The Meaning of Psalms 9:1 Explained

Psalms 9:1

KJV: {To the chief Musician upon Muthlabben, A Psalm of David.} I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

YLT: To the Overseer, 'On the Death of Labben.' -- A Psalm of David. I confess, O Jehovah, with all my heart, I recount all Thy wonders,

Darby: {To the chief Musician. Upon Muthlabben. A Psalm of David.} I will praise Jehovah with my whole heart; I will recount all thy marvellous works.

ASV: I will give thanks unto Jehovah with my whole heart; I will show forth all thy marvellous works.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{To the chief Musician  upon Muthlabben,  A Psalm  of David.  }} I will praise  [thee], O LORD,  with my whole heart;  I will shew forth  all thy marvellous works. 

What does Psalms 9:1 Mean?

Study Notes

Muth-labben
"death of the son," is not a musical instrument but the title of the Psalm. Possibly connected with 2 Samuel 12:20 .

Context Summary

Psalms 9:1-20 - Confidence In The Righteous Judge
The Chaldee version adds to the inscription, "concerning the death of the champion who went out between the camps," referring to the death of Goliath. This is the first of the Acrostic or Alphabetical Psalms, of which there are nine: Psalms 9:1-20; Psalms 10:1-18; Psalms 25:1-22; Psalms 34:1-22; Psalms 37:1-40; Psalms 111:1-10; Psalms 112:1-10; Psalms 119:1-176; Psalms 145:1-21.
There is a predominant note of praise, Psalms 9:1-5; Psalms 9:11-12; Psalms 9:14. Let memory heap fuel on the altar of praise. In the resurrection of our Lord, God indeed rebuked our arch-enemy, and his strongholds are now wastes, Zechariah 3:1-2; 2 Corinthians 10:4; Colossians 2:15. But there is a corresponding note of trust, Psalms 9:7-12. Calamity drives us to God. The more we know the more we trust Him. Doubt is born of ignorance. Leave God to vindicate; He will not forget, Psalms 9:12. There is a petition for further help, Psalms 9:13; Psalms 9:19-20. We have been at the gates of death, Psalms 9:13; here are the gates of the Holy City, Psalms 9:14. Compare Psalms 9:15 and Esther 7:10. God does not forget; forget Him not, Psalms 9:12; Psalms 17:1-15. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 9

1  David praises God for executing judgment
11  He incites others to praise him
13  He prays that he may have cause to praise him

What do the individual words in Psalms 9:1 mean?

to the Chief Musician - to [the tune of] Death of the Son a Psalm of David I will praise [You] Yahweh with whole my heart I will tell of all Your marvelous works
לַ֭מְנַצֵּחַ עַלְמ֥וּת לַבֵּ֗ן מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד אוֹדֶ֣ה יְ֭הוָה בְּכָל־ לִבִּ֑י אֲ֝סַפְּרָ֗ה כָּל־ נִפְלְאוֹתֶֽיךָ

לַ֭מְנַצֵּחַ  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.
עַלְמ֥וּת  - 
Parse: Adverb
לַבֵּ֗ן  to  [the  tune  of]  Death  of  the  Son 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מוּת  
Sense: death.
מִזְמ֥וֹר  a  Psalm 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְמֹור  
Sense: melody, psalm.
לְדָוִֽד  of  David 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
אוֹדֶ֣ה  I  will  praise  [You] 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect Cohortative if contextual, first person common 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.
בְּכָל־  with  whole 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
לִבִּ֑י  my  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
אֲ֝סַפְּרָ֗ה  I  will  tell 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular
Root: סָפַר 
Sense: to count, recount, relate.
כָּל־  of  all 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
נִפְלְאוֹתֶֽיךָ  Your  marvelous  works 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, feminine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: פָּלָא  
Sense: to be marvellous, be wonderful, be surpassing, be extraordinary, separate by distinguishing action.