The Meaning of Psalms 65:1 Explained

Psalms 65:1

KJV: {To the chief Musician, A Psalm and Song of David.} Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.

YLT: To the Overseer. -- A Psalm of David. A Song. To Thee, silence -- praise, O God, is in Zion, And to Thee is a vow completed.

Darby: {To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David: a Song.} Praise waiteth for thee in silence, O God, in Zion; and unto thee shall the vow be performed.

ASV: Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Zion; And unto thee shall the vow be performed.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{To the chief Musician,  A Psalm  [and] Song  of David.  }} Praise  waiteth  for thee, O God,  in Sion:  and unto thee shall the vow  be performed. 

What does Psalms 65:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 65:1-13 - Abundant Favor From Our Gracious God
This joyous hymn was probably composed for use in the sanctuary at one of the great annual festivals. It deals expressly with God's bounty in the fertility of the earth.
The Temple courts, Psalms 65:1-4
God hears our prayer, purges away our transgressions, chooses us, and causes us to approach. Let us ask Him to cause us to approach and to make us dwell in the consciousness of His presence. If iniquities prevail and transgressions shame us, there is provision for these also. God shall purge them away. For such condescending love all flesh shall ultimately come to His footstool.
Terrible things, Psalms 65:5-7
Thunder tones and lightning flashes, inaccessible mountains and roaring seas-such are the darker aspects of nature. But beneath all, like a sweet refrain, we hear Him praised as the God of salvation. Make Him your confidence, by land and sea.
The beauty and order of the world, Psalms 65:8-13
Brimming rivers, soft spring showers, golden harvests, the hum of the bees in mountain pastures, the call of the ewes to their lambs-all bespeak God's goodness. Let us ask Him to visit our hearts with the throb of springtime. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 65

1  David praises God for his grace
4  The blessedness of God's chosen by reason of benefits

What do the individual words in Psalms 65:1 mean?

To the Chief Musician a Psalm of David A Song You is awaiting Praise God in Zion and to You shall be performed the vow
לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ מִזְמ֗וֹר לְדָוִ֥ד שִֽׁיר לְךָ֤ דֻֽמִיָּ֬ה תְהִלָּ֓ה אֱלֹ֘הִ֥ים בְּצִיּ֑וֹן וּ֝לְךָ֗ יְשֻׁלַּם־ נֶֽדֶר

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.
מִזְמ֗וֹר  a  Psalm 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְמֹור  
Sense: melody, psalm.
לְדָוִ֥ד  of  David 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
שִֽׁיר  A  Song 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שִׁיר 
Sense: song.
דֻֽמִיָּ֬ה  is  awaiting 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: דּוּמִיָּה  
Sense: silence, still, repose, still waiting.
תְהִלָּ֓ה  Praise 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תְּהִלָּה  
Sense: praise, song or hymn of praise.
אֱלֹ֘הִ֥ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
בְּצִיּ֑וֹן  in  Zion 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: צִיּׄון  
Sense: another name for Jerusalem especially in the prophetic books.
וּ֝לְךָ֗  and  to  You 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition, second person masculine singular
יְשֻׁלַּם־  shall  be  performed 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֵם  
Sense: .
נֶֽדֶר  the  vow 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נֵדֶר  
Sense: vow, votive offering.