What Does Psalm 18:49 Mean in the King James?
Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
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
The “name” sung here is God’s nature, made audible among the nations.
THE MEANING
Gratitude does not end as inward recognition; it becomes a voice in the wider human world. To sing to the LORD’s שֵׁם (shem, name as nature) is to make that nature known through song.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that praise belongs only in private or within one’s own community.
THE ROOT
אוֹדְךָ
ʾōdeḵā
GROWS FROM
ידה
y-d-h
Acknowledge, give thanks, or praise.
English separates thanksgiving and praise, but ידה (y-d-h, acknowledge and give thanks) joins them at the root. Its branches even include Judah’s name, so thanksgiving here carries an echo of praise that is spoken and remembered.
ALSO GROWS
todah: Thanksgiving or an expression of thanks.
תּוֹדָה
This noun shares the root of the verse’s “give thanks,” showing that gratitude has a spoken form.
Yehudah: Judah; a name associated with praise.
יְהוּדָה
The name echoes the same root, linking a person’s name with the act of praising.
אֲזַמֵּרָה
ʾazammerāh
GROWS FROM
זמר
z-m-r
Sing or make music in praise.
“sing praises” in this verse is ʾazammerāh. The verse does not leave praise as an inward thought: זמר (z-m-r, sing or make music in praise) gives it sound. The song is directed to שֵׁם (shem, name as nature), making the character carried by the name audible among the nations.
ALSO GROWS
mizmor: A song or psalm.
מִזְמוֹר
This word for a song shares the root of “sing praises,” connecting the verse’s act with the form of the Psalms.
zemirah: A song or melody.
זְמִירָה
This branch keeps the musical sense of the root visible: praise takes shape as song.
THE PATTERN
Recognition of God’s nature becomes public praise that crosses the boundary between one’s own people and the nations.
Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.THE THREAD
And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.The word rendered “praise” and the name Judah both echo ידה (y-d-h, give thanks or praise). The naming itself carries the sound of praise, just as this verse lets thanksgiving travel through song among the nations.
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