Psalms 145:6
And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Habakkuk 2:14For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.Psalms 113:3From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised.Psalms 66:3Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.Jeremiah 50:28The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his temple.Psalms 22:27All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.Psalms 22:31They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.Ezra 1:2Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
Historical Context
Israel's history centered on God's 'terrible acts'—plagues on Egypt, the drowning of Pharaoh's army, victories over Canaan's inhabitants, and judgment on covenant-breakers. These acts inspired both reverence among believers and fear among enemies, demonstrating that God is not to be trifled with.
Questions for Reflection
- How can believers maintain appropriate fear of God's terrible power while also enjoying intimate relationship with Him?
- What role should recounting God's judicial acts play in contemporary worship alongside celebrating His mercy?
- How does your personal declaration of God's greatness complement the church's corporate testimony?
Analysis & Commentary
And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness. The corporate testimony—ve-ezuz nora'oteka (וֶעֱזוּז נוֹרְאֹתֶיךָ) "the strength of your awesome deeds"—will be proclaimed by others. Nora (נוֹרָא) "terrible/awesome" conveys fear-inspiring power: God's acts command reverence, not casual familiarity. This includes both redemptive works (Red Sea crossing) and judicial acts (drowning Pharaoh's army).
I will declare thy greatness (gĕdullateka asapĕrennah, גְּדֻלָּתְךָ אֲסַפְּרֶנָּה)—David adds personal commitment to the collective witness. Gĕdullah (גְּדֻלָּה) "greatness/magnitude" describes God's incomparable supremacy. The interplay between corporate ("men shall speak") and individual ("I will declare") shows that both community testimony and personal witness are necessary to adequately proclaim God's majesty.