I Chronicles 16:28 · Bible study
1 Chronicles 16:28 Commentary: A Universal Summons
Hebrew · 4 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the meaning of 'Ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength.' This study examines the universal call to the nations and the Hebrew grammar of praise in 1
Research Summary
- Meaning: A command for all nations to actively acknowledge Yahweh as the true God, worthy of glory and strength.
- Key words: הָבוּ (hăḇû) ascribe/give (imperative); מִשְׁפְּחוֹת עַמִּים (mišpəḥōṯ ʿammîm) families of the peoples; כָּבוֹד (kāḇôḏ) glory; עֹז (ʿoz) strength.
- Main debate: How the universal call relates to Israel's election, a foreshadowing of the New Covenant inclusion of Gentiles.
- Theological theme: The Kingship of Yahweh over all creation and the proper response of worship from every culture.
- Best use: A foundational text for missions and worship theology, grounding the Great Commission in the Old Testament revelation of God's heart for the nations.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Ascribe to Yahweh, you families of the peoples, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength!
KJV King James Version 1769
Give unto the Lord, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Ascribe unto Jehovah, ye kindreds of the peoples, Ascribe unto Jehovah glory and strength;
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Ascribe to Jehovah, ye families of peoples, Ascribe to Jehovah honour and strength.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Give unto Jehovah, ye families of peoples, Give unto Jehovah glory and strength!
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Bring ye to the Lord, O ye families of the nations: bring ye to the Lord glory and empire.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Atribuid á Jehová, oh familias de los pueblos, atribuid á Jehová gloria y potencia.
Reconhecei ao SENHOR, ó famílias das nações, reconhecei ao SENHOR a glória e o poder.
Familles des peuples, rendez à l’ Éternel,
Bringet her dem HERRN, ihr Völker, bringet her dem HERRN Ehre und Macht!
Geeft den HEERE, gij, geslachten der volken, geeft den HEERE eer en sterkte.
Date all’Eterno, o famiglie dei popoli, date all’Eterno gloria e forza.
Przynieście Panu pokolenia narodów, przynieście Panu chwałę i moc.
Воздайте Господу, племена народов, воздайте Господу славу и честь,
民 中的萬族啊，你們要將榮耀 能力 歸給 耶和華，都歸給 耶和華！
Give to the Lord, O you families of the peoples, give to the Lord glory and strength.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Chronicles 16:28
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse contains a striking universal summons within Israel's foundational liturgy. The Cambridge Bible identifies such calls for Gentile worship as a persistent thread in the Psalms, showing Israel's role as a priestly nation to the world. The focus of the command is unambiguously God-centered. The repeated imperative hāḇû, from the verb yāhaḇ (to give or ascribe), implies a deliberate act of attribution, rendering to God what is inherently His. The terms kāḇôḏ (glory, weight) and ‘ōz (strength, might) acknowledge God's own character rather than any virtue humanity can produce. Matthew Henry frames this as part of David's call to declare God's glory among the heathen, a declaration that creates worshipers.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Yahweh is the one true God, and all humanity is called to acknowledge His glory and strength with intentional praise.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The identity of the 'families of the peoples' | All agree this refers to the Gentile nations, not only Israel. | Some interpret this as a specific call to the surrounding nations who witnessed Israel's history, while others see it as a prophecy of the global Church gathered through the Great Commission. |
| The nature of 'ascribing' glory | It requires verbal praise and conscious acknowledgment of God. | Debate exists over whether this ascription is primarily liturgical (formal worship in the Temple) or missional (declaring God's deeds to convert others). |
| Relationship to Psalm 96 | 1 Chronicles 16:23, 33 closely parallels Psalm 96. | Scholars differ on whether the Chronicler adapted a known psalm to fit the Ark narrative or whether the original composition of the psalm occurred for this event. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This verse comes from the center of David's psalm of thanksgiving after the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 15, 16). The Ark was the footstool of Yahweh's throne. By placing it in Zion, David established Jerusalem as the center of God's visible rule over Israel. Unlike a human king parading his conquests, the focus of this procession was entirely on Yahweh as King.
The summons to the families of the peoples was radical in its ancient context. Every nation had its own patron deity, Chemosh for Moab, Dagon for Philistia. By commanding the goyim to ascribe glory to Yahweh, the Chronicler stakes a claim that the God of Israel is not a tribal deity but the Creator of the heavens (v. 26). The song is a mosaic of earlier psalms (Psalm 105, 96, 106), indicating that this missionary motif was a sustained hope, not a momentary impulse. The parallel passage in Psalm 29:1 addresses the sons of the mighty (heavenly beings); here, the audience shifts entirely to the human families of the earth. The invitation is grounded in creation and covenant, the world is established and cannot be moved (v. 30), so the proper response is worship, not fear of other powers.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for this verse within the manuscript tradition. A notable comparative detail exists with the parallel passage in Psalm 29:1, which reads 'sons of the mighty' (heavenly beings) rather than 'families of the peoples.' This shift likely reflects the Chronicler's intentional broadening of the audience from a celestial council to the human nations, emphasizing a concrete historical horizon for God's worship.
Reception History
This verse has been read throughout church history as a clear Old Testament witness to God's intention to redeem people from every nation. Patristic writers saw the call to the families of the peoples as a prophecy of Gentile inclusion in the New Covenant. During the Reformation, commentators used the verse to stress that true worship involves the whole life, glory and strength, not just ritual. The verse continues to serve Christians as a foundation for global missions, emphasizing that the God of Israel is Lord over all the earth.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Object of Ascription: Yahweh is worthy because of who He is, not what we bring.
- The Scope of Ascription: All families of the peoples, not just Israel, are commanded to respond.
- The Cost of Ascription: Ascribing glory leads to bringing an offering and worshiping in holy array (v. 29).
Five-point outline
- The Command: Hāḇû, it is a deliberate act of giving, not a feeling.
- The Audience: Every family, every nation, every culture.
- The Content: Glory and strength, the full weight of God's majesty and power.
- The Ground: Yahweh made the heavens (v. 26) and established the world (v. 30).
- The Response: A life of worship, confession, and offering.
Illustration hooks
- Credit where it is due: Finishing a group project or watching an athlete win a trophy. The team naturally acknowledges the person who made the victory possible. Ascribing glory to God is recognizing the source of every good thing.
- The family gathering: The phrase 'families of the peoples' evokes a global reunion. A table where every branch of a scattered family gathers is a faint picture of what this summons will one day look like.
Questions your congregation is asking
- What does it mean to 'ascribe' something to God if He already possesses all glory and strength?
- How does a call to the nations in the Old Testament connect to our church's mission today?
- Is public praise of God appropriate in a diverse society, or should faith remain private?
Leading a Discussion
This verse opens a window into the Old Testament's vision of a world united in worship. It challenges the assumption that God's concern is limited to one nation. As you reflect on the passage, let the scope of the invitation expand your understanding of God's heart.
Discussion questions
- Read verses 24, 27. What reasons does the psalm give for calling all nations to worship?
- The word 'ascribe' (or 'give') is used twice in this verse. Why is this repetition significant?
- What is the difference between 'glory' and 'strength' in this context? How do they describe God differently?
- Verse 26 says all other gods are idols because Yahweh made the heavens. How does creation serve as the basis for the universal call?
- How does this passage prepare us for Jesus's command to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18, 20)?
- What might it look like for you personally to 'ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength' this week?
- If the families of the peoples are invited, how should that shape the way we pray for and speak about people of other cultures and faiths?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Chronicles 29:10 | Therefore David blessed Yahweh before all the assembly; and David said, “You are blessed, Yahweh, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. |
| I Chronicles 29:14 | But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from you, and we have given you of your own. |
| Psalms 29:1 | A Psalm by David. Ascribe to Yahweh, you sons of the mighty, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength. |
| Psalms 29:2 | Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Worship Yahweh in holy array. |
| Psalms 66:1 | For the Chief Musician. A song. A Psalm. Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! |
| Psalms 66:2 | Sing to the glory of his name! Offer glory and praise! |
| Psalms 67:4 | Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you will judge the peoples with equity, and govern the nations on earth. Selah. |
| Psalms 67:7 | God will bless us. All the ends of the earth shall fear him. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
4 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible Schools observes that the Revised Version's rendering "of the peoples" rather than "of the people" highlights a significant, repeated expectation in the Psalms. The psalmist expresses hope that Gentiles will turn to worship the true God, a theme found not rarely elsewhere in the Ps
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Giue vnto the Lord, ye families of the people: giue vnto the Lord glory and power.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange emphasizes that the chronicler’s detailed lists of Levites, musicians, and the composite psalm drawn from Psalms 96, 105, and 106 are not later inventions. He argues the account is historically credible, based on concrete registers, and the song is an ideal reconstruction capturing the Davidic spirit, not a verbatim transcript.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry emphasizes that this psalm was composed for public worship, not private devotion, and that its core charge is to broadcast God's deeds among all nations, not just Israel. He highlights the progression from Israel's covenant memory to a universal call, urging every people to give God the glory due His name.