What Does Psalm 96:7 Mean in the King James?

Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.

Psalm 96:7 · 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 Hebrew makes “glory” carry weight: the peoples are called to recognize the LORD’s full weight and strength.

THE MEANING

The verse speaks to you among the families of peoples: glory and strength belong to the LORD. Kavod means weight as well as honor, so the verse names his glory as the full weight of who he is.

THE ROOT

כָּבוֹד

kavod

GROWS FROM

כבד

k-b-d

Be heavy; carry weight.

Kavod comes from the root of heaviness. Its meaning lets glory carry substance and weight, so giving the LORD glory is recognizing the full weight of who he is.

ALSO GROWS

kaved: Heavy, weighty.

כָּבֵד

This adjective makes the physical sense of weight visible inside the word translated “glory.”

kibbed: Honored, treated as weighty.

כִּבֵּד

This verb connects giving honor with assigning weight.

עֹז

ʿoz

GROWS FROM

עזז

ʿ-z-z

Be strong; prevail; be fierce.

The word for strength belongs to a root that describes being strong and forceful. Beside kavod, it gives the LORD’s glory both weight and might.

ALSO GROWS

ʿazaz: To be strong, to prevail.

עָזַז

This verb shows strength as active power, not just a quality or possession.

ʿaz: Strong, fierce.

עָז

This adjective carries the forceful quality that ⁨עֹז⁩ names as strength.

THE PATTERN

Across Scripture, the LORD’s glory is weight that calls forth recognition of his strength.

A Psalm of David. Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.

Psalm 29:1 · KJVThe same Hebrew words for glory and strength appear in a summons addressed to the mighty.

Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.

1 Chronicles 16:28 · KJVThe same call places the families of peoples before the LORD as the one worthy of glory and strength.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

2 Corinthians 4:17 · KJVThe phrase “weight of glory” gives the same concrete sense carried by kavod: glory has weight and substance.

THE THREAD

A Psalm of David. Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.

Psalm 29:1 · KJV

Psalm 29:1 uses the same Hebrew words, kavod for glory and ʿoz for strength. Their repetition shows the same weight and might being recognized among the mighty as among all peoples.

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