Psalms 66:2 — Word Study
WLCזַמְּר֥וּ כְבֽוֹד־ שְׁמ֑וֹ שִׂ֥ימוּ כָ֝ב֗וֹד תְּהִלָּתֽוֹ׃
BSASingzâmar [with instruments, in praise] the glorykâbôwd [honor, splendor] of His nameshêm [identity, character] makesûwm His praisetᵉhillâh [a song of praise] gloriouskâbôwd [honorable, full of splendor]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| זַמְּר֥וּ | sing praises | Verb, Piel, imperative second person masculine plural |
| כְבֽוֹד־ | [the] glory of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| שְׁמ֑וֹ | name his | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| שִׂ֥ימוּ | make | Verb, Qal, imperative second person masculine plural |
| כָ֝ב֗וֹד | glory | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| תְּהִלָּתֽוֹ׃ | praise his | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious. |
| KJV | Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious. |
| ASV | Sing forth the glory of his name: Make his praise glorious. |
| YLT | Praise ye the honour of His name, Make ye honourable His praise. |
| WEB | Sing to the glory of his name! Offer glory and praise! |
| BBE | Make a song in honour of his name: give praise and glory to him. |
The translations agree on the call to sing praises and make His praise glorious.
The verse consists of a main command followed by a complementary imperative, emphasizing the actions of singing and making praise.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbזָמַר
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 66:2
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 Praisegenerated
Psalm 66:2 invites all the earth to participate in joyful worship, highlighting the significance of praising God for His glorious name. This verse is part of a larger call to worship in Psalm 66, where the psalmist encourages the community to recognize God's power and majesty, as seen in the surrounding verses that celebrate His deeds and sovereignty.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 47:6–7 | Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises! |
| 2 | Psalm 72:18 | Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. |
| 3 | Psalm 96:3–10 | Declare His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all peoples. |
| 4 | Psalm 105:2–3 | Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wonders. |
| 5 | Psalm 106:2 | Who can describe the mighty acts of the LORD or fully proclaim His praise? |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 13 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — זַמְּר֥וּ, za.me.Rugenerated
The verb זָמַר (zamar) means to sing or make music, especially in praise of God. It is derived from a root indicating the act of touching the strings of a musical instrument, emphasizing joyful worship through song.
In this verse, the imperative form calls the community to actively engage in worship, using instruments and voices to express their gratitude and honor towards God. The Piel form highlights the communal aspect of this praise.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree on the call to sing praises, with the BSB using sing for זַמְּר֥וּ and make for שִׂ֥ימוּ.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure is governed by two finite verbs: זַמְּר֥וּ (sing) and שִׂ֥ימוּ (make), with their respective objects following. This construction emphasizes the actions of singing and making praise.
The order of the phrases highlights the importance of God's glory and the act of praising Him, creating a rhythmic call to worship.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates זַמְּר֥וּ as ᾄσατε (sing), indicating a direct correlation in meaning, while כָ֝ב֗וֹד is rendered as δόξαν (glory), which maintains the emphasis on honor and splendor.
This choice reflects a consistent understanding of the Hebrew terms and their significance in the context of worship.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 66:2 encourages everyone to sing praises to God, highlighting the importance of glorifying His name. This verse is part of a broader invitation to worship, where the psalmist calls on all creation to recognize and celebrate God's greatness.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To sing the glory of His name means to acknowledge and celebrate God's honor and splendor through music and praise.
Making His praise glorious emphasizes the significance of honoring God with our best efforts in worship, reflecting His greatness.
We can sing praises to God through worship services, personal devotion, and communal gatherings, using music and instruments to express our gratitude.
God's name represents His identity and character, and praising His name acknowledges His power, authority, and the relationship we have with Him.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I express my praise to God in my daily life?
- How does recognizing God's glory influence my worship?
- What role does music play in my relationship with God?
- How can I encourage others to join in praising God?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Christian writers, such as Augustine, reference this verse to emphasize the importance of praising God's name through music and worship.
"But play ye to His name" [Psalms 66:2]. What has he said? By you "playing" let His name be blessed.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 66 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 66:2 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleSing forth the honour of his name,.... Meaning not any particular names of the Messiah, such as in Isaiah 9:6; or his name "Jesus", a Saviour; though they are all honourable and glorious, and furnish
Read John Gill on Psalms 66 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentarySing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious. Sing forth the honour (glory) of his name - i:e., 'the glory which belongs to Him because of His power and goodness manifested in His acts' (Psalms 29:1-2).
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 66 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Biblei.e. Praise him in an extraordinary and eminent degree, so as he may have much glory from you.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 66 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 66:2 Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.Ver. 2. Make his praise glorious] Heb. Put glory to his praise; so Joshua 7:19. God’ s glory is as himself, eternal and infinite, no way capable of our addition or detraction; howbeit, to try how we prize it, and will exalt it, he declareth that he accounteth himself made more glorious by us when we receive him into our hearts as King of glory, and praise him accordingly.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 66 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(2) Sing forth.—Literally, play on the harp.Make his praise glorious.—So the LXX., but the construction is dubious. Literally, put glory his praise, meaning perhaps, in parallelism with the first clause, “make the Divine glory the subject of your praise.” But the opening words of the next verse, “say unto God, how,” &c, are so bald that a suspicion arises as to the arrangement of the text. Perhaps by bringing back the initial words of Psa 66:3 we get the true sense, “ascribe glory (and) speak praise to God.”
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 66 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 2. The honour of his name] Let his glorious and merciful acts be the subject of your songs.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 66 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges2. Sing forth the honour of his name] Or, Hymn forth the glory Of his name: celebrate in a joyous psalm this fresh revelation of His character. make his praise glorious] Or, perhaps, ascribe glory to praise him.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 66 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleSing forth the honor of his name - That is, Celebrate in appropriate praise the honor due to his name. Make that honor known in connection with songs.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 66 →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
Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious.
Sing to the glory of his name! Offer glory and praise!
Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious.
Sing praises about the majesty of his reputation! Give him the honor he deserves!
Tyndale line
Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.
Sing forth the glory of his name: Make his praise glorious.
Sing forth the glory of his name: make his praise glorious.
Sing forth the honor of his name: make his praise glorious.
Sing forth the glory of his name: make his praise glorious.
Strictly literal
Sing forth the glory of his name, make his praise glorious;
Praise ye the honour of His name, Make ye honourable His praise.
Praise the glory of His Name, || Make honorable His praise.
Sing forth the glory of his name; make glorious his praise.
Sing out the glory of his name; make his praise glorious.
From the Latin
May God have mercy on us, and bless us: may he cause the light of his countenance to shine upon us, and may he have mercy on us.
Simplified
Sing about his marvelous reputation; praise him for his goodness!
Make a song in honour of his name: give praise and glory to him.
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 and the Septuagint largely agree in content, with four out of six words matching directly. The Septuagint's word order and articles differ, but the essential message of praising God's glory remains intact.
זַמְּר֥וּ כְבֽוֹד־ שְׁמ֑וֹ שִׂ֥ימוּ כָ֝ב֗וֹד תְּהִלָּתֽוֹ׃
4 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 66:2
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.
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)
V-Piel-Impv-2mp — Verb · Piel · imperative second person masculine pluralHVpv2mp
כָּבוֹד (kabowd) refers to concepts of abundance, honour, and glory. It encompasses external splendor, dignity of position, and reputation, as well as the inner nobility of a person. The term can denote both the weightiness of glory and the reverence due to someone. The entries consistently emphasize its positive connotations.
כָּבוֹד n.m. and f. abundance, honour, glory
abundance, riches
honour, splendor, glory, of external condition and circumstances
honour, dignity of position
honour, reputation, of character
my honour, poet. of the seat of honour in the inner man, the noblest part of man
honour, reverence, glory, as due to one or ascribed to one
glory as the object, of honour, reverence and glorifying
base
H3519 כָּבוֹד abundance, honour, glory . abundance, riches
. honour, splendor, glory, of external condition and circumstances
. honour, dignity of position
. honour, reputation, of character
. my honour, poet. of the seat of honour in the inner man, the noblest part of man
. honour, reverence, glory, as due to one or ascribed to one
. glory as the object, of honour, reverence and glorifying
3519 kabowd kaw-bode'
rarely kabod {kaw-bode'}; from 3513; properly, weight, but
only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or
copiousness:--glorious(-ly), glory, honour(-able).
see HEBREW for 03513
כָּבוֹד (ka.vod) — glory.
1) glory, honour, glorious, abundance
1a) abundance, riches
1b) honour, splendour, glory
1c) honour, dignity
1d) honour, reputation
1e) honour, reverence, glory
1f) glory
N-cs — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
שֵׁם (shem) means 'name' and encompasses various meanings such as reputation, fame, and glory. It can refer to the designation of God and is often associated with memorials or monuments. The word is built from a primitive root and highlights individuality and honor. There is a mention of its use in relation to false gods, which is forbidden.
שֵׁם 864 n.m. name (√ unknown)
of river, beasts, city, i.e. exact designation of it
usu. of pers.
= reputation
esp. as giving a man a kind of posthumous life, esp. in his sons
name, as designation of God
of false gods, use forbidden
= memorial, monument
base
H8034 שֵׁם name (√ unknown)
8034 shem shame
a primitive word (perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea
of definite and conspicuous position; compare 8064); an
appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by
implication honor, authority, character:--+ base,
(in-)fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.
see HEBREW for 07760
see HEBREW for 08064
שֵׁם (shem) — name.
1) name
1a) name
1b) reputation, fame, glory
1c) the Name (as designation of God)
1d) memorial, monument
Aramaic equivalent: shum (שֻׁם "name" H8036)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word שׂוּם (sum) is a verb meaning to put, place, or set, with a wide range of applications including appointing, establishing, and making. It can also refer to laying something upon or directing it. There is a related noun שׂוּמָה (sumah), which may denote a token of unluckiness. The entries do not present any significant disagreement.
שׂוּם, שִׂים 582 vb. put, place, set
Qal
put, set, in a place
put something upon
put, lay, set
put, c. בֵּין
set, direct
set, ordain, in a place
set, establish a law, statute
set, found a nation
set, appoint (as ruler, official)
set, constitute, make
set, determine, fix, bounds
set, station, at a post
put in position, sacred bread, sword, staves, bars
set up altars
= plant, wheat
set, fix (countenance)
make a thing, or pers. (acc.), for, transform into
make, constitute
work, bring to pass
appoint, give
set, fix (countenance)
Hiph. I will make him for a sign
Hoph. there was set before him
base
שׂוּמָה perhaps n. f. token of unluckiness, scowl;—2 S 13:32
ref
H7760a שׂוּם, שִׂים put, place, set .. . put, set, in a place
. put something upon
. put, lay, set
. put, c. בֵּין
. set, direct
. . set, ordain, in a place
. set, establish a law, statute
. set, found a nation
. set, appoint (as ruler, official)
. set, constitute, make
. set, determine, fix, bounds
. . set, station, at a post
. put in position, sacred bread, sword, staves, bars
. set up altars
. = plant, wheat
. set, fix (countenance)
. . make a thing, or pers. (acc.), for, transform into
. make, constitute
. work, bring to pass
. appoint, give
. set, fix (countenance)
. I will make him for a sign
. there was set before him
H7760b שׂוּמָה perhaps n. f. token of unluckiness, scowl
7760 suwm soom
or siym {seem}; a primitive root; to put (used in a great
variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially,
and elliptically):--X any wise, appoint, bring, call (a
name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider,
convey, determine, + disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap
up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out),
mark, + name, X on, ordain, order, + paint, place, preserve,
purpose, put (on), + regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set
(on, up), shew, + stedfastly, take, X tell, + tread down,
((over-))turn, X wholly, work.
שׂוּם (sum) — to set: make.
: make/establish
1) to put, place, set, appoint, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to put, set, lay, put or lay upon, lay (violent) hands on
1a2) to set, direct, direct toward
1a2a) to extend (compassion) (fig)
1a3) to set, ordain, establish, found, appoint, constitute, make, determine, fix
1a4) to set, station, put, set in place, plant, fix
1a5) to make, make for, transform into, constitute, fashion, work, bring to pass, appoint, give
1b) (Hiphil) to set or make for a sign
1c) (Hophal) to be set
שׂוּמָה (su.mah) — fate.
token of unluckiness, scowl
שׂוּם (sum) — to set: put.
: put/give
1) to put, place, set, appoint, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to put, set, lay, put or lay upon, lay (violent) hands on
1a2) to set, direct, direct toward
1a2a) to extend (compassion) (fig)
1a3) to set, ordain, establish, found, appoint, constitute, make, determine, fix
V-Qal-Impv-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine pluralHVqv2mp
כָּבוֹד (kabowd) refers to concepts of abundance, honour, and glory. It encompasses external splendor, dignity of position, and reputation, as well as the inner nobility of a person. The term can denote both the weightiness of glory and the reverence due to someone. The entries consistently emphasize its positive connotations.
כָּבוֹד n.m. and f. abundance, honour, glory
abundance, riches
honour, splendor, glory, of external condition and circumstances
honour, dignity of position
honour, reputation, of character
my honour, poet. of the seat of honour in the inner man, the noblest part of man
honour, reverence, glory, as due to one or ascribed to one
glory as the object, of honour, reverence and glorifying
base
H3519 כָּבוֹד abundance, honour, glory . abundance, riches
. honour, splendor, glory, of external condition and circumstances
. honour, dignity of position
. honour, reputation, of character
. my honour, poet. of the seat of honour in the inner man, the noblest part of man
. honour, reverence, glory, as due to one or ascribed to one
. glory as the object, of honour, reverence and glorifying
3519 kabowd kaw-bode'
rarely kabod {kaw-bode'}; from 3513; properly, weight, but
only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or
copiousness:--glorious(-ly), glory, honour(-able).
see HEBREW for 03513
כָּבוֹד (ka.vod) — glory.
1) glory, honour, glorious, abundance
1a) abundance, riches
1b) honour, splendour, glory
1c) honour, dignity
1d) honour, reputation
1e) honour, reverence, glory
1f) glory
N-cs — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
glo'-ri (substantive):
I. METHOD OF TREATMENT
II. GENERAL USE OF THE TERM
1. As Applied to External Things
2. As Applied to Yahweh
III. THE USES OF KABHODH
1. Material Wealth
2. Human Dignity and Majesty
3. "My Soul": the Self
4. Self-Manifestation of God (Yahweh)
(1) Exodus 23:18 ff
(2) Isaiah 6
(3) Psalms 19:1
(4) Sinai and the Temple
(5) Ezekiel's Visions
(6) Messianic Ideal
(7) Its Ethical Content
IV. IN THE APOCRYPHA AND THE NEW TESTAMENT
1. In the Apocrypha:
(1) As Applied to External Things
(2) As Applied to God
2. In the New Testament:
(1) As Applied to Men
(2) As Applied to God
(3) As Applied to the Saints
(4) As Applied to the Messianic Kingdom
3. Its Ethical Significance
LITERATURE
I. Method of Treatment.
Glory
(Heb. kabhod; Gr. doxa). (1.) Abundance, wealth, treasure, and hence honour (Ps. 49:12); glory (Gen. 31:1; Matt. 4:8; Rev. 21:24, 26).
(2.) Honour, dignity (1 Kings 3:13; Heb. 2:7 1 Pet. 1:24); of God (Ps. 19:1; 29:1); of the mind or heart (Gen. 49:6; Ps. 7:5; Acts 2:46).
- God is, to his people
- Christ is, to his people
- The gospel ordained to be, to saints
- Of the gospel, exceeds that of the law
The Hebrew word תְּהִלָּה (*tehillah*) means praise, specifically in the form of a song or hymn. It encompasses acts of adoration and thanksgiving directed towards God, as well as general public praise and the qualities of God that warrant such praise. The word is derived from a root meaning to laud.
תְּהִלָּה n.f. praise, song of praise
praise, adoration, thanksgiving, paid to י׳
the act of general, public, praise
praise-song, as title
qualities, deeds, etc., of י׳, demanding praise
renown, fame, glory
base
H8416 תְּהִלָּה praise, song of praise . praise, adoration, thanksgiving, paid to י׳
. the act of general, public, praise
. praise-song, as title
. qualities, deeds, etc., of י׳, demanding praise
. renown, fame, glory
8416 thillah teh-hil-law'
from 1984; laudation; specifically (concretely) a
hymn:--praise.
see HEBREW for 01984
תְּהִלָּה (te.hil.lah) — praise.
1) praise, song or hymn of praise
1a) praise, adoration, thanksgiving (paid to God)
1b) act of general or public praise
1c) praise-song (as title)
1d) praise (demanded by qualities or deeds or attributes of God)
1e) renown, fame, glory
1e1) of Damascus, God
1e2) object of praise, possessor of renown (fig)
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp3ms