Bible Strands
Psalms 138:4
All the kings of the earth will give You thanks, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses God directly, recounting how the Lord answered his call and strengthened his soul on a specific day of distress. He then projects forward to a future moment when earthly rulers will acknowledge God's power after hearing His spoken commands.
The words — The Hebrew term יוֹד֣וּ/ךָ (yo.Du./kha) literally means "they will give thanks to you," while אִמְרֵי־ ('im.rei-) translates to "the words of." These terms anchor the verse's claim that royal gratitude follows the reception of divine speech.
The thread — This motif of global rulers responding to God appears in Psalms 102:15 and Psalms 72:11, where kings will fear His glory and bow down to Him. The psalmist's personal praise in Psalms 22:22 similarly anticipates a communal proclamation of God's name.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to recognize that divine authority commands universal acknowledgment, not through coercion but through the clear proclamation of His words. It demands an assessment of whether one's life aligns with the reality that all earthly power ultimately submits to God's speech.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth.
Cross-references
- Psalms 102:15 So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear Your glory.
- Psalms 72:11 May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.
- Psalms 22:22 I will proclaim Your name to my brothers; I will praise You in the assembly.
- Psalms 22:27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before Him.
- Psalms 102:22 when peoples and kingdoms assemble to serve the LORD.
- Isaiah 49:23 Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow to you facedown and lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in Me will never be put to shame.”
- Isaiah 60:3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
- Isaiah 60:16 You will drink the milk of nations and nurse at the breasts of royalty; you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
- Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.”
- Revelation 21:24 By its light the nations will walk, and into it the kings of the earth will bring their glory.