📖WEB · 1 Chronicles 16:8
What does 1 Chronicles 16:8 mean?
"Oh give thanks to Yahweh. Call on his name. Make what he has done known among the peoples."
— 1 Chronicles 16:8 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, with stringed instruments and with harps; and Asaph with cymbals, sounding aloud;
with Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually, before the ark of the covenant of God.
Then on that day David first ordained to give thanks to Yahweh, by the hand of Asaph and his brothers.
Oh give thanks to Yahweh. Call on his name. Make what he has done known among the peoples.
Sing to him. Sing praises to him. Tell of all his marvelous works.
Glory in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.
Seek Yahweh and his strength. Seek his face forever more.
Explanation
1 Chronicles 16:8 says, in simple terms, that God's people are called to thank him, to call on him in prayer and worship, and to tell others what he has done. It is a three-part command: give thanks, call on his name, and make his deeds known. The verse is not merely a private feeling of gratitude but an active, outward-facing response to God's character and actions.
The context is important for understanding the verse fully. This line opens a psalm of thanksgiving that David composed and appointed Asaph and his fellow Levites to sing when the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Jerusalem and placed in the tent David had prepared for it (1 Chronicles 16:1-7). This was a momentous national and religious occasion — the ark represented God's presence dwelling among his people, and its arrival in the capital city marked a high point in Israel's worship life. The psalm that follows (verses 8-36) is essentially the same as portions of Psalms 105, 96, and 106, showing that this hymn became part of Israel's ongoing worship tradition, not just a one-time celebration. David is instructing the worship leaders — and through them, the whole nation — how to respond rightly to what God had done in establishing his presence among them.
Theologically, this verse ties gratitude directly to remembrance and proclamation. To "give thanks" acknowledges God as the source of every blessing. To "call on his name" means to approach him in worship, prayer, and dependent relationship — recognizing him as a living, personal God who can be addressed and who responds. To "make his deeds known among the
Compare translations
Go deeper with ScriptureCompanion AI
Ask questions about any verse, follow reading plans, write personal prayers, and track your daily habit — all grounded in verified scripture text.