Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse isn't just a call to tell people about God; it’s a command to declare His "glory" and His "marvelous works" specifically "among the nations" and "all peoples," implying that God's greatness is meant to be seen and celebrated by everyone, not just His own people. This isn't just about sharing good news, but about revealing the unique, awe-inspiring character of God as demonstrated through His actions.
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is a call for all nations to recognize and celebrate God's reign as King. Following an initial summons for Israel to sing a "new song" of God's salvation, the text urges them to declare His glory and wonders universally, not just among their own people. This message sets the stage for a worldwide acknowledgment of God's supreme power and works, extending praise beyond the borders of Israel.
For centuries, God's chosen people, Israel, were the primary witnesses to His mighty acts. But this psalm shifts the perspective dramatically. What does it mean for worship to expand beyond one nation?
The Expanding Audience
Psalm 96, especially verse 3, calls for a declaration of God's glory and works 'among the nations' and 'among all the peoples.' This isn't just a suggestion; it's a radical reimagining of worship.
The verse uses strong verbs: 'Declare' and 'show forth.' This isn't passive observation; it's active communication. What does this tell us about our role?
God's Story, Our Voice
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The heart of Psalm 96:3 is proclamation. It's about telling.
Understand the original words
kabod · Hebrew Noun
The manifest presence, weight, majesty, and splendor of God that demands recognition and awe from all creation.
goyim · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the non-Israelite peoples or ethnic groups, emphasizing God's universal lordship and the scope of His redemptive mission.
niphle'owth · Hebrew Noun
Extraordinary, wondrous, or miraculous acts performed by God that display His power and intervene in human history.
Psalm 96 likely arose during or shortly after the return from Babylonian exile. The rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, a tangible sign of God's presence and restored kingship, would have stirred hearts to declare His 'new song' not just to Israel, but to all the nations, anticipating a future when God's glory would be universally recognized.
c. 587-586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian army destroys Jerusalem and its temple, initiating the Babylonian exile for many Judeans.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, creating the Persian Empire and eventually allowing Jewish exiles to return to Judah.
c. 520-516 BC— this verse
Rebuilding of the Second Temple
Following their return from exile, the Jewish people, under leaders like Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest, rebuild the Jerusalem Temple. This event likely inspired a renewed sense of God's kingship and promised future glory.
c. 458-444 BC
Reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah
These leaders work to re-establish religious and civic order in Jerusalem, reinforcing the Law and the people's identity after the return from exile.
This passage directly calls for a 'new song' to be sung to the Lord, echoing the sentiment of proclaiming His glory and works to all peoples, as seen in Psalms 96:3.
Isaiah 66:19This verse describes a similar mission to declare God's glory among the nations, specifically mentioning His 'wonders' shown to them, aligning perfectly with the message of Psalms 96:3.
1 Chronicles 16:24Psalms 96:3 is a direct quotation from this passage in Chronicles, highlighting David's command to 'Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples' during the transfer of the Ark.
Romans 15:9-11The Apostle Paul quotes this very psalm (including verses like Psalm 96:1) to show how Old Testament prophecies point to the inclusion of Gentiles in God's praise, fulfilling the command to declare His glory among all peoples.
Matthew 28:19-20Jesus' Great Commission to 'go and make disciples of all nations' is the New Testament outworking of this Old Testament call to declare God's glory and works to every tribe and tongue.
expositorsPsalms 96:1-13: "O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth."
Psalm 96:1-13 THE praise of Jehovah as King has, in the preceding psalms, chiefly celebrated His reign over Israel. But this grand coronation anthem takes a wider sweep, and hymns that kingdom as extending to all nations, and as reaching beyond men, for the joy and blessing of a renovated earth. It fails into four strophes, of which the first three contain three verses each, while the last extends to four. The…
cambridgePsalms 96:3: "Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people."
3 . Tell of his glory among the nations, His marvellous works among all the peoples. Cp. Isaiah 66:18 ; and see note on Psalm 9:1 .
The verse isn't just a call to tell people about God; it’s a command to declare His "glory" and His "marvelous works" specifically "among the nations" and "all peoples," implying that God's greatness is meant to be seen and celebrated by everyone, not just His own people. This isn't just about sharing good news, but about revealing the unique, awe-inspiring character of God as demonstrated through His actions.
This psalm is a call for all nations to recognize and celebrate God's reign as King. Following an initial summons for Israel to sing a "new song" of God's salvation, the text urges them to declare His glory and wonders universally, not just among their own people. This message sets the stage for a worldwide acknowledgment of God's supreme power and works, extending praise beyond the borders of Israel.
This psalm is a call for all nations to recognize and celebrate God's reign as King. Following an initial summons for Israel to sing a "new song" of God's salvation, the text urges them to declare His glory and wonders universally, not just among their own people. This message sets the stage for a worldwide acknowledgment of God's supreme power and works, extending praise beyond the borders of Israel.
"Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!" — The verse isn't just a call to tell people about God; it’s a command to declare His "glory" and His "marvelous works" specifically "among the nations" and "all peoples," implying that God's greatness…
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Last reviewed October 2026