Psalms 105:1 (KJV)

What does Psalms 105:1 mean?

Psalms 105:1 opens with a call to give thanks to the LORD and speak about what he has done. The verse joins words addressed to God with words shared among people: gratitude and calling on his name belong alongside telling others about his deeds.

The speaker addresses a group rather than a single person. “Call upon his name” pictures people addressing the LORD by name, while “make known” turns their speech outward toward the people around them.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 105:1

• “LORD” — יְהוָה (YHWH): This is God’s personal name in Hebrew. The KJV represents the name with “LORD” in capital letters.
• “deeds” — עֲלִילוֹת (ʿalilot): This word refers to actions or things done. Here it points to acts that can be recounted, not just qualities that can be praised.
• “people” — עַמִּים (ʿammim): The Hebrew word is plural and can mean “peoples” or “nations.” The invitation to make God’s deeds known reaches beyond one group.

Why Psalms 105:1 matters

• The verse gives thanks a reason in what the LORD has done. The psalm later tells of his acts in the lives of Israel’s ancestors and in bringing their descendants out of Egypt.
• The opening words are also found in 1 Chronicles 16:8, in a song associated with bringing the ark to Jerusalem. The ark was a sacred chest central to Israel’s worship, and that setting shows these words being used in a public gathering.
• The verse speaks to a group acting together. Its commands—“give thanks,” “call,” and “make known”—address people collectively, fitting the psalm’s character as a song for shared worship.