The Meaning of Psalms 104:31 Explained

Psalms 104:31

KJV: The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.

YLT: The honour of Jehovah is to the age, Jehovah rejoiceth in His works,

Darby: The glory of Jehovah will endure for ever; Jehovah will rejoice in his works.

ASV: Let the glory of Jehovah endure for ever; Let Jehovah rejoice in his works:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The glory  of the LORD  shall endure for ever:  the LORD  shall rejoice  in his works. 

What does Psalms 104:31 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 104:24-35 - The Almighty's Open Hand
The psalmist says nothing of the operation of the great laws of nature, but passes behind and beyond to the Great Hand which opens to fill and satisfy all living things with good. The personality of God is the moving force behind the thin veil of outward appearance. This is in striking contrast with much of the thinking and speaking of the present day, which practically exclude the Creator from his own creation. But there is no real opposition between the two conceptions. Natural law is only another way of stating the usual method of God's working. There is no variableness in Him, nor shadow cast by turning; and it is because we can count on His unaltering methods that human life can develop regularly and successfully.
While all creation waits on the opening of God's hand, man alone can adore Him. We stand in the midst of creation as its high priest and interpreter. We can say to God what nature longs to express but cannot. Amid the beauty and magnificence of natural scenery, let us sing the "Te Deum;" and let us believe that He who rejoices in His works comes very near us in our joy, which proves that our nature and His are closely akin. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 104

1  A meditation upon the mighty power
7  And wonderful providence of God
31  God's glory is eternal
33  The prophet vows perpetually to praise God

What do the individual words in Psalms 104:31 mean?

May endure the glory of Yahweh forever May rejoice Yahweh in His works
יְהִ֤י כְב֣וֹד יְהוָ֣ה לְעוֹלָ֑ם יִשְׂמַ֖ח יְהוָ֣ה בְּמַעֲשָֽׂיו

יְהִ֤י  May  endure 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כְב֣וֹד  the  glory 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כָּבֹוד  
Sense: glory, honour, glorious, abundance.
יְהוָ֣ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לְעוֹלָ֑ם  forever 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.
יִשְׂמַ֖ח  May  rejoice 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׂמַח  
Sense: to rejoice, be glad.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בְּמַעֲשָֽׂיו  in  His  works 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מַעֲשֶׂה  
Sense: deed, work.