The Meaning of Psalms 76:1 Explained

Psalms 76:1

KJV: {To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song of Asaph.} In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.

YLT: To the Overseer with stringed instruments. -- A Psalm of Asaph. -- A Song. In Judah is God known, in Israel His name is great.

Darby: {To the chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph: a Song.} In Judah is God known, his name is great in Israel;

ASV: In Judah is God known: His name is great in Israel.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{To the chief Musician  on Neginoth,  A Psalm  [or] Song  of Asaph.  }} In Judah  [is] God  known:  his name  [is] great  in Israel. 

What does Psalms 76:1 Mean?

Study Notes

Neginoth
Neginoth, stringed instruments.

Context Summary

Psalms 76:1-12 - "the Wrath Of Man Shall Praise Thee"
In Psalms 76:2, tabernacle may be rendered "covert," and dwelling-place, "lair." God is compared to the lion, that dreaded monarch of beasts, who finds his home in a den, into which no inferior animal may intrude. Even the hunter's bows and arrows are broken in pursuit of him. As the mountains yielded prey to the young lion, so the hills around Jerusalem, where Sennacherib had pitched his camp, would be full of Assyrian spoil for the armies of the Lion of Judah. The stout-hearted captains of Assyria would there sleep their last sleep, Psalms 76:5.
Some of the meek of the earth may read these lines, Psalms 76:9. They do not avenge themselves. Weak and helpless, they turn their eyes to God, who cannot fail them. When He speaks His sentence of acquittal, no voice will be raised to dispute it. For when He arises in judgment He will save all the meek of the earth. There is a "thus far and no farther" to the wrath of man. God will not allow it to go beyond certain limits, and it is remarkable how He is able to make man's wrath to subserve His purposes. Bring God the gift, of your love. Fear not, ye humble souls, but let your enemies be in fear! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 76

1  A declaration of God's majesty in the church
11  An exhortation to serve him reverently

What do the individual words in Psalms 76:1 mean?

To the Chief Musician On stringed instruments a Psalm of Asaph A Song known in Judah God [is] in Israel great His name [is]
לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ בִּנְגִינֹ֑ת מִזְמ֖וֹר לְאָסָ֣ף שִֽׁיר נוֹדָ֣ע בִּֽיהוּדָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֑ים בְּ֝יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל גָּד֥וֹל שְׁמֽוֹ

לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ  To  the  Chief  Musician 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָצַח  
Sense: to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring.
בִּנְגִינֹ֑ת  On  stringed  instruments 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural
Root: נְגִינָה  
Sense: music, song, taunt song.
מִזְמ֖וֹר  a  Psalm 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְמֹור  
Sense: melody, psalm.
לְאָסָ֣ף  of  Asaph 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָסָף  
Sense: the father of Hezekiah’s secretary.
שִֽׁיר  A  Song 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שִׁיר 
Sense: song.
נוֹדָ֣ע  known 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
בִּֽיהוּדָ֣ה  in  Judah 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
אֱלֹהִ֑ים  God  [is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
בְּ֝יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל  in  Israel 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
גָּד֥וֹל  great 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
שְׁמֽוֹ  His  name  [is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.