Psalms 97:12 — Word Study
WLCשִׂמְח֣וּ צַ֭דִּיקִים בַּֽיהוָ֑ה וְ֝הוֹד֗וּ לְזֵ֣כֶר קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃
BSARejoicesâmach [be glad, celebrate] in the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, the holy God] you righteous onestsaddîyq [just, upright men] and praiseyâdâh [give thanks, honor] His holyqôdesh [set apart, sacred] namezêker [memorial, remembrance of His nature]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| שִׂמְח֣וּ | rejoice | Verb, Qal, imperative second person masculine plural |
| צַ֭דִּיקִים | O righteous [people] | Adj |
| בַּֽיהוָ֑ה | in Yahweh | Preposition, noun proper |
| וְ֝הוֹד֗וּ | and give thanks | Conjunction, verb hiphil imperative second person masculine plural |
| לְזֵ֣כֶר | to [the] remembrance of | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃ | holiness his | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous ones, and praise His holy name. |
| KJV | Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. |
| ASV | Be glad in Jehovah, ye righteous; And give thanks to his holy memorial name. |
| YLT | Rejoice, ye righteous, in Jehovah, And give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness! |
| WEB | Be glad in Yahweh, you righteous people! Give thanks to his holy Name. |
| BBE | Be glad in the Lord, you upright men; praising the memory of his holy name. |
Where they part company is in the emphasis on the call to rejoice and give thanks — see How Translations Differ.
The verse consists of a main command followed by a complementary action, creating a clear and direct call to worship.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbצַדִּיק
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 97:12
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 Call to Worshipgenerated
Psalm 97:12 invites the righteous to rejoice in the LORD and to praise His holy name. This verse emphasizes the joy that comes from being in right relationship with God and the importance of recognizing His holiness. The surrounding verses highlight God's greatness and the call to righteousness, encouraging believers to celebrate their connection to Him.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 32:11 | Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, O righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart. |
| 2 | Psalm 33:1 | Rejoice in the LORD, O righteous ones; it is fitting for the upright to praise Him. |
| 3 | Habakkuk 3:17–18 | Though the fig tree does not bud and no fruit is on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the sheep are cut off from the fold and no cattle are in the stalls, |
| 4 | Zephaniah 3:14–17 | Sing for joy, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem! |
| 5 | Philippians 4:4 | Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שִׂמְח֣וּ, sim.Chugenerated
A verb from the root שָׂמַח (samach), meaning to rejoice or be glad. This verb is used in a religious context, expressing joy in worship and celebration. The imperative form calls the righteous to action, urging them to express their joy in the LORD.
The parsing as an imperative second person masculine plural indicates a direct command to a group, emphasizing collective joy among the righteous. This reflects the community aspect of worship in ancient Israel, where rejoicing was often a communal event.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
Translations agree on the call to rejoice and praise, with the BSB using rejoice and praise, which are also found in the KJV, ASV, YLT, WEB, and BBE.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb שִׂמְח֣וּ governs the entire verse, with two phrases following: a prepositional phrase indicating the object of rejoicing and a conjunction leading into a second verb phrase. This structure emphasizes the action of rejoicing and the subsequent act of giving thanks.
The Hebrew word order places the command to rejoice first, highlighting its importance, followed by the context of who is to rejoice (the righteous) and the reason (to praise His holy name).
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שִׂמְח֣וּ as εὐφράνθητε, which conveys a similar meaning of rejoicing or being glad. This choice reflects a consistent understanding of the call to joy among the righteous.
The LXX captures the essence of the Hebrew text while adapting it for a Greek-speaking audience, maintaining the focus on communal joy and worship.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 97:12 encourages the righteous to rejoice in the LORD and to give thanks for His holiness. This verse highlights the joy that comes from being in a right relationship with God and the importance of celebrating His sacred nature.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Rejoicing in the LORD means expressing joy and gladness in response to His goodness and faithfulness, recognizing His sovereignty and holiness.
The 'righteous ones' refer to those who are just and upright, living in accordance with God's will and commands.
Praising God's name is important because it acknowledges His character and nature, reminding believers of His holiness and the significance of their relationship with Him.
You can express your joy in the LORD through worship, prayer, and acts of gratitude, celebrating His goodness in your life.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I rejoice in the LORD daily?
- How does understanding God's holiness affect my worship?
- What are some specific reasons I have to give thanks to God?
- How can I encourage others to rejoice in the LORD?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Augustine of Hippo references this verse in his exposition, reflecting on the joy of the righteous in worship.
"Be glad, you righteous" [Psalms 97:12]. Perhaps already the faithful hearing the word, "Be glad," are thinking of banquets, preparing cups, waiting for the season of roses;Early Church Fathers on Psalms 97 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 97:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleRejoice in the Lord, ye righteous,.... In the word of the Lord, as the Targum; in Christ, the essential Word, in his person, the greatness, glory, and fulness of it; in his righteousness, and in
Read John Gill on Psalms 97 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryConfounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 97 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleIn consideration of his holy and righteous nature and government, or of his faithfulness in making good that great promise of sending the Messias into the world; for holiness is sometimes taken for faithfulness, which is one part or branch of it.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 97 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 97:12 Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.Ver. 12. Rejoice in the Lord] See Psalms 32:11, At the remembrance of his holiness] That is, of himself; for whatsoever is in God is God; as also of his works and benefits, whereby he giveth you so good occasion to remember him.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 97 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 12. Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous] It is your privilege to be happy. Exult in him through whom ye have received the atonement. Rejoice; but let it be in the Lord. All other joy is the mirth of fools, which is as the crackling of thorns under a pot - it is a luminous blaze for a moment, and leaves nothing but smoke and ashes behind. At the remembrance of his holiness.] But why should you give thanks at the remembrance that God is holy? Because he has said, Be ye holy; for I am holy: and in holiness alone true happiness is to be found. As he, therefore, who hath called you is holy; so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. False Christians hate the doctrine of Christian holiness…
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 97 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges12. Be glad in Jehovah, ye righteous; And give thanks unto his holy name. His holy name, lit. the memorial of his holiness. His name is that which brings to remembrance all that He is and does. See Exodus 3:15; Psalms 135:13. The first line is from Psalms 32:11 a; the second from Psalms 30:4 b.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 97 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleRejoice in the Lord, ye righteous - See the notes at Psalms 33:1. And give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness - Margin, “to the memorial” (compare Psalms 30:4).
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 97 →The verse in English, compared — 16 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
Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous ones, and praise His holy name.
Be glad in Yahweh, you righteous people! Give thanks to his holy Name.
Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous ones, and praise His holy name.
You godly ones, rejoice in the Lord! Give thanks to his holy name.
Tyndale line
Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
Be glad in Jehovah, ye righteous; And give thanks to his holy memorial name.
Be glad in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks to his holy name.
Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
Reioyce ye righteous in the Lord, and giue thankes for his holy remembrance.
Strictly literal
Rejoice in Jehovah, ye righteous; and give thanks in remembrance of his holiness.
Rejoice, ye righteous, in Jehovah, And give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness!
Rejoice, you righteous, in YHWH, || And give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness!
Rejoice, ye righteous, in the Lord, and give thanks to his holy memorial.
Be glad in Yahweh, you righteous; and give thanks when you remember his holiness.
Simplified
Be happy in the Lord, you who do right, and thank him for his holy nature!
Be glad in the Lord, you upright men; praising the memory of his holy name.
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 and the Septuagint agree closely, with five of the six words matching. The Septuagint's translation reflects the same themes of joy and praise, although its word order differs from the Hebrew.
שִׂמְח֣וּ צַ֭דִּיקִים בַּֽיהוָ֑ה וְ֝הוֹד֗וּ לְזֵ֣כֶר קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃
5 of the 6 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.
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 97:12
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.
שָׂמַח (samach) is a Hebrew verb meaning to rejoice or be glad. It can express joy in everyday life, religious contexts, or even exultation. The verb has different forms: Qal (to rejoice), Piel (to cause to rejoice), and Hiphil (to make glad). The entries indicate a range of meanings related to joy and merriment.
שָׂמַח, שָׂמִ֑חַ 154 vb. rejoice, be glad
Qal 126
in common life
rejoice religiously
subj. י׳
Pi. cause to rejoice, gladden
Hiph. = Pi.
base
H8055 שָׂמַח, שָׂמִ֑חַ rejoice, be glad
8055 samach saw-makh'
a primitive root; probably to brighten up, i.e.
(figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or
gleesome:--cheer up, be (make) glad, (have, make) joy(-ful),
be (make) merry, (cause to, make to) rejoice, X very.
שָׂמַח (sa.mach) — to rejoice.
1) to rejoice, be glad
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to rejoice
1a2) to rejoice (arrogantly), exult (at)
1a3) to rejoice (religiously)
1b) (Piel) to cause to rejoice, gladden, make glad
1c) (Hiphil) to cause to rejoice, gladden, make glad
V-Qal-Impv-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine pluralHVqv2mp
צַדִּיק (tsaddiyq) means just or righteous, covering various aspects such as lawful behavior, moral conduct, and being justified by God. It is derived from a related root and is used to describe individuals who are upright in character and actions.
צַדִּיק 206 adj. just, righteous
base
H6662 צַדִּיק just, righteous
6662 tsaddiyq tsad-deek'
from 6663; just:--just, lawful, righteous (man).
see HEBREW for 06663
צַדִּיק (tsad.diq) — righteous.
1) just, lawful, righteous
1a) just, righteous (in government)
1b) just, right (in one's cause)
1c) just, righteous (in conduct and character)
1d) righteous (as justified and vindicated by God)
1e) right, correct, lawful
Adj — AdjHAampa
pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…
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)
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun properHR/Npt
יָדָה (yadah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to throw or cast, particularly in the context of shooting arrows or stones. It also encompasses the meanings of giving thanks, praising, and confessing, especially in a ritual context. The word is built from a primitive root and has various forms, including Qal, Piel, Hiphil, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances of action.
[יָדָה] vb. throw, cast
Qal shoot (arrows) at
Pi. and they cast (stones) on me
Hiph.
give thanks, laud, praise
confess
Hithp.
confess
give thanks, in ritual worship
base
H3034 [יָדָה] throw, cast .shoot (arrows) at
. and they cast (stones) on me
. . give thanks, laud, praise
. confess
. . confess
. give thanks, in ritual worship
3034 yadah yaw-daw'
a primitive root; used only as denominative from 3027;
literally, to use (i.e. hold out) the hand; physically, to
throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or
worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by
wringing the hands):--cast (out), (make) confess(-ion),
praise, shoot, (give) thank(-ful, -s, -sgiving).
see HEBREW for 03027
יָדָה (ya.dah) — to give thanks.
1) to throw, shoot, cast
1a) (Qal) to shoot (arrows)
1b) (Piel) to cast, cast down, throw down
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to give thanks, laud, praise
1c2) to confess, confess (the name of God)
1d) (Hithpael)
1d1) to confess (sin)
1d2) to give thanks
Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדָא "to praise" H3029)
Conj | V-Hiphil-Impv-2mp — Conjunction · verb hiphil imperative second person masculine pluralHC/Vhv2mp
זֵ֫כֶר (zeker) refers to concepts of remembrance and memorial. It is derived from the root meaning to remember and encompasses meanings such as memory and commemoration. The entries consistently highlight its use in contexts related to memorials and recollections.
זֵ֫כֶר n.m. remembrance, memorial
base
H2143 זֵ֫כֶר remembrance, memorial
2143 zeker zay'-ker
or zeker {zeh'-ker}; from 2142; a memento, abstr.
recollection (rarely if ever); by implication,
commemoration:--memorial, memory, remembrance, scent.
see HEBREW for 02142
זֵ֫כֶר (ze.kher) — memorial.
1) memorial, remembrance
1a) remembrance, memory
1b) memorial
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
קֹ֫דֶשׁ (qodesh) refers to the concepts of apartness, sacredness, and holiness. It can denote a sacred place or thing, such as the Most Holy Place or a sanctuary. The term emphasizes the idea of being set apart, whether in relation to God, places, or objects.
קֹ֫דֶשׁ 469 n.m. apartness, sacredness
base
H6944 קֹ֫דֶשׁ apartness, sacredness
6944 qodesh ko'-desh
from 6942; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract,
sanctity:--consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed
(thing), holiness, (X most) holy (X day, portion, thing),
saint, sanctuary.
see HEBREW for 06942
קֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh) — holiness.
1) apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness
1a) apartness, sacredness, holiness
1a1) of God
1a2) of places
1a3) of things
1b) set-apartness, separateness
קֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh) — Most Holy Place.
This name means apartness, holiness, sacredness
Also named: hagion (ἅγιον "Most Holy Place" G0039H)
קֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh) — (Way of) Holiness.
Combined with de.rekh (דֶּ֫רֶךְ "Way" H1870H)
This name means apartness, holiness, sacredness
קֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh) — Holy Place.
This name means apartness, holiness, sacredness
Also named: hagion (ἅγιον "Holy Place" G0039)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3ms