The Meaning of Psalms 138:1 Explained

Psalms 138:1

KJV: {A Psalm of David.} I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

YLT: By David. I confess Thee, with all my heart, Before the gods I do praise Thee.

Darby: {A Psalm of David.} I will give thee thanks with my whole heart; before the gods will I sing psalms of thee.

ASV: I will give thee thanks with my whole heart: Before the gods will I sing praises unto thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{[A Psalm] of David.  }} I will praise  thee with my whole heart:  before the gods  will I sing praise  unto thee. 

What does Psalms 138:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 138:1-8 - The Most High Regards The Lowly
This is the first of a cycle of Davidic psalms, based on 2 Samuel 7:1-29. God's promised favors are the theme of devout thanksgiving. No idols could have achieved such generous and great results. Even God had outdone Himself by magnifying His word above His name. Prayer had played its part, for in the day that it was offered it had been answered. Even kings in their various spheres would add their praises, Psalms 138:4. Yet this would be only the beginning of wonders. God can never rest with an incomplete or an unfinished work. When He puts His hand to the salvation of a soul, He pledges Himself to perfect the good work until the day of Jesus Christ, Philippians 1:6. Trust God, amid all disappointment and heartache. He will wipe away all tears, explain all mysteries, and place the topstone on the structure of your life. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 138

1  David praises God for the truth of his word
4  He prophesies that the kings of the earth shall praise God
7  He professes his confidence in God

What do the individual words in Psalms 138:1 mean?

A Psalm of David I will praise You with whole my heart Before the gods I will sing praises to You
לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ אוֹדְךָ֥ בְכָל־ לִבִּ֑י נֶ֖גֶד אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲזַמְּרֶֽךָּ

לְדָוִ֨ד ׀  A  Psalm  of  David 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
אוֹדְךָ֥  I  will  praise  You 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect Cohortative if contextual, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: יָדָה 
Sense: to throw, shoot, cast.
בְכָל־  with  whole 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
לִבִּ֑י  my  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
נֶ֖גֶד  Before 
Parse: Preposition
Root: נֶגֶד  
Sense: what is conspicuous, what is in front of adv.
אֱלֹהִ֣ים  the  gods 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
אֲזַמְּרֶֽךָּ  I  will  sing  praises  to  You 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect Cohortative if contextual, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: זָמַר  
Sense: to sing, sing praise, make music.