What Does Psalm 9:2 Mean in the King James?

I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

Psalm 9:2 · 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

The verse turns joy into song, making praise the audible expression of delight in the nature of the Most High.

THE MEANING

Gladness and exultation can be centered in God now, and song gives that joy a voice. The praise addresses God’s nature, not merely a title: the one named here is the Most High.

THE ROOT

אֲזַמְּרָה

ʾazammerah

GROWS FROM

זמר

z-m-r

To make music, sing, or sing praise.

English “sing praise” can sound like a generic act, but ⁨אֲזַמְּרָה⁩ (ʾazammerah, “I will sing or make music”) grows from ⁨זמר⁩ (z-m-r, “make music, sing praise”), also present in ⁨מִזְמוֹר⁩ (mizmor, “psalm”). The verse gives joy a voiced, musical form and directs that sound toward God’s name as nature.

ALSO GROWS

mizmor: A psalm or song.

מִזְמוֹר

The same root links this act of praise to the song-form itself.

zimrah: Song or music, including praise.

זִמְרָה

This branch reinforces that praise here takes musical form.

עֶלְיוֹן

ʿelyon

GROWS FROM

עלה

ʿ-l-h

To go up, rise, or ascend.

“Name” in the line is ⁨שֵׁם⁩ (shem, “name, identity, renown”): the praise meets the nature being named. ⁨עֶלְיוֹן⁩ (ʿelyon, “Most High”) comes from ⁨עָלָה⁩ (ʿalah, “go up, rise”), expressing that nature as what is highest.

ALSO GROWS

ʿalah: To ascend or go upward.

עָלָה

This is the verb-root beneath the title “Most High.”

ʿaliyah: An ascent or upward movement.

עֲלִיָּה

It makes the root’s movement visible in a related noun.

THE PATTERN

Joy centered in God becomes voiced praise.

Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.

Psalm 33:1 · KJVThe verse joins rejoicing in the LORD with praise as its fitting expression.

Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

James 5:13 · KJVGladness finds its voice in song, as joy does in this psalm.

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Philippians 4:4 · KJVThe repeated call locates rejoicing in the Lord.

THE THREAD

Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

Psalm 33:2 · KJV

Here too, “sing” translates ⁨זמר⁩ (zamar, “make music, sing praise”), linking the verse’s praise to the harp and psaltery. The shared root makes the connection concrete: joy in God becomes musical praise directed to him.

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