongue (organ of speech)
1b) language
1c) tongue (of animals)
1d) tongue (of fire)
1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)
לָשׁוֹן (la.shon) — tongue: bar.
: bar/projection/bay
1) tongue
1a) tongue (of men)
1a1) tongue (literal)
1a2) tongue (organ of speech)
1b) language
1c) tongue (of animals)
1d) tongue (of fire)
1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)
N-cs | Suff — Noun common both singular construct · suffixHNcbsc/Sp1bs
