Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
English Standard Version (ESV)
While the verse emphasizes God's creative power, the phrase "and not we ourselves" points to our complete dependence on Him, not just for existence, but for our very identity as His people. This means we are not self-made or self-sufficient, but entirely His possession, lovingly cared for like sheep in a shepherd's pasture.
Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is a call to joyful worship, urging all nations to sing praises to the Lord. Before this verse, the psalm commands everyone on earth to come before the Lord with gladness, recognizing Him as their creator. The subsequent verses will elaborate on why this recognition leads to entering His courts with thanksgiving and blessing His name.
This isn't just a suggestion; it's a command delivered with incredible weight. What does it truly mean to 'know' God in this context?
The opening command, 'Know that the LORD, he is God!' is a powerful call to recognize and affirm God's absolute sovereignty and uniqueness. It's not merely intellectual assent, but a deep, heart-level certainty.
A Foundation for Worship
This knowledge is the bedrock of true worship. Before we can offer joyful noise or sincere praise (as the psalm encourages), we must first establish who God is: the Creator, the sustainer, the ultimate reality.
Beyond Human Ability
The text emphasizes that God is God, distinct from anything else. The ancient world was filled with countless deities, but the psalmist asserts with boldness that the LORD alone is the true God. This 'knowing' means understanding His power, His existence, and His authority over all things.
The verse pivots from God's identity to His action towards us. What does this act of making mean for our ownership and identity?
The declaration 'He has made us, and we are His' is profound. It establishes God not only as the Creator of the universe but specifically as the one who formed us. This act of creation bestows upon Him an undeniable claim of ownership.
The Dual Meaning of 'Made Us'
This making can be understood in two key ways:
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The Implication of Ownership
Because God made us, we are not our own. This truth has immense implications for how we live. Our lives, our talents, our very selves belong to Him. This isn't a burden, but the very definition of our identity: His people, His possession.
The psalm concludes this foundational statement with a tender, relational image. What does it reveal about our security and God's care?
The final part of verse 3, 'we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture,' paints a picture of intimate relationship and profound care.
People and Flock
Trust in His Provision
This identity as sheep under His care assures us that He will provide for our needs. Just as a shepherd guides his flock to fresh grass and safe waters, God sustains and cares for those who belong to Him. This is the security that flows from knowing the LORD is God and that we are His.
Understand the original words
Elohim · Hebrew Noun
A term for the sovereign Creator and Ruler of all, often used to emphasize His authority and transcendence over creation.
tson · Hebrew Noun
A term used for the people of God, emphasizing their dependence on Him for guidance, protection, and provision, and acknowledging His role as their Shepherd.
This passage grounds the creator-creation relationship highlighted in Psalm 100:3 by declaring God as the ultimate origin of all things. It reinforces the idea that because God made everything, humanity is rightfully His.
John 1:3Echoing Psalm 100:3's affirmation of God as the maker, John 1:3 emphasizes Christ's role in creation, showing that 'all things were made through him.' This deepens the understanding of who the 'he' is that made us.
Acts 17:28Paul quotes a Greek poet to say 'in him we live and move and have our being,' mirroring the Psalmist's declaration that 'he has made us and not we ourselves.' This shows our total dependence on God for existence.
1 Peter 2:9-10This passage directly calls believers 'a people for God's own possession' and 'the sheep of his pasture,' using language very similar to Psalm 100:3. It explains that this identity comes through God's gracious calling and redemption.
Jeremiah 23:3-4This prophecy speaks of God gathering his scattered sheep and appointing shepherds for them. It beautifully illustrates the care and shepherding implied in Psalm 100:3, showing God's active role in tending to His people.
pulpitPsalms 100:3: "Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."
Verse 3. - Know ye that the Lord he is God; or, be sure - "recognize the fact as a certainty" (see the Prayer book Version). It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; or, according to another reading, and his are we. This latter reading is preferred by De Wette, Kay, Cheyne, and the Revised Version. But the other, which was the reading of th…
bensonPsalms 100:3: "Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."
Psalm 100:3-5 . Know that the Lord — Hebrews Jehovah, he is God — The only living and true God; a being infinitely perfect, self-existent, and self- sufficient; and the fountain of all being; the first cause and last end of all things. It is he that hath made us — Not only by creation, but by regeneration, which is also called a creation, because by…
While the verse emphasizes God's creative power, the phrase "and not we ourselves" points to our complete dependence on Him, not just for existence, but for our very identity as His people. This means we are not self-made or self-sufficient, but entirely His possession, lovingly cared for like sheep in a shepherd's pasture.
This psalm is a call to joyful worship, urging all nations to sing praises to the Lord. Before this verse, the psalm commands everyone on earth to come before the Lord with gladness, recognizing Him as their creator. The subsequent verses will elaborate on why this recognition leads to entering His courts with thanksgiving and blessing His name.
This psalm is a call to joyful worship, urging all nations to sing praises to the Lord. Before this verse, the psalm commands everyone on earth to come before the Lord with gladness, recognizing Him as their creator. The subsequent verses will elaborate on why this recognition leads to entering His courts with thanksgiving and blessing His name.
"Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture." — While the verse emphasizes God's creative power, the phrase "and not we ourselves" points to our complete dependence on Him, not just for existence, but for our very identity as His people. This mean…
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Last reviewed October 2026