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Psalms 8

BSB·9 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1O LORDיְהוָ֤הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, our Lordאֲדֹנֵ֗ינוּ’ă·ḏō·nê·nū — Lord, master, owner, rulerH113 — Full Word Study →, howמָֽה־māh- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → majesticאַדִּ֣יר’ad·dîr — Mighty, noble, excellent, worthy of honorH117 — Full Word Study → is Your nameשִׁ֭מְךָšim·k̲ā — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study → in allבְּכָל־bə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → the earthהָאָ֑רֶץhā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →! Youאֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → have setתְּנָ֥הtə·nāh — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → Your gloryה֝וֹדְךָ֗hō·wḏ·ḵā — Splendor, majesty, honor, and gloryH1935 — Full Word Study → aboveעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the heavensהַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃haš·šā·mā·yim — The heavens; sky; dwelling place of GodH8064 — Full Word Study →. 2From the mouthsמִפִּ֤יmip·pî — Mouth; lips; edge; openingH6310 — Full Word Study → of childrenעֽוֹלְלִ֨ים׀‘ō·wl·lîm — Infant, young child, babeH5768 — Full Word Study → and infantsוְֽיֹנְקִים֮wə·yō·nə·qîm — to suckle, nurse, give suckH3243 — Full Word Study → You have ordainedיִסַּ֪דְתָּ֫yis·saḏ·tā — to found, establish, lay a foundationH3245 — Full Word Study → praiseעֹ֥ז‘ōz — Strength, power, or mightH5797 — Full Word Study → on account ofלְמַ֥עַןlə·ma·‘an — because of, for the sake of, in order thatH4616 — Full Word Study → Your adversariesצוֹרְרֶ֑יךָṣō·wr·re·ḵā — to bind, squeeze, or oppress; to distress or afflictH6887 — Full Word Study →, to silenceלְהַשְׁבִּ֥יתlə·haš·bîṯ — to cease, rest, or desist from laborH7673 — Full Word Study → the enemyא֝וֹיֵ֗ב’ō·w·yêḇ — Enemy; adversary; one who opposesH341 — Full Word Study → and avengerוּמִתְנַקֵּֽם׃ū·miṯ·naq·qêm — To avenge, take vengeance, or execute judgmentH5358 — Full Word Study →. 3Whenכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → I beholdאֶרְאֶ֣ה’er·’eh — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → Your heavensשָׁ֭מֶיךָšā·mê·k̲ā — The heavens; sky; dwelling place of GodH8064 — Full Word Study →, the workמַעֲשֵׂ֣יma·‘ă·śê — Work, deed, or actionH4639 — Full Word Study → of Your fingersאֶצְבְּעֹתֶ֑יךָ’eṣ·bə·‘ō·ṯe·ḵā — Finger or toeH676 — Full Word Study →, the moonיָרֵ֥חַyā·rê·aḥ — The moon; lunar bodyH3394 — Full Word Study → and the starsוְ֝כוֹכָבִ֗יםwə·ḵō·w·ḵā·ḇîm — Star; heavenly bodyH3556 — Full Word Study →, whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → You have set in placeכּוֹנָֽנְתָּה׃kō·w·nā·nə·tāh — to establish, prepare, or make firmH3559 — Full Word Study → 4whatמָֽה־māh- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → is manאֱנ֥וֹשׁ’ĕ·nō·wōš — human being, man, mortal personH582 — Full Word Study → thatכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → You are mindful of him, or the sonוּבֶן־ū·ḇen- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of manאָ֝דָ֗ם’ā·ḏām — Man, mankind, human beingH120 — Full Word Study → thatכִּ֣יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → You care for himתִפְקְדֶֽנּוּ׃ṯip̄·qə·ḏen·nū — to visit, oversee, appoint, care forH6485 — Full Word Study →? 5You made him a little lowerוַתְּחַסְּרֵ֣הוּwat·tə·ḥas·sə·rê·hū — to lack, be deficient, wantH2637 — Full Word Study → than the angelsמֵאֱלֹהִ֑יםmê·’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →; You crowned himתְּעַטְּרֵֽהוּ׃tə·‘aṭ·ṭə·rê·hū — To crown; to encircleH5849 — Full Word Study → with gloryוְכָב֖וֹדwə·ḵā·ḇō·wḏ — weightiness, honor, splendor, gloryH3519 — Full Word Study → and honorוְהָדָ֣רwə·hā·ḏār — Glory, majesty, splendor, honorH1926 — Full Word Study →. 6You made him rulerתַּ֭מְשִׁילֵהוּtam·šî·lê·hū — To rule, reign, or exercise dominionH4910 — Full Word Study → of the worksבְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣יbə·ma·‘ă·śê — Work, deed, or actionH4639 — Full Word Study → of Your handsיָדֶ֑יךָyā·ḏe·ḵā — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study →; You have placedשַׁ֣תָּהšat·tāh — to set, place, or appointH7896 — Full Word Study → everythingכֹּ֝לkōl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → underתַֽחַת־ṯa·ḥaṯ- — Under, beneath, instead of, in place ofH8478 — Full Word Study → his feetרַגְלָֽיו׃raḡ·lāw — Foot; by extension, journey, way, or standingH7272 — Full Word Study →: 7allכֻּלָּ֑םkul·lām — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → sheepצֹנֶ֣הṣō·neh — flock of sheep; sheep collectivelyH6792 — Full Word Study → and oxenוַאֲלָפִ֣יםwa·’ă·lā·p̄îm — Thousand; large number or military unitH504 — Full Word Study →, and evenוְ֝גַ֗םwə·ḡam — also, even, moreover, both...andH1571 — Full Word Study → the beastsבַּהֲמ֥וֹתba·hă·mō·wṯ — Animal, beast, livestockH929 — Full Word Study → of the fieldשָׂדָֽי׃śā·ḏāy — A field; cultivated or open landH7704 — Full Word Study →, 8the birdsצִפּ֣וֹרṣip·pō·wr — Bird or fowlH6833 — Full Word Study → of the airשָׁ֭מַיִםšā·ma·yim — The heavens; sky; dwelling place of GodH8064 — Full Word Study → and the fishוּדְגֵ֣יū·ḏə·ḡê — Fish; aquatic creatureH1709 — Full Word Study → of the seaהַיָּ֑םhay·yām — Sea, body of water; also directional (west, south)H3220 — Full Word Study →, all that swimעֹ֝בֵ֗ר‘ō·ḇêr — to cross over; to pass through or beyondH5674 — Full Word Study → the pathsאָרְח֥וֹת’ā·rə·ḥō·wṯ — Way, path, or manner of travelingH734 — Full Word Study → of the seasיַמִּֽים׃yam·mîm — Sea, body of water; also directional (west, south)H3220 — Full Word Study →. 9O LORDיְהוָ֥הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, our Lordאֲדֹנֵ֑ינוּ’ă·ḏō·nê·nū — Lord, master, owner, rulerH113 — Full Word Study →, howמָֽה־māh- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → majesticאַדִּ֥יר’ad·dîr — Mighty, noble, excellent, worthy of honorH117 — Full Word Study → is Your nameשִׁ֝מְךָ֗šim·k̲ā — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study → in allבְּכָל־bə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → the earthהָאָֽרֶץ׃hā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →!
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 8
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 8 is a hymn of worship that celebrates God's transcendent majesty and His remarkable care for humanity. The psalmist gazes at the created heavens and is overwhelmed by the paradox: How can the infinite God who set the stars in place be mindful of finite man? Yet the psalm affirms that God has crowned human beings with glory and dominion, making us stewards of His creation. This passage reveals both the vastness of God's power and the dignity of human purpose in His design.

Verses 1-2: God's Excellence and the Strength of the Weak

The psalm opens with a ringing declaration: "O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!" This repetition emphasizes God's supreme reputation throughout creation. The phrase "glory above the heavens" speaks to God's transcendence—His majesty surpasses even the highest realm we can see (verse 1). Yet remarkably, verse 2 tells us that God has ordained strength from "babes and sucklings" to confound His enemies. This is a striking reversal: the weakest among us can be instruments of God's power. Jesus Himself quoted this verse when children praised Him in the temple (Matthew 21:16), showing that simple, childlike faith can silence opposition to God's glory. God does not need human might or worldly wisdom; He works through the humble and innocent.

Verses 3-5: The Paradox of God's Attention

The psalmist now invites us into his meditation. When he looks at "thy heavens, the work of thy fingers" (verse 3), he contemplates the moon and stars in wonder. This cosmic perspective naturally leads to profound humility: "What is man, that thou art mindful of him?" (verse 4). The Hebrew word for "mindful" suggests active remembrance and care, not mere awareness. Standing beneath the infinite cosmos, the psalmist asks—why would the God who ordained all this even think of us? Yet verse 5 provides the astonishing answer: we are made "a little lower than the angels" and "crowned...with glory and honour." This phrase speaks to human dignity and our special place in creation. We are not accidents or insignificant specks; we bear the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and have been given a role of honor in His purposes.

Verses 6-9: Dominion and Worship

Verses 6-8 expand on this theme of human authority. God has given mankind dominion "over the works of thy hands" (verse 6), and "all things" are "put...under his feet" (verse 6). This includes livestock, wild beasts, birds, and fish—essentially all visible creation (verses 7-8). This reflects God's original command in Genesis 1:28 to "have dominion" over creation. However, this dominion is a stewardship, not a license for exploitation. We answer to God for how we care for what He has entrusted to us. The psalm concludes exactly as it began (verse 9), with the same magnificent declaration of God's excellence. This literary structure—beginning and ending with worship—reminds us that all reflection on God's greatness should lead us back to adoration.

Application for Today

In our modern world, we often struggle with questions of significance: Am I important? Does my life matter? Psalm 8 offers believers a corrective perspective. Your value is not based on achievements, appearance, or social status, but on being made in God's image and crowned with His glory. When you feel small or overwhelmed by life's challenges, remember that the God who set the stars in place is mindful of you. Use your God-given dominion wisely as a steward of creation and caretaker of others. And in all things, let the majesty of God's name draw you to worship.

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