Psalms 56:10 Meaning: Praising His Word in God and the LORD
In God, I will praise his word. In Yahweh, I will praise his word.
In God will I praise his word: in the Lord will I praise his word.
In God (I will praise his word), In Jehovah (I will praise his word),
In God I praise the word, In Jehovah I praise the word.
In God will I praise [his] word; in Jehovah will I praise [his] word.
Meaning in one sentence
Psalm 56:10 shows David praising God's word with both names Elohim and Yahweh, revealing double confidence in God's promises.
Context
David wrote this psalm after the Philistines seized him in Gath. He was a fugitive, hunted by Saul, and forced to pretend madness to save his life. Yet in the middle of that terror, he speaks with surprising boldness. Verses 10-11 form a refrain that echoes verse 4, but with one change: he swaps the name for God. The repetition is not random. It is a decision to praise, grounded in something solid. David looks at the promise God has spoken and decides it is worth declaring twice.
Key Words
The word "praise" here is an active choice. It means to boast or give thanks aloud, not just feel grateful inside. David is speaking, declaring worth. "His word" does not mean Scripture in general. It points to God's specific promise, the thing God had spoken to David about deliverance and a future. That one promise becomes the anchor.
The two names for God carry weight. Elohim (translated "God") is the name of power and justice, the Judge of all the earth. Yahweh (translated "the LORD") is the covenant name, the One who binds himself to his people in mercy. By praising the word in both names, David says: this promise holds whether I think of God as my Judge or as my Covenant Keeper. Neither attribute cancels the promise. Both confirm it.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christian readers across traditions have noticed the double naming. Older Jewish interpreters, like the Targum and Jarchi, saw the two names pointing to God's attributes: justice in Elohim, mercy in Yahweh. David praises God's word in both. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, echoes this, in adversity or prosperity, the promise stands. Matthew Henry focuses on the comfort this gave David: no matter which aspect of God you consider, his word is trustworthy. Anglicans at Cambridge note the repetition is for emphasis, a way of saying the same thing twice to make it sure. The diversity of readings shares one conviction: the word of God deserves praise no matter what.
A common misunderstanding
Some read "his word" here as referring to the Bible in general, all of Scripture. That is not wrong in a wider sense, but it misses David's immediate meaning. In fact, "his word" points to God's particular promise to David, the spoken assurance he was clinging to in that moment of fear. The verse invites us to praise God for the specific promises he has made to us, not just for having a general book.
Living This Out
This week, think of one promise from Scripture that you need right now. Maybe it is that God will never leave you, or that your tears are in his bottle, as David said just two verses earlier. Write it down. Then praise him for it, out loud, if you can. Use both names if it helps: you can praise the Judge who sets things right, and the Covenant Keeper who will not let you go. This is not a formula. It is a way of saying: I believe what God has spoken, even when I am afraid.
Main takeaway: David declares that God's word is worthy of praise, whether we approach God as Judge or as Covenant Keeper.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
David was scared, but he said he would praise God's promise twice. You can praise God for his promises even when you are scared.
For ages 9, 12
David used two different names for God in this verse. One name reminds us God is the Judge who always does right. The other name reminds us God made a promise to take care of his people. David was saying: no matter what name I use for God, his promise is still true. You can trust God's promises no matter what happens.
Questions People Ask
Why does David repeat the same line twice in Psalm 56:10?
The repetition is for emphasis. David wants to make it absolutely clear that he will praise God's word no matter what. He also uses two different names for God, Elohim and Yahweh, to show that God's word is reliable whether you think of him as the Judge or as the Covenant Keeper.
What does 'his word' mean in this verse?
'His word' refers to God's specific promise. In the context of Psalm 56, David is clinging to God's promise of deliverance. It is not the Bible in general, but the particular thing God had spoken to David that he now chooses to praise.
What is the difference between Elohim and Yahweh in this verse?
Elohim (translated 'God') is the name of power and justice, the Creator and Judge. Yahweh (translated 'the LORD') is the covenant name, emphasizing God's personal, faithful relationship with his people. David praises God's word in both names to show that God's promises hold no matter which aspect of his character we focus on.
How does this verse connect to David's situation in Gath?
David was captured by the Philistines in Gath and had to feign madness to escape (1 Samuel 21). Despite being in extreme danger, he chose to trust God's promise. This verse shows his determination to praise God's word even when his circumstances were terrifying.
What does it mean to 'praise his word'?
To praise God's word means to declare aloud that God's promise is good, true, and reliable. It is an active, vocal act of worship. David is not just feeling thankful; he is speaking his trust so that others, and even his own heart, can hear it.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study