The Meaning of Psalms 138:4 Explained

Psalms 138:4

KJV: All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.

YLT: O Jehovah, all kings of earth confess Thee, When they have heard the sayings of Thy mouth.

Darby: All the kings of the earth shall celebrate thee, Jehovah, when they have heard the words of thy mouth;

ASV: All the kings of the earth shall give thee thanks, O Jehovah, For they have heard the words of thy mouth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

All the kings  of the earth  shall praise  thee, O LORD,  when they hear  the words  of thy mouth. 

What does Psalms 138:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 138:1-8 - The Most High Regards The Lowly
This is the first of a cycle of Davidic psalms, based on 2 Samuel 7:1-29. God's promised favors are the theme of devout thanksgiving. No idols could have achieved such generous and great results. Even God had outdone Himself by magnifying His word above His name. Prayer had played its part, for in the day that it was offered it had been answered. Even kings in their various spheres would add their praises, Psalms 138:4. Yet this would be only the beginning of wonders. God can never rest with an incomplete or an unfinished work. When He puts His hand to the salvation of a soul, He pledges Himself to perfect the good work until the day of Jesus Christ, Philippians 1:6. Trust God, amid all disappointment and heartache. He will wipe away all tears, explain all mysteries, and place the topstone on the structure of your life. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 138

1  David praises God for the truth of his word
4  He prophesies that the kings of the earth shall praise God
7  He professes his confidence in God

What do the individual words in Psalms 138:4 mean?

Shall praise You Yahweh all the kings of the earth when they hear the words of Your mouth
יוֹד֣וּךָ יְ֭הוָה כָּל־ מַלְכֵי־ אָ֑רֶץ כִּ֥י שָׁ֝מְע֗וּ אִמְרֵי־ פִֽיךָ

יוֹד֣וּךָ  Shall  praise  You 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, second person masculine singular
Root: יָדָה 
Sense: to throw, shoot, cast.
יְ֭הוָה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מַלְכֵי־  the  kings 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
אָ֑רֶץ  of  the  earth 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
שָׁ֝מְע֗וּ  they  hear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
אִמְרֵי־  the  words 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֵמֶר 
Sense: utterance, speech, word, saying, promise, command.
פִֽיךָ  of  Your  mouth 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.