Give thanks to the LORD;This phrase emphasizes the importance of gratitude towards God, a recurring theme throughout the Bible. In the context of
1 Chronicles 16, David is celebrating the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, a significant event symbolizing God's presence among His people. Thanksgiving is a central aspect of worship, as seen in Psalms 100:4, which encourages entering God's presence with thanksgiving. The act of giving thanks is not only a response to God's blessings but also a recognition of His sovereignty and goodness.
call upon His name;
Calling upon the name of the LORD signifies invoking His presence and power. In ancient Israel, names held significant meaning and were often associated with one's character and authority. To call upon God's name is to seek His intervention and acknowledge His authority. This practice is seen throughout the Old Testament, such as inGenesis 4:26, where people began to call on the name of the LORD. It reflects a relationship of trust and dependence on God.
make known His deeds among the nations.
This phrase highlights the missional aspect of Israel's faith, which is to proclaim God's mighty works to all peoples. The historical context of Israel as a chosen nation was to be a light to the Gentiles, as seen inIsaiah 49:6. The deeds of God, including creation, deliverance, and covenant faithfulness, were to be shared beyond Israel's borders. This foreshadows the Great Commission inMatthew 28:19, where Jesus commands His followers to make disciples of all nations, spreading the knowledge of God's salvation through Christ.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
DavidThe king of Israel who organized the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and led the people in worship and thanksgiving to God.
2.
Ark of the CovenantA sacred chest that held the tablets of the Ten Commandments, representing God's presence with His people.
3.
JerusalemThe city where the Ark was brought, symbolizing the central place of worship and the heart of Israel's spiritual life.
4.
Asaph and his brothersLevites appointed by David to minister before the Ark, leading the people in songs of thanksgiving and praise.
5.
The NationsRefers to all peoples outside of Israel, highlighting the call to proclaim God's deeds beyond the borders of Israel.
Teaching Points
The Importance of ThanksgivingThanksgiving is a vital part of worship and acknowledges God's sovereignty and goodness.
Calling on God's NameInvoking God's name signifies trust and reliance on His power and character.
Proclaiming God's DeedsBelievers are called to share testimonies of God's work in their lives, spreading His glory to all people.
Evangelism and WitnessThe call to make God's deeds known among the nations is a precursor to the Great Commission, emphasizing the global mission of the Church.
Community WorshipCorporate worship, as seen in David's assembly, strengthens the faith community and encourages collective thanksgiving and praise.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 16:8?
2.How can we "give thanks to the LORD" in our daily lives today?
3.What does it mean to "proclaim His name" in 1 Chronicles 16:8?
4.How does 1 Chronicles 16:8 connect with Philippians 4:6 on thanksgiving?
5.In what ways can we "make known His deeds" to others?
6.Why is it important to remember God's deeds as stated in 1 Chronicles 16:8?
7.What does 1 Chronicles 16:8 reveal about the importance of giving thanks to God?
8.How does 1 Chronicles 16:8 encourage believers to share God's deeds with others?
9.What historical context surrounds 1 Chronicles 16:8 in the Bible?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Chronicles 16?
11.How can we publicize His deeds effectively?
12.Why does 1 Chronicles 16 differ from 2 Samuel 6 in describing the Ark’s journey and the people’s offerings?
13.How can we publicize His deeds effectively?
14.(1 Kings 16:23-28) Why is there no clear archaeological evidence for Omri's alleged accomplishments, given his recognized significance in Near Eastern inscriptions?What Does 1 Chronicles 16:8 Mean
Give thanks to the LORD“Give thanks to the LORD” is an explicit call to overflow with gratitude. David wrote these words while the Ark was being placed in the tent he had prepared (1 Chron 16:1). In that jubilant setting, thanking God was more than polite; it was commanded worship.
• Gratitude recognizes God’s faithful acts—just asPsalm 100:4 urges, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving.”
• Thanksgiving anchors us in God’s goodness when life is calm and when it storms (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
• Gratitude is expressed with words, music (1 Chron 16:9), offerings (Leviticus 7:12) and obedience (Colossians 3:17).
When God’s people truly give thanks, they acknowledge His sovereignty, reflect His character, and invite His continued presence (Psalm 22:3).
Call upon His nameTo “call upon His name” means more than saying “Lord, help me.” Biblically, a name embodies character and authority.
• Calling on His name affirms total dependence (Psalm 50:15—“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you”).
• It is personal:Jeremiah 29:12–13 links calling on God with seeking Him wholeheartedly.
• It is salvific:Acts 2:21 quotes Joel, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
In David’s day the Ark symbolized God’s throne; calling on His name declared, “You reign here.” Today, every prayer that begins “Father, in Jesus’ name” echoes that same confession.
Make known His deeds among the nationsThanksgiving and prayer naturally spill into testimony. God’s “deeds” are to be broadcast, not bottled up.
• David’s choir was to proclaim God’s wonders beyond Israel’s borders (Psalm 9:11;Isaiah 12:4 repeats this very line).
• The command anticipates the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19), showing mission was always God’s heartbeat.
•Acts 1:8 reveals the power-source: the Spirit enables witnesses “to the ends of the earth.”
Practical outflow:
– Tell a neighbor what God has done for you (Mark 5:19).
– Support or go on a mission endeavor (Romans 10:14–15).
– Use your platform—social media, workplace, classroom—to highlight His faithfulness (1 Peter 2:9).
summary1 Chronicles 16:8 strings together three inseparable responses to God’s presence: gratitude, prayerful reliance, and global proclamation. When we thank Him, call on Him, and tell others about Him, we join David’s ancient choir and fulfill our present-day mandate, making our lives a living psalm that points every nation to the Lord.
(8-22) The first four strophes of Psalms 105 (
1Chronicles 16:1-15.)
(8)Give thanks.--The same Hebrew verb as in1Chronicles 16:4, "to thank." Psalms 105 is atod?h, or thanksgiving, hence its use here.
Call upon his name.--Invoke His help, appealing to Him by His revealed name of Jehovah. (Comp.Psalm 3:1-7;Psalm 5:1;Psalm 7:6, and many others.) . . .
Verses 8-36. - These verses, then, provide the form of praise which David wished to be used on this, and probably in grateful repetition on some succeeding occasions. David makes selections from four psalms already known; for it cannot be supposed that the verses we have here were the original, and that they were afterwards supplemented. The first fifteen verses (viz. 8-22) are from
Psalm 105:1-15. The next eleven verses (23-33) are from
Psalm 96:1-13; but a small portion of the first and last of these verses is omitted. Our thirty-fourth verse is identical with
Psalm 107:1;
Psalm 118:1;
Psalm 136:1; and forms the larger part of
Psalm 106:1. It is, in fact, a doxology. And our thirty-fifth and thirty-sixth verses consist of a short responsive ("and say ye") invocation, followed by another doxology. These are taken from
Psalm 106:47, 48. Hereupon "all the people" are directed to find the final outburst of praise to Jehovah, and "Amen." In the first of these selections (vers. 8-23) there is no material variation from the language of the psalm itself. Yet the original psalm has
Abraham, where our own thirteenth verse reads
Israel. And the original psalm uses the third person, where our fifteenth and nineteenth verses have the second person. In the second selection it is worthy of note that our ver. 29, "Come before him," probably preserves the ante-temple reading, while
Psalm 96:8 was afterwards, to fit temple times, altered into, "
Comeinto his courts." The arrangement of all the succeeding clauses does not exactly agree with the arrangement of them found in the psalm, as for instance in the latter half of our ver. 30 and in ver. 31, compared with the clauses of vers. 10,11 of the psalm. Again, one clause of the tenth verse of the psalm, "He shall judge the people righteously," is not found in either alternative position open to it through the inversion of clauses, in our vers. 80, 81. The rhythm and metre of the psalm are, however, equally unexceptionable. The whole of the twenty-nine verses of this Psalm of praise (vers. 8-36 inclusive) are divided into portions of three verses each, except the portion vers. 23-27 inclusive which consists of five verses. As regards the matter of it, it may be remarked on as breaking into two parts, in the first of which (vers. 8-22) the people are reminded of their past history and of the marvellous providence which had governed their career from Abraham to the time they were settled in Canaan, but in the second (vers. 23-36) their thought is enlarged, their sympathies immensely widened, so as to include all the world, and their view is borne on to the momentous reality of
judgment.Verses 8-10. - These verses are an animated invocation to thanks and praise.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
“Give thanksהוֹד֤וּ(hō·w·ḏū)Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3034:To throw, at, away, to revere, worship, to bemoanto the LORD;לַֽיהוָה֙(Yah·weh)Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israelcallקִרְא֣וּ(qir·’ū)Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 7121:To call, proclaim, readupon His name;בִשְׁמ֔וֹ(ḇiš·mōw)Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8034:A namemake knownהוֹדִ֥יעוּ(hō·w·ḏî·‘ū)Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3045:To knowHis deedsעֲלִילֹתָֽיו׃(‘ă·lî·lō·ṯāw)Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5949:An exploit, a performance, an opportunityamong the nations.בָעַמִּ֖ים(ḇā·‘am·mîm)Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5971:A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock
Links
1 Chronicles 16:8 NIV1 Chronicles 16:8 NLT1 Chronicles 16:8 ESV1 Chronicles 16:8 NASB1 Chronicles 16:8 KJV
1 Chronicles 16:8 BibleApps.com1 Chronicles 16:8 Biblia Paralela1 Chronicles 16:8 Chinese Bible1 Chronicles 16:8 French Bible1 Chronicles 16:8 Catholic Bible
OT History: 1 Chronicles 16:8 Oh give thanks to Yahweh (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr) 
