I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good.

PSALMS 54:6KJV
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Psalms 54:6 (KJV)

What does Psalms 54:6 mean?

Psalms 54:6 describes the psalmist’s intention to offer a willing sacrifice to God and to praise God’s name because God is good. The verse expresses gratitude and devotion, highlighting both a free offering and praise as fitting responses to God’s character.

In this psalm, David is speaking to God during a time of trouble, likely when he was being pursued by enemies. He promises to give a sacrifice freely, not out of obligation, and to praise God’s name (meaning God’s reputation and character), recognizing that God is truly good. The verse shows David’s trust and thankfulness even before his situation is resolved.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 54:6

  • "Freely" (נְדָבָה, nedavah) means willingly or voluntarily, emphasizing that David’s sacrifice is not forced but given out of genuine desire.
  • "Sacrifice" (זָבַח, zavach) refers to an offering made to God, often an animal, as an act of worship or thanksgiving.
  • "Praise" (יָדָה, yadah) means to give thanks or confess, often with the sense of publicly acknowledging God’s goodness.
  • "Name" (שֵׁם, shem) in Hebrew often points to God’s reputation, character, and all that God represents.
  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH) is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, highlighting a relationship with the covenant God.
  • "Good" (טוֹב, tov) means pleasant, desirable, or morally right, underlining that God’s nature is worthy of praise.

Why Psalms 54:6 matters

  • Psalms 54:6 clarifies that true worship comes from a willing heart, not just ritual or duty, which is a theme found throughout the Psalms.
  • The verse connects gratitude and praise to God’s goodness, not just to answered prayers or blessings received, showing faith even in hard times.
  • By mentioning God’s "name," the verse ties praise directly to who God is, not just what God does, deepening the understanding of worship in the psalm.

Where else these words appear

“freely” Hebrew H5071 · used in 25 verses

  • Exodus 35:29 The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.
  • Numbers 29:39 These things ye shall do unto the LORD in your set feasts, beside your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meat offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.
  • Ezra 3:5 And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the LORD.

“praise” Hebrew H3034 · used in 111 verses

  • Genesis 29:35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
  • Psalms 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
  • Psalms 107:15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

“sacrifice” Hebrew H2076 · used in 127 verses

  • Genesis 31:54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
  • 1 Samuel 1:21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
  • 2 Chronicles 11:16 And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers.