What Does Deuteronomy 32:3 Mean in the King James?

Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.

Deuteronomy 32:3 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

A name is a nature made audible: the LORD’s greatness is recognized as God’s character is proclaimed.

THE MEANING

The LORD’s nature is spoken into the open, and God’s greatness is recognized together. The verse moves from “the LORD” to “our God”: the one proclaimed is also the one held in common.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the assumption that a name is only a label: here, the name carries the character being proclaimed.

THE ROOT

אֶקְרָא

ʾeqrāʾ

GROWS FROM

קרא

q-r-ʾ

To call out, call by name, or summon; from this, to proclaim or read aloud.

The verb translated “publish” is a call made public. It is paired with ⁨שֵׁם⁩ (shem, name), which carries the nature of the one named: the LORD’s character is what this declaration puts into view.

ALSO GROWS

qārāʾ: To call, proclaim, or read aloud.

קָרָא

The verse’s “publish” is this act of calling out the LORD’s name.

miqrāʾ: A convocation or public reading.

מִקְרָא

The same root connects calling aloud with what is gathered and made public.

גֹּדֶל

gōdel

GROWS FROM

גדל

g-d-l

To grow, become great, or make great.

The English noun can sound like a fixed measure, but its root carries the sense of becoming great. Here, greatness is voiced as something already belonging to God, not something the speaker creates.

ALSO GROWS

gādōl: Great or large.

גָּדוֹל

It shares the root’s sense of magnitude with the “greatness” being ascribed.

migdal: A tower.

מִגְדָּל

The same root appears in a structure that rises visibly, giving the root’s idea of greatness a concrete form.

THE PATTERN

God’s name is made public as people voice the greatness and character already carried in that name.

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 34:3 · KJVThe name is exalted through a shared declaration, just as this verse joins proclamation with ascribed greatness.

Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

Nehemiah 9:5 · KJVGod’s name is praised as exalted, linking the name with the greatness being voiced.

Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

Revelation 15:4 · KJVGod’s name is glorified alongside God’s uniqueness and revealed judgments, showing the name made known through character.

THE THREAD

And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

Exodus 34:6 · KJV

The verb “proclaimed” is ⁨קָרָא⁩ (qārāʾ, call or proclaim), the same root as Deuteronomy’s “publish.” Here the name is spoken through the LORD’s nature, compassion, favor, patience, goodness, and truth, revealing what it carries.

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