Give thanks
The Hebrew root for "give thanks" is "yadah," which means to acknowledge or confess. In the context of 1 Chronicles 16, this act of giving thanks is not merely a polite expression but a profound acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and goodness. Historically, this was a time when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem, symbolizing God's presence among His people. The act of giving thanks is a call to recognize God's faithfulness and provision throughout Israel's history, encouraging believers to cultivate a heart of gratitude in all circumstances.

to the LORD
The term "LORD" here is translated from the Hebrew "Yahweh," the personal name of God revealed to Moses. This name signifies God's eternal existence and His covenant relationship with Israel. By directing thanks to Yahweh, the verse emphasizes the personal and relational nature of God. It reminds believers that their gratitude is directed towards a God who is both transcendent and immanent, deeply involved in the lives of His people.

call upon His name
The phrase "call upon" comes from the Hebrew "qara," which means to call out or proclaim. In ancient Israel, calling upon the name of the LORD was an act of worship and dependence, acknowledging God's authority and seeking His intervention. This phrase invites believers to actively engage in prayer and worship, recognizing the power and holiness of God's name. It is a call to rely on God in every aspect of life, trusting in His character and promises.

make known
The Hebrew word "yada" is used here, meaning to know or to make known. This implies an active declaration of God's works and character. In the historical context, Israel was chosen to be a light to the nations, revealing God's glory and deeds. For contemporary believers, this is a call to evangelism and testimony, sharing the transformative power of God's work in their lives with others.

His deeds
The term "deeds" refers to the mighty acts and miracles performed by God throughout history. In the context of 1 Chronicles, it recalls the miraculous events such as the Exodus, the conquest of Canaan, and the establishment of Israel as a nation. These deeds are a testament to God's power and faithfulness. Believers are encouraged to remember and recount these acts, reinforcing their faith and inspiring others to trust in God.

among the nations
The phrase "among the nations" highlights the universal scope of God's mission. While Israel was God's chosen people, His ultimate plan was to bless all nations through them. This reflects the Great Commission in the New Testament, where believers are called to spread the Gospel to all corners of the earth. It underscores the inclusivity of God's love and the responsibility of believers to be witnesses of His grace and truth to all people, regardless of their background or nationality.

(8-22) The first four strophes of Psalms 105 (1Chronicles 16:1-15.)

(8) Give thanks.--The same Hebrew verb as in 1Chronicles 16:4, "to thank." Psalms 105 is a tod?h, or thanksgiving, hence its use here.

Call upon his name.--Invoke His help, appealing to Him by His revealed name of Jehovah. (Comp. Psalm 3:1-7; Psalm 5:1; Psalm 7:6, and many others.) . . .

Verses 8-36. - These verses, then, provide the form of praise which David wished to be used on this, and probably in grateful repetition on some succeeding occasions. David makes selections from four psalms already known; for it cannot be supposed that the verses we have here were the original, and that they were afterwards supplemented. The first fifteen verses (viz. 8-22) are from Psalm 105:1-15. The next eleven verses (23-33) are from Psalm 96:1-13; but a small portion of the first and last of these verses is omitted. Our thirty-fourth verse is identical with Psalm 107:1; Psalm 118:1; Psalm 136:1; and forms the larger part of Psalm 106:1. It is, in fact, a doxology. And our thirty-fifth and thirty-sixth verses consist of a short responsive ("and say ye") invocation, followed by another doxology. These are taken from Psalm 106:47, 48. Hereupon "all the people" are directed to find the final outburst of praise to Jehovah, and "Amen." In the first of these selections (vers. 8-23) there is no material variation from the language of the psalm itself. Yet the original psalm has Abraham, where our own thirteenth verse reads Israel. And the original psalm uses the third person, where our fifteenth and nineteenth verses have the second person. In the second selection it is worthy of note that our ver. 29, "Come before him," probably preserves the ante-temple reading, while Psalm 96:8 was afterwards, to fit temple times, altered into, "Come into his courts." The arrangement of all the succeeding clauses does not exactly agree with the arrangement of them found in the psalm, as for instance in the latter half of our ver. 30 and in ver. 31, compared with the clauses of vers. 10,11 of the psalm. Again, one clause of the tenth verse of the psalm, "He shall judge the people righteously," is not found in either alternative position open to it through the inversion of clauses, in our vers. 80, 81. The rhythm and metre of the psalm are, however, equally unexceptionable. The whole of the twenty-nine verses of this Psalm of praise (vers. 8-36 inclusive) are divided into portions of three verses each, except the portion vers. 23-27 inclusive which consists of five verses. As regards the matter of it, it may be remarked on as breaking into two parts, in the first of which (vers. 8-22) the people are reminded of their past history and of the marvellous providence which had governed their career from Abraham to the time they were settled in Canaan, but in the second (vers. 23-36) their thought is enlarged, their sympathies immensely widened, so as to include all the world, and their view is borne on to the momentous reality of judgment. Verses 8-10. - These verses are an animated invocation to thanks and praise.

Parallel Commentaries ...


“Give thanks
הוֹד֤וּ (hō·w·ḏū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3034: To throw, at, away, to revere, worship, to bemoan

to the LORD;
לַֽיהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

call
קִרְא֣וּ (qir·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

upon His name;
בִשְׁמ֔וֹ (ḇiš·mōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8034: A name

make known
הוֹדִ֥יעוּ (hō·w·ḏî·‘ū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3045: To know

His deeds
עֲלִילֹתָֽיו׃ (‘ă·lî·lō·ṯāw)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5949: An exploit, a performance, an opportunity

among the nations.
בָעַמִּ֖ים (ḇā·‘am·mîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 16:8 Oh give thanks to Yahweh (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)