What Does Psalm 92:1 Mean in the King James?

A Psalm or Song for the sabbath day. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:

Psalm 92:1 · 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.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

Thanks and song become two ways of voicing the LORD’s nature: gratitude names what the music carries.

THE MEANING

Here, gratitude is spoken acknowledgment, and song gives that acknowledgment a voice. The “name” (⁨שֵׁם⁩, shem), the LORD’s nature as made known, is what the thanks and music are turned toward now.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The verse undoes the belief that thanksgiving is only a private feeling or polite formula; here it is voiced recognition, carried into song.

THE ROOT

לְהוֹדוֹת

lehodot

GROWS FROM

ידה

y-d-h

to acknowledge, confess, or give thanks

“give thanks” in this verse is lehodot. The thanks here is voiced acknowledgment, not merely an inward feeling. The next verb turns that acknowledgment into music, joining recognition with expression.

ALSO GROWS

todah: thanksgiving, confession

תּוֹדָה

This noun shares the root, showing that thanksgiving is an act of acknowledgment given expression.

hodu: give thanks, acknowledge

הוֹדוּ

This related form makes the same root’s movement into spoken thanks visible.

לְזַמֵּר

lezammer

GROWS FROM

זמר

z-m-r

to sing or make music

“sing praises” in this verse is lezammer. The Hebrew verb specifically evokes singing or making music. Together with yadah, it shows thanks becoming audible in song, rather than remaining an unspoken sentiment.

ALSO GROWS

mizmor: psalm, song

מִזְמוֹר

This related word names a song of the kind that carries the verse’s voiced praise.

zimrah: song, music

זִמְרָה

This branch keeps the musical sense of zamar visible beneath the English phrase “sing praises.”

THE PATTERN

Recognition of the LORD’s character becomes audible through thanksgiving and song.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Psalm 100:4 · KJVThanksgiving and praise are voiced as the way the LORD’s name is acknowledged.

Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.

Psalm 147:1 · KJVSong gives praise its audible form, and the verse names that singing as good.

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Ephesians 5:19 · KJVSongs and melody carry praise toward the Lord in a shared, voiced practice.

THE THREAD

Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

Psalm 30:4 · KJV

“Give thanks” here and “give thanks” in Psalm 92:1 come from the same Hebrew root, ⁨ידה⁩ (y-d-h, yadah): acknowledgment voiced toward the LORD. This verse places that thanks beside singing, echoing the pairing of acknowledgment and music in Psalm 92.

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