The Meaning of Psalms 100:3 Explained

Psalms 100:3

KJV: Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

YLT: Know that Jehovah He is God, He made us, and we are His, His people -- and the flock of His pasture.

Darby: Know that Jehovah is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

ASV: Know ye that Jehovah, he is God: It is he that hath made us, and we are his; We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Know  ye that the LORD  he [is] God:  [it is] he [that] hath made  us, and not we ourselves; [we are] his people,  and the sheep  of his pasture. 

What does Psalms 100:3 Mean?

Verse Meaning

We should appreciate the fact that Yahweh is the sovereign God. We should acknowledge that He has created us and that we are not self-made individuals. We belong to Him, and we partake of what He graciously provides for us.

Context Summary

Psalms 100:1-5 - Universal Praise
If we could enter into the spirit of this psalm, every day would be a Thanksgiving Day. The psalmist invites all the earth to enter into the courts of God's house with joyful songs. In many of the Psalms the minor chords overpower the major ones, and weeping prevails over rejoicing. But this psalm is full of unclouded sunlight. The reason for this gladness is suggested in the words: We are His: His by creation, by providence, and by grace; and His also by the glad consecration of our hearts to His service. We belong to Him by right; it is for us to see to it that we are also His by choice. And His ownership involves His shepherd-care. We are His flock; it is for Him to lead us into green pastures and beside still waters.
To the psalmist's eye the nations of the world pour into the Temple through the wide-open portals. "Hark!" he cries. "Listen to the burst of thanksgivings which roll forth from the mighty throng!" The great attraction is the goodness of Jehovah, and the everlastingness of His love and troth. This psalm reveals the true genius of religion. We cannot be satisfied till all men share our knowledge of the love of God. There is nothing which will better promote the true happiness and gladness of mankind. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 100

1  An exhortation to praise God, cheerfully
3  For his greatness
4  And for his power

What do the individual words in Psalms 100:3 mean?

Know that Yahweh He [is] God [it is] He [who] has made us - and not we [ourselves] [We are] His people and the sheep of His pasture
דְּע֗וּ כִּֽי־ יְהוָה֮ ה֤וּא אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים הֽוּא־ עָ֭שָׂנוּ ולא [וְל֣וֹ] (אֲנַ֑חְנוּ) עַ֝מּ֗וֹ וְצֹ֣אן מַרְעִיתֽוֹ

דְּע֗וּ  Know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
כִּֽי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
יְהוָה֮  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
ה֤וּא  He  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
הֽוּא־  [it  is]  He 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
עָ֭שָׂנוּ  [who]  has  made  us 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular, first person common plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
ולא  - 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
[וְל֣וֹ]  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
(אֲנַ֑חְנוּ)  we  [ourselves] 
Parse: Pronoun, first person common plural
Root: אֲנַחְנוּ  
Sense: we (first pers.
עַ֝מּ֗וֹ  [We  are]  His  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
וְצֹ֣אן  and  the  sheep 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common singular construct
Root: צֹאן  
Sense: small cattle, sheep, sheep and goats, flock, flocks.
מַרְעִיתֽוֹ  of  His  pasture 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מַרְעִית  
Sense: pasturing, pasturage, shepherding.