Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.

PSALMS 57:8KJV
Know the Bible

Psalms 57:8 (KJV)

What does Psalms 57:8 mean?

Psalms 57:8 shows David calling himself and his musical instruments to wake up and praise God early in the morning. The verse uses poetic language to express eagerness and determination to honor God with music at the start of the day.

David is speaking, likely while hiding from danger, and he urges his own "glory" (often understood as his soul or inner self) to awaken, along with his psaltery and harp. The setting is one of trouble, but David chooses to respond with worship, using music as a way to focus on God rather than his fears.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 57:8

  • "Awake up" and "awake" (עוּר, ʿur): This word appears several times and means to rouse or stir up. David is telling both himself and his instruments to become active and ready for praise, showing intentional effort.
  • "Glory" (כָּבוֹד, kavod): Here, "glory" is often understood as referring to David’s own soul or his deepest self, not just honor or reputation. He is calling his whole being to participate in worship.
  • "Psaltery" (נֵבֶל, nevel) and "harp" (כִּנּוֹר, kinnor): These are stringed instruments used in ancient Hebrew music. Mentioning both highlights the fullness and richness of the praise David intends to offer.
  • "Early" (שַׁחַר, shachar): This word means dawn or early morning. David is emphasizing that he will begin his praise at the very start of the day, showing priority and eagerness.

Why Psalms 57:8 matters

  • The verse clears up that "glory" here is personal, not just about God’s honor, but about David’s own soul being fully engaged in worship.
  • It emphasizes that praise is not just a reaction to good times but a deliberate choice, even in hardship.
  • The verse connects to the wider psalm, where David moves from fear and prayer to confident, joyful praise, showing a shift in his focus and attitude.

Where else these words appear

“early” Hebrew H7837 · used in 24 verses

  • Genesis 19:15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
  • Job 3:9 Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:
  • Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

“psaltery” Hebrew H5035 · used in 37 verses

  • 1 Samuel 1:24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.
  • 1 Chronicles 25:1 Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:
  • Psalms 108:2 Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.

“harp” Hebrew H3658 · used in 41 verses

  • Genesis 4:21 And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
  • 1 Chronicles 25:3 Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD.
  • Psalms 81:2 Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

“up” Hebrew H5782 · used in 65 verses

  • Deuteronomy 32:11 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:
  • Psalms 78:38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
  • Isaiah 52:1 Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.