Psalms 92:5 — Word Study
WLCמַה־ גָּדְל֣וּ מַעֲשֶׂ֣יךָ יְהוָ֑ה מְ֝אֹ֗ד עָמְק֥וּ מַחְשְׁבֹתֶֽיךָ׃
BSAare Your worksmaʻăseh [deeds, actions] O LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, the Lord God]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| מַה־ | how! | Pronoun |
| גָּדְל֣וּ | they are great | Verb, Qal, perfect third person common plural |
| מַעֲשֶׂ֣יךָ | works your | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| יְהוָ֑ה | O Yahweh | Noun proper |
| מְ֝אֹ֗ד | exceedingly | |
| עָמְק֥וּ | they are deep | Verb, Qal, perfect third person common plural |
| מַחְשְׁבֹתֶֽיךָ׃ | thoughts your | Noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | How great are Your works, O LORD, how deep are Your thoughts! |
| KJV | O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep. |
| ASV | How great are thy works, O Jehovah! Thy thoughts are very deep. |
| YLT | How great have been Thy works, O Jehovah, Very deep have been Thy thoughts. |
| WEB | How great are your works, Yahweh! Your thoughts are very deep. |
| BBE | O Lord, how great are your works! and your thoughts are very deep. |
Where they part company is מַחְשְׁבֹתֶיךָ — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence consists of two main clauses, each expressing a different aspect of God's nature, with adverbial phrases emphasizing the greatness and depth of His works and thoughts.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbיהוה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 92:5
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Psalm of Praisegenerated
Psalm 92:5 reflects the psalmist's awe at the magnificence of God's creations and the profound wisdom behind His plans. This verse is part of a larger context that celebrates God's deeds and the joy they bring to the believer, as seen in the preceding and following verses. The psalm emphasizes the contrast between the wisdom of God and the folly of those who do not recognize His greatness.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 40:5 | Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us— none can compare to You— if I proclaim and declare them, they are more than I can count. |
| 2 | Psalm 66:3 | Say to God, “How awesome are Your deeds! So great is Your power that Your enemies cower before You. |
| 3 | Psalm 104:24 | How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures. |
| 4 | Psalm 111:2 | Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them. |
| 5 | Psalm 145:3–4 | Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 14 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — מַחְשְׁבֹתֶיךָ, mach.she.vo.Tei.khagenerated
The noun מַחְשָׁבָה (machashabah) refers to thoughts, plans, or intentions. It encompasses both good and bad ideas, reflecting the creativity and depth of human and divine reasoning. The parsing as a feminine plural construct with a suffix indicates possession, meaning 'your thoughts'.
In this verse, the psalmist acknowledges that God's thoughts are not only profound but also deeply insightful, suggesting that they are beyond human comprehension. This highlights God's omniscience and the intricacy of His plans.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of two main clauses, each expressing a different aspect of God's nature. The first clause, with the verb גָּדְל֣וּ, they are great, describes God's works, while the second clause, with the verb עָמְק֥וּ, they are deep, describes His thoughts.
The Hebrew word order emphasizes the greatness of God's works first, followed by the depth of His thoughts, establishing a parallel structure that enhances the overall impact of the verse.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew מַחְשְׁבֹתֶיךָ is rendered as ἔργοις, meaning 'works'. This choice narrows the focus from the specific thoughts of God to the broader concept of His actions, which may suggest an interpretive shift in understanding God's nature.
The translation indicates that the LXX interpreters may have emphasized God's deeds over His thoughts, reflecting a different aspect of divine revelation.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 92:5 expresses the psalmist's wonder at how great God's works are and how deep His thoughts are. This verse is part of a psalm that praises God for His magnificent deeds and wisdom, highlighting the joy they bring to believers.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that God's actions are magnificent and powerful, reflecting His greatness and authority over all creation.
The depth of God's thoughts indicates His profound wisdom and understanding, which surpasses human comprehension.
Recognizing God's greatness can inspire awe and worship, while understanding the depth of His thoughts encourages trust in His plans for our lives.
Addressing God as 'Yahweh' emphasizes His personal relationship with His people and His eternal nature as the God of Israel.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I seen God's greatness reflected in my life or the world around me?
- How can I deepen my understanding of God's thoughts and plans?
- What actions can I take to acknowledge and praise God's works in my daily life?
- How does recognizing the depth of God's wisdom affect my trust in Him?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early Church Fathers, such as Augustine of Hippo, referenced this verse to highlight the glory of God's works and thoughts.
Teaching us this, what says he? "O Lord, how glorious are Your works: Your thoughts are made very deep" [Psalms 92:5].Early Church Fathers on Psalms 92 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 92:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleO Lord, how great are thy works!.... Of nature, providence, and grace, both for quantity and for quality, for number, excellency, and glory, as they are a display of God's wisdom, power, and
Read John Gill on Psalms 92 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryO LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep. O Lord, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 92 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThy thoughts; thy counsels and methods in the government of the world and of thy church.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 92 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 92:5 O LORD, how great are thy works! [and] thy thoughts are very deep.Ver. 5. O Lord, how great are thy works!] Surely so great that I cannot utter them, and must, therefore, thus vent myself by an exclamation. Expleri mentem nequeo, ardescoque tuendo (Virgil.) And thy thoughts are very deep] Here, then, we must do as those Romans did, who, when they found a lake the depth whereof was unknown, they dedicated it to Victory. Cry, O the depth! and there rest us.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 92 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(5) Thoughts.—Better, plans, or purposes. (Comp. in addition to references in margin, Psalms 36:6.)
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 92 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 5. How great are thy works!] They are multitudinous, stupendous, and splendid: and thy thoughts - thy designs and counsels, from which, by which, and in reference to which, they have been formed; are very deep - so profound as not to be fathomed by the comprehension of man.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 92 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges5. How great are thy doings, Jehovah! Exceeding deep are thy thoughts. The grandeur and profundity of Jehovah’s designs in the government of the world stir the Psalmist’s admiration. Cp. Psalms 36:6; Psalms 40:5; Psalms 139:17-18; Isaiah 55:8-9; Romans 11:33-34. “Deep in unfathomable mines Of never-failing skill He treasures up His bright designs, And works His sovereign Will.”
Read Cambridge on Psalms 92 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleO Lord, how great are thy works! - Compare Psalms 8:3; Psalms 40:5. See also the notes at Job 11:7.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 92 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
How great are Your works, O LORD, how deep are Your thoughts!
How great are your works, Yahweh! Your thoughts are very deep.
How great are Your works, O LORD, how deep are Your thoughts!
How great are your works, O Lord! Your plans are very intricate!
Tyndale line
O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.
How great are thy works, O Jehovah! Thy thoughts are very deep.
How great are thy works, O LORD! thy thoughts are very deep.
O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.
O Lord, how glorious are thy workes! and thy thoughtes are very deepe.
Strictly literal
Jehovah, how great are thy works! Thy thoughts are very deep:
How great have been Thy works, O Jehovah, Very deep have been Thy thoughts.
How great Your works have been, O YHWH, || Your thoughts have been very deep.
(92:6) How great are thy works, O Lord! exceedingly profound are thy thoughts.
How great are your deeds, Yahweh! Your thoughts are very deep.
From the Latin
Thy testimonies are become exceedingly credible: holiness becometh thy house, O Lord, unto length of days.
Simplified
Lord, what you do is amazing; your thoughts are very profound!
O Lord, how great are your works! and your thoughts are very deep.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text presents מַה־ גָּדְל֣וּ מַעֲשֶׂ֣יךָ יְהוָ֑ה מְ֝אֹ֗ד עָמְק֥וּ מַחְשְׁבֹתֶֽיךָ׃. The Septuagint matches six of the seven words, with differences primarily in word order and articles. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some textual variation, with two words supplied by an editor, but the core message remains consistent.
מַה־ גָּדְל֣וּ מַעֲשֶׂ֣יךָ יְהוָ֑ה מְ֝אֹ֗ד עָמְק֥וּ מַחְשְׁבֹתֶֽיךָ׃
6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
כי שמחת׳ני יהוה [בפעל׳ך] [במעשה] ידי׳ך ירנן
5 words on the leather — 2 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 92:5
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
מָה (mah) is a Hebrew word primarily used as an interrogative particle meaning 'what?' or 'how?'. It can also function as an indefinite pronoun, encompassing meanings like 'anything' or 'whatever'. The word is versatile, appearing in various adverbial forms and often used with prefixes to express different nuances, such as reason or manner.
מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron.interrog. and indef. what? how? aught
interrog. what?
Used adverbially
Indef. pron.
With preps.
base
H4100 מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron. interrog. and indef. what? how? aught . interrog. what?
. Used adverbially
. Indef. pron.
. With preps.
4100 mah maw
or mah {mah}; or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh}; a
primitive particle; properly, interrogative what? (including
how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including
how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even
relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various
adverbial or conjunctive senses:--how (long, oft, (-
soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing),
whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.
מָה (mah) — what?.
interr pron
1) what, how, of what kind
1a) (interrogative)
1a1) what?
1a2) of what kind
1a3) what? (rhetorical)
1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what
1b) (adverb)
1b1) how, how now
1b2) why
1b3) how! (exclamation)
1c) (with prep)
1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means?
1c2) because of what?
1c3) the like of what?
1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often?
1c3b) for how long?
1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose?
1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore?
indef pron
2) anything, aught, what may
HPi — PronounHPi
Represents various Hebrew and Greek words, interrogative, interjectional and relative. Its different uses refer to
(1) the manner or way, e.g. Ge 44:34, "How shall I go up to my father?" ('ekh); Mt 6:28, "how they grow" (pos); 1Co 15:35, "How are the dead raised?";
(2) degree, extent, frequently, "how great" (Da 4:3, mah; Mr 5:19, hosos, "how much"); "how many" (Mt 27:13, posos); "how much" (Ac 9:13, hosos); "how much more" (Mt 7:11, posos;
גָּדַל (gadal) is a Hebrew verb meaning to grow up or become great. It encompasses a range of meanings including to magnify, promote, and make powerful. The word has various forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of growth and greatness. Notably, it can also imply self-magnification.
גָּדַל 115 vb. grow up, become great
Qal
grow up
become great
to be magnified
Pi.
cause to grow
make great, powerful
magnify
Pu. brought up
Hiph.
make great
magnify
do great things
Hithp. I will magnify myself
base
H1431 גָּדַל grow up, become great .. grow up
. become great
. to be magnified
. . cause to grow
. make great, powerful
. magnify
. brought up
. . make great
. magnify
. do great things
. I will magnify myself
1431 gadal gaw-dal'
a primitive root; properly, to twist (compare 1434), i.e. to
be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body,
mind, estate or honor, also in pride):--advance, boast, bring
up, exceed, excellent, be(-come, do, give, make, wax),
great(-er, come to...estate, + things), grow(up),increase,
lift up, magnify(-ifical), be much set by, nourish (up), pass,
promote, proudly (spoken), tower.
see HEBREW for 01434
גָּדַל (ga.dal) — to magnify.
1) to grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, magnify, do great things
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to grow up
1a2) to become great
1a3) to be magnified
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to cause to grow
1b2) to make great, powerful
1b3) to magnify
1c) (Pual) to be brought up
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to make great
1d2) to magnify
1d3) to do great things
1e) (Hithpael) to magnify oneself
HVqp3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common pluralHVqp3cp
מַעֲשֶׂה (ma`aseh) means deed or work, encompassing a range of actions from good to bad, and includes concepts like business, labor, and products made. It can refer to specific achievements, works of God, or even customs. The entries suggest a broad application in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
מַעֲשֶׂה 233 n.m. deed, work
base
H4639 מַעֲשֶׂה deed, work
4639 ma`aseh mah-as-eh'
from 6213; an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction;
abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically,
a poem) or (generally) property:--act, art, + bakemeat,
business, deed, do(-ing), labor, thing made, ware of making,
occupation, thing offered, operation, possession, X well,
((handy-, needle-, net-))work(ing, - manship), wrought.
see HEBREW for 06213
מַעֲשֶׂה (ma.a.seh) — deed: work.
: work/product
1) deed, work
1a) deed, thing done, act
1b) work, labour
1c) business, pursuit
1d) undertaking, enterprise
1e) achievement
1f) deeds, works (of deliverance and judgment)
1g) work, thing made
1h) work (of God)
1i) product
מַעֲשֶׂה (ma.a.seh) — deed: justice.
: justice/right/righteousness
1) deed, work
1a) deed, thing done, act
1b) work, labour
1c) business, pursuit
1d) undertaking, enterprise
1e) achievement
1f) deeds, works (of deliverance and judgment)
1g) work, thing made
1h) work (of God)
1i) product
מַעֲשֶׂה (ma.a.seh) — deed: judgement.
: judgement/punishment
1) deed, work
1a) deed, thing done, act
1b) work, labour
1c) business, pursuit
1d) undertaking, enterprise
1e) achievement
1f) deeds, works (of deliverance and judgment)
1g) work, thing made
1h) work (of God)
1i) product
מַעֲשֶׂה (ma.a.seh) — deed: custom.
: custom/manner
Prep | N-mp — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp2ms
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
N-proper — Noun properHNpt
מְאֹד (m`od) refers to concepts of muchness, force, and abundance. It serves as an adverb meaning exceedingly or greatly, often used to intensify other words. The entries highlight its use in various idioms to express magnitude or degree, with a focus on might and intensity.
מְאֹד n.m. muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly
force, might
in diff. idioms (298 t.) to express the idea of exceedingly, greatly, very (whether of magnitude or degree)
base
H3966 מְאֹד muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly . force, might
. in diff. idiomns (298 t.) to express the idea of exceedingly, greatly, very (whether of magnitude or degree)
3966 m`od meh-ode'
from the same as 181; properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or
without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly,
speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or
superlative; especially when repeated):--diligently,
especially, exceeding(-ly), far, fast, good, great(-ly), X
louder and louder, might(-ily, -y), (so) much, quickly, (so)
sore, utterly, very (+ much, sore), well.
see HEBREW for 0181
מְאֹד (me.od) — much.
adv
1) exceedingly, much
subst
2) might, force, abundance
n m
3) muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly
3a) force, might
3b) exceedingly, greatly, very (idioms showing magnitude or degree)
3b1) exceedingly
3b2) up to abundance, to a great degree, exceedingly
3b3) with muchness, muchness
HAcmsa — HAcmsa
עָמֹק (amaq) means 'to be deep' or 'to make deep,' with applications in both literal and figurative contexts. It is a primitive root that conveys depth or profundity. The word appears in various forms, including Qal and Hiphil, indicating both a state of being deep and the action of making something deep, as noted in Psalm 92:6.
[עָמֹק] vb. be deep
Qal ψ 92:6
Hiph. make deep
base
H6009 [עָמֹק] be deep
6009 `amaq aw-mak'
a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) deep (literally
or figuratively):--(be, have, make, seek) deep(-ly), depth,
be profound.
עָמֹק (a.maq) — be deep.
1) to be deep, be profound, make deep
1a) (Qal) to be deep
1b) (Hiphil) to make deep, make profound
HVqp3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common pluralHVqp3cp
מַחֲשָׁבָה (machashabah) refers to thoughts, devices, plans, or inventions, encompassing both good and bad intentions. It is derived from a root meaning to contrive or devise. The entries consistently highlight its use in contexts relating to intention and creativity.
מַחֲשָׁבָה n.f. thought, device
thought
device, plan, purpose
invention
base
H4284 מַחֲשָׁבָה thought, device . thought
. device, plan, purpose
. invention
4284 machashabah makh-ash-aw-baw'
or machashebeth {makh-ash-eh'-beth}; from 2803; a
contrivance, i.e. (concretely) a texture, machine, or
(abstractly) intention, plan (whether bad, a plot; or good,
advice):--cunning (work), curious work, device(-sed),
imagination, invented, means, purpose, thought.
see HEBREW for 02803
מַחֲשָׁבָה (ma.cha.sha.vah) — plot.
1) thought, device
1a) thought
1b) device, plan, purpose
1c) invention
HNcfpc/Sp2ms — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHNcfpc/Sp2ms