The Meaning of Psalms 8:9 Explained

Psalms 8:9

KJV: O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

YLT: Jehovah, our Lord, How honourable Thy name in all the earth!

Darby: Jehovah our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

ASV: O Jehovah, our Lord, How excellent is thy name in all the earth!

KJV Reverse Interlinear

O LORD  our Lord,  how excellent  [is] thy name  in all the earth! 

What does Psalms 8:9 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The psalm closes with a repetition of the psalmist"s amazement at God"s marvelous ways in entrusting so much responsibility to insignificant humans (cf. Psalm 8:1).
"The universe testifies to the power and glory of God but somewhat as a foil against which to measure the centrality of humankind in the divine design. But beyond this is the perfect One of whom men and women at their best are only a dim foreshadow-Jesus Christ the Savior and Lord." [1]
The whole psalm extols the majesty of God. He is a remarkable sovereign because He has entrusted His magnificent creation to feeble humankind. While this psalm points out the frailty and failures of man as God"s vice-regent, it also glorifies man as being the capstone of creation and God"s chief concern in creation. It is one of the greatest revelations of the dignity of man. [2]

Context Summary

Psalms 8:1-9 - God's Glory In Man's Headship
This exquisite ode can reach perfect fulfillment only in our Lord, Hebrews 2:6-9. It was evidently composed at night, and probably dates from the early shepherd days, when wild creatures crept around the fold and night-birds screamed above, reminding the singer of the animal world over which man was meant to reign.
The ascription of Psalms 8:1-2 is very fine. Christ is so mighty that when His strength is given to babes they vanquish and silence His foes, Matthew 21:16; 1 Corinthians 1:25. Do not regret your helplessness, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. The comparison of Psalms 8:3-4 is striking. It is a great descent from Adonai above the heavens to the son of Adam ("dust"). But the king loves his child more than his palace. What must not be the worth of man, of whom God makes so much! The crown of creation was placed on man's brow. Sin wrecked it, but the Son of man regained it, Matthew 28:18; Isaiah 11:6-9; Romans 8:19-22. The holy soul has the talisman of rule, 1 Corinthians 3:22. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 8

1  God's glory is magnified by his works, and by his love to man

What do the individual words in Psalms 8:9 mean?

Yahweh our Lord how excellent [is] Your name in all the earth
יְהוָ֥ה אֲדֹנֵ֑ינוּ מָֽה־ אַדִּ֥יר שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ בְּכָל־ ! הָאָֽרֶץ

יְהוָ֥ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֲדֹנֵ֑ינוּ  our  Lord 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: אָדֹון  
Sense: firm, strong, lord, master.
מָֽה־  how 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
אַדִּ֥יר  excellent 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: אַדִּיר  
Sense: great, majestic.
שִׁ֝מְךָ֗  [is]  Your  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
בְּכָל־  in  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
! הָאָֽרֶץ  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.

What are the major concepts related to Psalms 8:9?

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