Psalms 57:8 · Bible study
Psalms 57:8 Commentary: 'Awake, My Glory', Praise Before Dawn
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
What does 'my glory' mean, and why wake the dawn? A study of Psalm 57:8 and David's determined praise in the face of danger.
Research Summary
- Meaning: David rouses his soul and his instruments to praise God with urgency, before the day begins, as an act of defiant hope.
- Key words: 'Glory' (soul or tongue); 'Awake' (a repeated summons); 'Psaltery and harp' (stringed instruments); 'Wake the dawn' (a bold metaphor for early and eager praise).
- Main debate: Whether 'my glory' refers to the soul (Gill, Cambridge) or the tongue (Wesley, Geneva), or possibly a musical instrument (Clarke).
- Theological theme: Determined praise in suffering; the believer as priest who 'awakens' the day with worship; the power of a steadfast heart.
- Best use: Teaching on personal devotion, morning prayer, and the discipline of praise amid trials. Excellent for studies on the Psalms of lament that turn to confidence.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Wake up, my glory! Wake up, lute and harp! I will wake up the dawn.
KJV King James Version 1769
Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake right early.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Awake, mine honour, awake, psaltery and harp, I awake the morning dawn.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Awake, my glory; awake, lute and harp: I will wake the dawn.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
They shall come to nothing, like water running down; he hath bent his bow till they be weakened.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Despierta, oh gloria mía; despierta, salterio y arpa: levantaréme de mañana.
Desperta-te, ó glória minha! Desperta, lira e harpa; despertarei ao amanhecer.
Mon cœur est affermi, ô Dieu! Mon cœur est affermi;
Wache auf, meine Ehre, wache auf, Psalter und Harfe! Mit der Frühe will ich aufwachen.
Mijn hart is bereid, o God! mijn hart is bereid; ik zal zingen, en psalmzingen.
Dèstati, o gloria mia, destatevi, saltèro e cetra, io voglio risvegliare l’alba.
Gotowe jest serce moje, Boże! gotowe jest serce moje; śpiewać i wychwalać cię będę.
Да исчезнут, как вода протекающая; когда напрягут стрелы, пусть они будут как переломленные.
我的靈（原文是榮耀）啊，你當醒起！琴瑟啊，你們當醒起！我自己要極早 醒起！
You are my glory; let the instruments of music be awake; I myself will be awake with the dawn.
Verse in Context
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse captures a dramatic shift from complaint to confident praise. The repeated call 'Awake' is a summons to the psalmist's whole being. The 'glory' most likely refers to the soul, the noblest part of a person (Gill, Cambridge Bible) or the tongue, the instrument of praise (Wesley, Geneva Bible). Both point to the same intention: David rouses every faculty to sing. The phrase 'I will wake up the dawn' is widely seen as a bold poetic twist. Barnes notes that the dawn ordinarily wakes people; here David claims he will rouse the morning itself by his early praise. Keil and Delitzsch call this 'a morning mood of certainty of victory.' The musical terms, lute and harp, show worship with instruments was part of David's life even as a fugitive. Whether 'glory' means soul or tongue, the consensus is that David is wholly determined to praise God before the day begins.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Soul as glory: Psalm 16:9; 30:12; 57:6 – the soul is bowed down and needs rousing; Gill, Matthew Henry, Cambridge Bible.
- Tongue as glory: Psalm 16:9 (LXX and Acts 2:26 where 'glory' is translated 'tongue'); Wesley, Geneva Bible.
- Skill or instrument as glory: Kennicott and Clarke argue from a variant reading in one manuscript and the Syriac; also the parallelism with 'harp' suggests a musical term.
What is clear: The psalmist is calling his entire being – soul, voice, and instruments – to the work of praise, with an urgency and determination that reaches even before sunrise.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| 'My glory', what does it refer to? | It designates the psalmist's highest self, the part of him that can praise God. | Some commentators say it is the soul (Gill: 'the most honourable part of man'; Henry: 'the heart'). Others say it is the tongue (Wesley: 'the instrument of singing'; Geneva Bible note: 'Awake my tongue'). A minority (Clarke, citing a manuscript variant) suggests it might mean 'harp' itself. |
| 'I will awake the dawn', literal or poetic? | It is a vivid expression of early, eager praise. David will praise before daylight. | Barnes and JFB take it as 'I will awake early', a resolve to begin the day worshiping. Keil and Delitzsch, Cambridge Bible, and Gill read it as a personification: 'I will awake the dawn', an act that calls the morning into being, as if praise creates the new day. |
| Role of musical instruments in the verse | The instruments are real and David calls them to life as partners in praise. | Some see them purely as aids to worship (Barnes, Henry). Others give them almost personal agency (Calvin: the psalmist personifies the harp as asleep). The Talmudic tradition (noted by Gill) imagined David's harp hanging over his bed, playing by itself when the north wind blew. |
| Is the psalm primarily personal or universal? | David's own deliverance prompts the call to praise. | Matthew Henry and Keil see it as deeply personal, the individual's soul stirred. However, verse 9 ('among the peoples') shows it is also public and corporate. Lange notes the resemblance to Psalms 108, where this section is reused in a national context. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Psalm 57 is set during David's flight from King Saul. The title mentions his time 'in the cave,' likely the Cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22) or a cave in the cliffs of Engedi (1 Samuel 24). David was a hunted man, his life in constant danger. The psalm's first half pleads for mercy amid 'lions' and enemies whose tongues are swords (verse 4). But midway, the mood pivots. Verse 7 declares a 'steadfast heart,' and verse 8 erupts into a call for praise.
In the ancient world, musical instruments were part of temple worship and personal devotion. The nebel (psaltery) and kinnor (harp/lyre) were stringed instruments, often played together (Psalm 33:2, 150:3). For David, a skilled musician who played the harp for Saul, these were tools of praise he carried even in exile. The phrase 'wake up the dawn' is a personification common in ancient poetry (Job 41:18, Song 7:2). Dawn was seen as a goddess in some surrounding cultures; David asserts that his praise, not a mythical being, will call forth the morning. This reflects his confidence in the God who hears and delivers.
The repetition of 'awake' echoes Judge Deborah's call in Judges 5:12 and the later prophetic summons in Isaiah 52:1. David is literally calling himself to action, stirring his soul from any lethargy caused by fear or sorrow.
Textual Notes
The consulted commentaries note no significant textual variants for Psalm 57:8. Adam Clarke mentions one Hebrew manuscript and the Syriac version reading 'my harp' (כנורי) instead of 'my glory' (כבודי), but this is not supported by the Masoretic Text and is considered secondary. The reading 'my glory' is universally accepted in the Hebrew tradition. The Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate follow the same sense. There is no manuscript evidence to suggest a different original reading.
Reception History
This verse has been treasured in Christian tradition as a call to morning prayer. The fifth-century monk John Cassian cited it in his Conferences as a model for rousing the soul to sing psalms at daybreak. In the Reformation, Calvin preached on it as a picture of faith's victory over fear. The verse's phrase 'Awake, my glory' appears in many English hymns, most famously in the eighteenth-century hymn 'Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun' (Thomas Ken, 1674) and in Charles Wesley's 'Awake, My Soul, to Hymns of Praise.' The image of waking the dawn also inspired artists and poets, including Milton's L'Allegro ('rouse the slumbering morn'). In the Jewish tradition, the verse is part of the daily morning liturgy (Pesukei Dezimra), recited before the main morning prayer.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Rouse your inner self. 'Awake, my glory', the soul is the most valuable part of us. It can grow sluggish under trouble. Preach the need to stir faith and gratitude deliberately.
- Take up your instruments. 'Awake, lute and harp', use every gift and talent for praise. David did not wait for safety to worship; he praised in the cave.
- Wake the dawn. 'I will wake up the dawn', praise can transform even your earliest moments. Let God have the first of your day, not the leftovers.
Five-point outline
- From despair to determination: The psalm's context, David moves from 'my soul is bowed down' (v.6) to 'my heart is steadfast' (v.7).
- What is 'my glory'? Explore the two main readings: soul (our highest self) or tongue (the voice of praise). Both require a conscious choice to worship.
- Instruments of worship: Tangible aids like music, song, and community. Even in isolation, David calls on his harp.
- The audacity of early praise: 'I will awake the dawn.' Instead of waiting for morning to lift his spirits, David's praise will create the morning. Point to Christ's resurrection, the daybreak of victory over sin.
- Praise that reaches the nations: Verse 9 shows his praise goes public, 'among the peoples.' Corporate worship flows from personal determination.
Illustration hooks
- The alarm clock: Most of us hit snooze. What if we saw waking as a chance to greet God before the world grabs our attention?
- The musician's routine: A guitarist practices scales every morning even when uninspired. David's call to his harp is like preparing our hearts even when we don't 'feel' like praising.
- Darkness before dawn: In the cave, it was physically dark. David's resolve to 'wake the dawn' pictures hope in a dark situation.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How can I praise God when I feel trapped in my circumstances?
- What does it mean to have a 'fixed' heart? Can I get there?
- Why does the psalmist talk to his own soul? Is that normal?
Leading a Discussion
Psalm 57:8 shows us a man who talks to himself, commands his own soul and his musical instruments to wake up, and even claims he will rouse the dawn. It is a picture of active, determined praise in the middle of danger. This discussion will help your group consider how they can stir themselves to worship when life is heavy.
Discussion questions
- Read the whole psalm (57:1-11). How does the mood shift from the first half to the second? What causes the change?
- Why do you think David calls his soul 'my glory'? How is your soul your glory? (See also Psalm 16:9, 30:12.)
- David calls his instruments by name, 'lute and harp.' What are the 'instruments' in your life that you can use to praise God? (e.g., voice, talents, time)
- The phrase 'I will awake the dawn' is startling. What does it say about David's eagerness? How could you 'awake the dawn' in your own routine?
- Verse 9 shows David's praise becoming public: 'among the peoples.' How does personal, private praise connect to witness before others?
- When has praising God felt like work, like having to wake something up inside you? What helped?
- David was in a cave, fleeing for his life. What can this psalm teach us about not letting our circumstances dictate our worship?
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Judges 5:12 | ‘Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, and lead away your captives, you son of Abinoam.’ |
| Psalms 16:9 | Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices. My body shall also dwell in safety. |
| Psalms 30:12 | to the end that my heart may sing praise to you, and not be silent. Yahweh my God, I will give thanks to you forever! |
| Psalms 108:1 | A Song. A Psalm by David. My heart is steadfast, God. I will sing and I will make music with my soul. |
| Psalms 108:3 | I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations. I will sing praises to you among the peoples. |
| Psalms 150:3 | Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet! Praise him with harp and lyre! |
| Isaiah 52:1 | Awake, awake! Put on your strength, Zion. Put on your beautiful garments, Jerusalem, the holy city, for from now on the uncircumcised and the unclean will no more come into you. |
| Isaiah 52:9 | Break out into joy! Sing together, you waste places of Jerusalem; for Yahweh has comforted his people. He has redeemed Jerusalem. |
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
11 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke suggests the phrase "my glory" may refer to a harp or musical skill, based on a textual variant. He defends the rabbinic tradition that David's harp played by itself in the night breeze, comparing it to the Aeolian harp. For Clarke, this makes David's call to "awake" a literal summons to his instrument.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes identifies "glory" as David's noblest powers of soul, every faculty that could honor God, roused to full exercise. The early-morning dedication is not about a single event but a habitual practice: devoting the first moments of each day to praise, which he sees as essential for sustaining the life of religion in the soul.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin examines the title Al-tascheth, meaning "destroy not," and rejects the common explanation that it refers to David sparing Saul's life, since the psalm's prayers were offered before that event. He instead favors that the phrase either names a familiar tune or preserves David's brief cry for mercy in extreme danger.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator highlights the striking image in the phrase I will awake the dawn, noting that the psalmist claims to rouse the morning itself with praises before daylight, rather than waiting for dawn to wake him. The word my glory is taken as a designation for the soul, either as humanity's noblest part or as bearing the likeness of divine glory.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Awake my tongue, awake viole and harpe: I wil awake early.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill identifies "my glory" as the human soul, the most honorable part of a person, which can grow spiritually dull, lazy, or weighed down by sorrow. He explains that David, once too distressed to sing, now calls his own soul and even his musical instruments to wake up and offer praise early in the morning.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights that the phrase "I will awaken dawn" is a poetic exaggeration expressing David's intense eagerness to praise God. He calls on his own tongue and musical instruments to rouse themselves, showing his zealous determination to begin worship without delay.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch highlights David's shift from hope to absolute certainty of victory, expressed in the perfect tense of confidence. David actively awakens the dawn with his music,
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange points out that the repeated verse divides the psalm into two halves: first, a prayer for grace grounded in past experience, then a call to praise God worldwide after the enemies fall into their own trap. This structure shows faith moving from urgent hope to certain victory.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry highlights the sudden, faith-driven shift from desperate prayer to joyful praise, treating it as a model for how devotion can transform. The key for him is a fixed heart that is prepared for any circumstance and fully engaged in worship, so that praise becomes as fervent as the earlier pleading.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley interprets "my glory" as the tongue, the physical instrument God has given for singing praise. The call to "awake" means rousing every faculty of soul and body into active worship, holding nothing back.