Psalms 138:5 · Bible study
Psalms 138:5 Commentary: Kings Sing of Yahweh's Great Glory
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why do kings sing of Yahweh's ways in Psalm 138:5? Study the meaning of this verse, its historical context, and how it points to God’s glory.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Kings respond to God’s word by singing of his ways, acknowledging the greatness of his glory.
- Key words: Yashiru (they will sing), Darkei (ways), Kevod (glory).
- Main debate: Whether “ways” refer primarily to God’s providential methods or to his moral commands; both are supported.
- Theological theme: Universal recognition of God’s glory through his acts in history; the humbling of human pride.
- Best use: A promise for missions and for praying for rulers; an invitation to consider God’s ways in personal life.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
They will sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Yes, they will sing of the ways of Yahweh, for Yahweh’s glory is great!
KJV King James Version 1769
Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Yea, they shall sing of the ways of Jehovah; For great is the glory of Jehovah.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And they sing in the ways of Jehovah, For great is the honour of Jehovah.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And they shall sing in the ways of Jehovah, for great is the glory of Jehovah.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Behold, O Lord, thou hast known all things, the last and those of old: thou hast formed me, and hast laid thy hand upon me.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y cantarán de los caminos de Jehová: que la gloria de Jehová es grande.
E cantarão sobre os caminhos do SENHOR, pois grande é a glória do SENHOR.
Ils célébreront les voies de l’ Éternel,
und singen auf den Wegen des HERRN, daß die Ehre des HERRN groß sei.
En zij zullen zingen van de wegen des HEEREN, want de heerlijkheid des HEEREN is groot.
e canteranno le vie dell’Eterno, perché grande è la gloria dell’Eterno.
I będą śpiewali o drogach Pańskich, a iż wielka jest chwała Pańska.
Сзади и спереди Ты объемлешь меня, и полагаешь на мне руку Твою.
他們要歌頌 耶和華 的作為，因 耶和華 大 有榮耀。
They will make songs about the ways of the Lord; for great is the glory of the Lord.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Psalms 138:5
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree this verse describes the response of earthly rulers who have heard God’s word. The kings of the earth from verse 4 now sing of the ways of Yahweh. The Hebrew verb yashiru (they will sing) is a Qal imperfect, pointing to a future act of praise. Their song focuses on God’s ways (darkei), understood as his providential conduct and his methods of dealing with people (Cambridge Bible, Barnes). These ways are “all mercy and truth” (Gill), paths of pleasantness. The ground of their song is the greatness of God’s glory (kevod), his honour, majesty, and self-revelation. Barnes notes that even the most elevated human rulers bow before God, their own splendor deepening the impression of his glory. Calvin, though his comments on this specific verse are not preserved, sets the psalm in the context of David’s gratitude and anticipation of worldwide recognition of God. Keil & Delitzsch see the kings singing “that great is the glory of Jahve” as a proclamation of the God of salvation history. The verse thus presents a vision of universal worship: all authority acknowledges the one true God.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The verse depicts foreign kings joining in praise of God's ways and acknowledging His glory.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of the kings | The kings are earthly rulers from the nations, not Israel's own kings. | Some read them as literal monarchs; others see a broader reference to all human authorities. |
| Meaning of 'the ways of Yahweh' | Refers to God's dealings with humanity, his providential guidance and commands. | Clarke and Cambridge emphasize providential methods; Gill includes the pleasantness of God's precepts. |
| The nature of God's glory | His glory is his intrinsic honour, majesty, and self-revelation, especially visible in redemption. | Barnes stresses the contrast with human honour; Keil & Delitzsch highlight the revelation in salvation history. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Psalm 138 is a Davidic psalm of thanksgiving, likely composed after God’s deliverance and the establishment of the Davidic kingdom. The opening verses (1, 3) shift to a forward-looking prophecy: all the kings of the earth will praise Yahweh (v.4). This reflects Israel’s hope that the nations would recognise Israel’s God. In the ancient Near East, conquered kings often acknowledged the superiority of a victor’s deity. David’s experience of being raised from lowliness to the throne (2 Samuel 7) becomes a pattern for all rulers.
The phrase the ways of Yahweh (darkei Yahweh) echoes a major biblical theme. In the Torah, God’s ways are his righteous acts and commands (Deuteronomy 32:4). In the Psalms, they are his providential paths (Psalm 103:7). The word derekh can mean road, journey, or manner of life. Here it points to God’s characteristic pattern of dealing with his people: delivering the lowly and judging the proud (as v.6 makes explicit).
The glory of the LORD (kevod Yahweh) is a central Old Testament concept. It refers to God’s visible weight of majesty, seen in the pillar of cloud and fire (Exodus 16:10), the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34), and the temple (1 Kings 8:11). In Isaiah’s vision, “the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3). This glory is not merely honor but the manifestation of God’s character and power. The kings’ acknowledgment of this glory levels all human pride; as Barnes writes, kings and people stand “on the same level before him.”
Textual Notes
The Hebrew text of Psalm 138:5 is stable across manuscripts. The suppled commentaries and lexicons note no significant variants. The only variant mentioned in the sources concerns verse 1 (the presence of “O Jehovah”), not verse 5.
Reception History
Christian interpreters have historically read Psalm 138:5 as a prophecy of the nations coming to worship Christ. The verse echoes in missionary hymns and in theological works on the universal reign of God. Augustine saw in the kings’ song the fulfillment of the Great Commission, rulers hearing and submitting to God’s word. The Reformed tradition, following Calvin, understood it as the spread of the gospel throughout the earth. In liturgical use, the verse has been set to music in settings of the Psalms, often sung during Epiphany or the season of the Reign of Christ. The theme of God’s glory filling the earth connects to the vision in Revelation 21:24 where the kings of the earth bring their glory into the New Jerusalem.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Promise of Universal Praise. Kings hear God’s words and respond, not with force, but with singing. This points to Christ’s reign over all nations (Revelation 11:15).
- Singing of God’s Ways. The content of their song is God’s ways: his providential care, his justice, his mercy. These are not abstract concepts but actions visible in history.
- Because His Glory Is Great. The ground of all worship is God’s glory, his inherent worth and self-revelation. The kings’ praise magnifies what is already infinite.
Five-point outline
- Hearing Leads to Singing. The kings hear “the words of your mouth” (v.4) and break into song.
- God’s Ways as His Character. The word derekh encompasses both his conduct and his commands.
- The Greatness of His Glory. Hebrew kevod denotes weight and honour; it is not earned but inherent.
- Human Rulers Bow. Even those at the pinnacle of earthly power acknowledge a greater authority.
- A Vision for the Future. This verse anticipates the day when every nation will worship the true God.
Illustration hooks
- Imagine a world leader publicly praising God for a delivered nation, the scene shows humility before heaven.
- A choir from many nations singing in a stadium, each in their own language but declaring the same glory.
- The moment a person first sees God’s hand in their circumstances and can’t help but speak of his ways.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God’s glory matter in politics? Should Christians pray for rulers to acknowledge Him?
- What are the “ways of the Lord” and how do I see them in my own life?
- How can I learn to sing when life feels disordered?
Leading a Discussion
Psalm 138:5 sits at the heart of a psalm that begins with personal gratitude and expands to a global vision. The verse shows kings, people of power and influence, responding to God’s word with song. Their focus is on God’s ways and his glory. This raises questions about how authority relates to worship, and how God’s character is revealed through his actions in history.
Discussion questions
- Who are “they” in verse 5? How does verse 4 set the stage for this verse? (Observation)
- What does it mean to “sing of the ways of Yahweh”? Suggest some specific ways God has acted that are worth singing about. (Interpretation)
- How does the Hebrew word derekh (way) help us understand what is being praised? (Interpretation)
- Why does the greatness of God’s glory motivate praise? What does “glory” mean in this context? (Interpretation)
- Compare this verse with Isaiah 6:3 (“the whole earth is full of his glory”). How do these two passages connect? (Interpretation)
- In what ways do we see pride before God today? How does this verse challenge that pride? (Application)
- How can this verse shape how we pray for world leaders, locally and globally? (Application)
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)
| Exodus 15:11 | Who is like you, Yahweh, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? |
| Exodus 33:18 | Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” |
| Exodus 33:19 | He said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim Yahweh’s name before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” |
| Psalms 21:5 | His glory is great in your salvation. You lay honor and majesty on him. |
| Isaiah 6:1 | In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. |
| Isaiah 6:3 | One called to another, and said, “Holy, holy, holy, is Yahweh of Armies! The whole earth is full of his glory!” |
| Isaiah 52:7 | How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” |
| Isaiah 52:10 | Yahweh has made his holy arm bare in the eyes of all the nations. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. |
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
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
They shall sing in the ways of the Lord - They shall admire thy conduct, and the wondrous workings of thy providence, if they should not even unite with thy people.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes focuses on the leveling power of worship: when kings and common people sing together in God's ways, they stand as equals before him. The very dignity of the most exalted rulers, bowing in humble praise, deepens the impression of God's far greater glory.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin reads "before the gods" as referring to angels or kings, particularly angels, rather than to God himself. He sees this as David offering his praise publicly before these spiritual beings and earthly rulers, underscoring the reverent and open character of his gratitude.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
they shall sing of the ways of Jehovah] They will celebrate His providential methods of dealing with His people. For ways cp. Psa_103:7 . the glory of Jehovah] The revelation of His power and majesty in the deliverance of Israel. Cp. Isa_40:5 ; Isa_60:1 .
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights that praise arises from seeing God's ways, not just His deeds. The reason for singing is the greatness of His glory itself, which compels celebration of how He acts. The focus is on the cause of worship: God's magnificent honor.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill draws attention to the dual sense of singing in or about God's ways. He notes that the greatness of the Lord's glory shown in creation, Christ, and redemption makes these ways pleasant, and this joy will increase as the Gospel spreads widely in the latter days.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB reads the phrase "great is the glory" as actually meaning "when the glory shall be great." For this commentator, the clause points forward to the future moment when God fully accomplishes His purposes of redemption, not to a present state.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange reads this psalm as David's personal response to the specific promise of an eternal dynasty in 2 Samuel 7. He argues that "thy word" refers to that covenant, not to God's general revelation, and that David's public praise celebrates God's faithfulness to this unfolding redemptive plan.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that David resolves to praise God openly before princes and great men, because praising God is honorable work that even the most powerful need not be ashamed of. He also sees worship toward the holy temple as directing faith toward Christ the mediator and heaven itself.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
The ways - His wonderful counsel and gracious providences.