1 Chronicles 16:23 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 16:23 mean?

1 Chronicles 16:23 calls on everyone in the world to sing to the LORD and to announce his salvation every day. The verse encourages a continual, public celebration of what God has done, not just for a single group but for all the earth.

This verse is part of a song led by King David after the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem. David is speaking to the gathered people of Israel, inviting them—and by extension, all nations—to join in praising God. The focus is on making God’s saving acts known daily, highlighting both joy and a sense of mission.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 16:23

• "Sing" (שִׁירוּ, shiru) means to sing or make music. Here, it is a command directed to everyone, not just a select group, showing the universal call to worship.
• "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH) is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing a relationship with the God of Israel.
• "Earth" (אֶרֶץ, erets) refers to the whole world, not just the land of Israel, underlining the global scope of the invitation.
• "Forth" (בַּשֵּׂרוּ, baseru) is from a word that means to bring good news or proclaim. It carries the idea of announcing something joyful, like a herald.
• "Day" (יוֹם, yom) is repeated twice, stressing the ongoing, daily nature of this proclamation.
• "Salvation" (יְשׁוּעָתוֹ, yeshuato) means deliverance or rescue, referring to God’s acts of saving his people.

Why 1 Chronicles 16:23 matters

• This verse makes it clear that worship and sharing about God’s salvation are not limited to one nation or one time, but are meant for all people and for every day.
• The emphasis on "singing" and "proclaiming" highlights both the joy of worship and the importance of telling others about what God has done.
• In its context, this verse is part of a larger psalm that celebrates God’s faithfulness and invites the whole world to recognize his greatness, connecting Israel’s story to a broader, global purpose.