The Meaning of Psalms 105:1 Explained

Psalms 105:1

KJV: O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.

YLT: Give ye thanks to Jehovah -- call ye in His name, Make known among the peoples His acts.

Darby: Give ye thanks unto Jehovah, call upon his name; make known his acts among the peoples.

ASV: Oh give thanks unto Jehovah, call upon his name; Make known among the peoples his doings.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

O give thanks  unto the LORD;  call  upon his name:  make known  his deeds  among the people. 

What does Psalms 105:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 105:1-15 - The Lord's Covenant With Israel
This psalm and the next are a pair, probably composed during the Exile in Babylon. They are evidently derived in part from the old Tabernacle service, in which is found the beginning of this psalm and the end of the next, 1 Chronicles 16:1-43. Here we have the story of Jehovah's faithfulness to his Covenant and of Israel's ingratitude.
It is right to make known God's doings. Nothing touches men more quickly, or excites faith and hope more certainly, than to hear what others have experienced of God's saving health. Let us talk more often of His marvelous works. If God has forgiven you, even to ten thousand talents, confess it. If you have learned more of Christ's patience in His bearing with your sins and failures, tell it out. The salient points which stand out in our record of the past may be summarized under the same general headings as those of the psalmist. God has been mindful of His Covenant, ratified by the blood of his Son. He has shown his independence of human standards in choosing us, though we are absolutely unworthy to inherit His Kingdom. How often He has interposed in our behalf even when we have deserved the worst, saying, Touch not mine anointed! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 105

1  An exhortation to praise God, and to seek out his works
7  The story of God's providence over Abraham
16  Over Joseph
23  Over Jacob in Egypt
26  Over Moses delivering the Israelites
37  Over the Israelites brought out of Egypt, fed in the desert, and planted in Canaan

What do the individual words in Psalms 105:1 mean?

Oh give thanks to Yahweh Call upon His name Make known among the peoples His deeds
הוֹד֣וּ לַ֭יהוָה קִרְא֣וּ בִּשְׁמ֑וֹ הוֹדִ֥יעוּ בָ֝עַמִּ֗ים עֲלִילוֹתָֽיו

הוֹד֣וּ  Oh  give  thanks 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: יָדָה 
Sense: to throw, shoot, cast.
לַ֭יהוָה  to  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
קִרְא֣וּ  Call 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
בִּשְׁמ֑וֹ  upon  His  name 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
הוֹדִ֥יעוּ  Make  known 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
בָ֝עַמִּ֗ים  among  the  peoples 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
עֲלִילוֹתָֽיו  His  deeds 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עֲלִילָה  
Sense: wantonness, deed, doing.