Psalms 19:1
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Psalms 19:1 in other translations
| BSB | For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. |
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| WEB | For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork. |
| ASV | For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament showeth his handiwork. |
| YLT | To the Overseer. --A Psalm of David. The heavens are recounting the honour of God, And the work of His hands The expanse is declaring. |
| DARBY | To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the expanse sheweth the work of his hands. |
| BBE | The heavens are sounding the glory of God; the arch of the sky makes clear the work of his hands. |
| Webster | To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth the work of his hands. |
What does Psalms 19:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Psa 19:1-14. After exhibiting the harmonious revelation of God's perfections made by His works and His word, the Psalmist prays for conformity to the Divine teaching.
1. the glory of God--is the sum of His perfections (Psa 24:7-10; Ro 1:20). firmament--another word for "heavens" (Ge 1:8). handywork--old English for "work of His hands."Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
The heavens and their host proclaim the majesty of God, Psa 19:1-6; the excellence and perfection of the Divine law, Psa 19:7-10; its usefulness, Psa 19:11. The psalmist prays for pardon and preservation from sin, Psa 19:12, Psa 19:13; and thy his Words and thoughts may be holy, Psa 19:14. The title of this Psalm has nothing particular in it; but it is not very clear that it was written by David, to whom it is attributed; though some think that he composed it in the wilderness, while persecuted by Saul. For this opinion, however, there is no solid ground. There is no note in the Psalm itself to lead us to know when, where, or by whom it was written. It is a highly finished and beautiful ode. Verse 1 The heavens declare the glory of God - Literally, The heavens number out the glory of the strong God. A first view of the starry heavens strikes every beholder with astonishment at the power by which they were made, and by which they are supported. To find out the wisdom and skill displayed in their contrivance requires a measure of science: but when the vast magnitude of the celestial bodies is considered, we feel increasing astonishment at these works of the strong God. The firmament - The whole visible expanse; not only containing the celestial bodies above referred to, but also the atr, light, rains, dews, etc., etc. And when the composition of these principles is examined, and their great utility to the earth and its inhabitants properly understood, they afford matter of astonishment to the wisest mind, and of adoration and gratitude even to the most unfeeling heart.Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 19:1-6
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Psalms 19:1 in the original Hebrew
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Psalms 19:1
- Psalms 8:3
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
- Romans 1:19-20
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
- Psalms 50:6
And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.
- Psalms 148:3-4
Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
- Psalms 33:6
By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
- Genesis 1:14-15
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
- Psalms 150:1-2
Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
- Jeremiah 10:11-12
Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
- Daniel 12:3
And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
- Psalms 115:16
The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
- Isaiah 40:22-26
It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. …
- Genesis 1:6-8
And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7 The excellency of the divine law.
12 David prays for grace.
(Title.) A Psalm.It is uncertain when this highly finished and beautiful ode was composed; though some think it was written by David in the wilderness when persecuted by Saul.
The heavens.
8:3; 33:6; 115:16; 148:3,4; Isa 40:22-26; Jer 10:11,12; Ro 1:19,20
the firmament.{Rakeeâ,} from {rakâ,} to stretch out, the expanse, not only containing the celestial bodies, but also the air, light, rain, dews, etc., all of which display the infinite power and wisdom of their Almighty Creator.
150:1,2; Ge 1:6-8,14,15; Da 12:3
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Psalms 19:1
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
- Psalms 19:2
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
Psalms 19:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Al Músico principal: Salmo de David. LOS cielos cuentan la gloria de Dios, y la expansión denuncia la obra de sus manos. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | *Au chef de musique. Psaume de David. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Die Himmel erzählen die Herrlichkeit Gottes, und die Ausdehnung verkündet seiner Hände Werk. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | In finem. Psalmus David. |