The Meaning of Psalms 8:1 Explained

Psalms 8:1

KJV: {To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David.} O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

YLT: To the Overseer, 'On the Gittith.' A Psalm of David. Jehovah, our Lord, How honourable Thy name in all the earth! Who settest thine honour on the heavens.

Darby: {To the chief Musician. Upon the Gittith. A Psalm of David.} Jehovah our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy majesty above the heavens.

ASV: O Jehovah, our Lord, How excellent is thy name in all the earth, Who hast set thy glory upon the heavens!

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{To the chief Musician  upon Gittith,  A Psalm  of David.  }} O LORD  our Lord,  how excellent  [is] thy name  in all the earth!  who hast set  thy glory  above the heavens. 

What does Psalms 8:1 Mean?

Verse Meaning

This psalm begins and ends with the same expression of wonder (inclusio) as David reflected on the splendor and magnificence of God as Creator. He addressed God as LORD (Yahweh, the covenant keeping God of Israel) our Lord (Adonai, the sovereign over all His creation including His people). In the second line (Gr. stich; Lat. colon) David meant God"s revealed character ("name," cf. Psalm 7:17) is high above all creation; He is much greater than anything He has made. The third line expresses a parallel thought. Not only is God above the heavens, but His splendor exceeds that of the heavens.

Context Summary

Psalm 8:1-9 - God's Glory In Man's Headship
This exquisite ode can reach perfect fulfillment only in our Lord, Hebrews 2:6-9. It was evidently composed at night, and probably dates from the early shepherd days, when wild creatures crept around the fold and night-birds screamed above, reminding the singer of the animal world over which man was meant to reign.
The ascription of Psalms 8:1-2 is very fine. Christ is so mighty that when His strength is given to babes they vanquish and silence His foes, Matthew 21:16; 1 Corinthians 1:25. Do not regret your helplessness, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. The comparison of Psalms 8:3-4 is striking. It is a great descent from Adonai above the heavens to the son of Adam ("dust"). But the king loves his child more than his palace. What must not be the worth of man, of whom God makes so much! The crown of creation was placed on man's brow. Sin wrecked it, but the Son of man regained it, Matthew 28:18; Isaiah 11:6-9; Romans 8:19-22. The holy soul has the talisman of rule, 1 Corinthians 3:22. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 8

1  God's glory is magnified by his works, and by his love to man

What do the individual words in Psalms 8:1 mean?

To the Chief Musician On the instrument of Gath a Psalm of David Yahweh our Lord how excellent [is] Your name in all the earth who have set Your glory above the heavens
לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ עַֽל־ הַגִּתִּ֗ית מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד יְהוָ֤ה אֲדֹנֵ֗ינוּ מָֽה־ אַדִּ֣יר שִׁ֭מְךָ בְּכָל־ ! הָאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תְּנָ֥ה ה֝וֹדְךָ֗ עַל־ הַשָּׁמָֽיִם

לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ  To  the  Chief  Musician 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָצַח  
Sense: to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring.
הַגִּתִּ֗ית  the  instrument  of  Gath 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: גִּתִּית  
Sense: a musical instrument? from Gath? and used in three Psalm titles—8, 8, 84; a song title used for the Feast of Booths.
מִזְמ֥וֹר  a  Psalm 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְמֹור  
Sense: melody, psalm.
לְדָוִֽד  of  David 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
יְהוָ֤ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֲדֹנֵ֗ינוּ  our  Lord 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: אָדֹון  
Sense: firm, strong, lord, master.
מָֽה־  how 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
אַדִּ֣יר  excellent 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: אַדִּיר  
Sense: great, majestic.
שִׁ֭מְךָ  [is]  Your  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
בְּכָל־  in  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
! הָאָ֑רֶץ  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
תְּנָ֥ה  have  set 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
ה֝וֹדְךָ֗  Your  glory 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: הֹוד  
Sense: splendour, majesty, vigour.
עַל־  above 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הַשָּׁמָֽיִם  the  heavens 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.