What Does Psalm 95:1 Mean in the King James?
O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
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 invitation holds two different sounds, a ringing song and a raised shout, both aimed at the Rock of deliverance.
THE MEANING
You are included in a shared invitation to sing to the LORD, the Rock of your deliverance. The Hebrew sets a ringing song beside a raised shout, so the praise has both melody and force. Deliverance has a source and footing: the LORD is named as its Rock.
THE ROOT
יִשְׁעֵנוּ
yish'enu
GROWS FROM
י־ש־ע
To deliver, bringing someone out of constriction into room and safety.
“salvation” in this verse is yish'enu. The Hebrew names deliverance as a movement, not merely an abstract status. Here that movement is grounded in the image of the Rock: the LORD is the source of the deliverance being sung.
ALSO GROWS
yasha: To deliver or rescue.
יָשַׁע
The verb shows the active movement contained in the verse’s word for deliverance.
yeshuah: Deliverance or rescue.
יְשׁוּעָה
This noun carries the same root into a word for the deliverance itself.
hoshia: He delivered or rescued.
הוֹשִׁיעַ
This form makes the root’s movement concrete: someone is brought out of danger.
נָרִיעָה
nariah
GROWS FROM
ר־ו־ע
To raise a shout, cry aloud, or sound a signal.
The Hebrew word can name a shout of acclaim as well as a signal or alarm. “Joyful noise” therefore carries the force of a raised, public cry, not only a pleasant sound.
ALSO GROWS
teru'ah: A shout, alarm, or trumpet signal.
תְּרוּעָה
This noun shows the root’s range from celebration to a signal that demands attention.
hari'u: Shout aloud or raise a cry.
הָרִיעוּ
This form echoes the verse’s call to make a full-voiced sound.
נְרַנְּנָה
nerannenah
GROWS FROM
ר־נ־ן
To cry out, ring out, or sing for joy.
“sing” in this verse is nerannenah. The root holds singing and shouting together in a voice that rings out. Beside the separate root for “joyful noise,” it gives the invitation two distinct but joined forms of praise.
ALSO GROWS
rinnah: A ringing cry or song of joy.
רִנָּה
This noun keeps the sense of a voice breaking out in gladness.
harninu: Sing aloud or shout for joy.
הַרְנִינוּ
This form shows the same root as an emphatic call to let the voice ring out.
THE PATTERN
Deliverance from the LORD becomes a shared, full-voiced song.
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.THE THREAD
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.Psalm 95 names the LORD as the Rock of our deliverance; Isaiah uses the same ישע root in “salvation” and joins it with strength and song. The shared root lets the song sound like the voice of deliverance received from its source.
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