1
ψαλμὸς εἰς ἐξομολόγησιν ἀλαλάξατε τῷ κυρίῳ πᾶσα ἡ γῆ
A psalm for thanksgiving. Shout to the Lord, all the earth.
The thanksgiving superscription passes straight into a world-wide imperative, presenting praise as the proper response of the whole earth.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
ψαλμὸςpsalmN2 NSM · ψαλμόςnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceψαλμός: meaning 'psalm'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
εἰςintoP · εἰςpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
ἐξομολόγησινthanksgivingN3I ASF · ἐξομολόγησιςaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationἐξομολόγησις: meaning 'thanksgiving'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
ἀλαλάξατεshoutVA AAD2P · ἀλαλάζωverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ verbal action or stateἀλαλάζω: meaning 'shout'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
τῷtheRA DSM · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳLORDN2 DSM · κύριοςdative nominal element marking relation, instrument, sphere, or recipient→ sphere or referenceκύριος: meaning 'LORD'; it serves as dative nominal element marking relation, instrument, sphere, or recipient.
πᾶσαallA1S NSF · πᾶςnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceπᾶς: meaning 'all'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
ἡtheRA NSF · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆlandN1 NSF · γῆnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceγῆ: meaning 'land'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
2
δουλεύσατε τῷ κυρίῳ ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ εἰσέλθατε ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει
Serve the Lord with gladness; come in before him with rejoicing.
The shout of the opening verse becomes concrete liturgical action: glad service and festal entrance into God's presence.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
δουλεύσατεserveVA AAD2P · δουλεύωverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ verbal action or stateδουλεύω: meaning 'serve'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
τῷtheRA DSM · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίῳLORDN2 DSM · κύριοςdative nominal element marking relation, instrument, sphere, or recipient→ sphere or referenceκύριος: meaning 'LORD'; it serves as dative nominal element marking relation, instrument, sphere, or recipient.
ἐνinP · ἐνpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
εὐφροσύνῃgladnessN1 DSF · εὐφροσύνηdative nominal element marking relation, instrument, sphere, or recipient→ sphere or referenceεὐφροσύνη: meaning 'gladness'; it serves as dative nominal element marking relation, instrument, sphere, or recipient.
εἰσέλθατεcome inVBI AAD2P · ἔρχομαι + εἰςverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι + εἰς: meaning 'come in'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
ἐνώπιονbeforeP · ἐνώπιονpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: meaning 'before'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
αὐτοῦhisRD GSM · αὐτόςpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
ἐνinP · ἐνpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
ἀγαλλιάσειrejoicingN3I DSF · ἀγαλλίασιςdative nominal element marking relation, instrument, sphere, or recipient→ sphere or referenceἀγαλλίασις: meaning 'rejoicing'; it serves as dative nominal element marking relation, instrument, sphere, or recipient.
3
γνῶτε ὅτι κύριος αὐτός ἐστιν ὁ θεός αὐτὸς ἐποίησεν ἡμᾶς καὶ οὐχ ἡμεῖς λαὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ πρόβατα τῆς νομῆς αὐτοῦ
Know that the Lord, he is God; he made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
The psalm now supplies the theological basis for worship: the Lord alone is God, creator, and shepherd-owner of the people.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
γνῶτεknowingVZ AAD2P · γιγνώσκωverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ verbal action or stateγιγνώσκω: meaning 'knowing'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
ὅτιthatC · ὅτιconnective or conjunction linking the clause to its context→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κύριοςLordN2 NSM · κύριοςnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceκύριος: meaning 'Lord'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
αὐτόςhisRD NSM · αὐτόςpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ participant referenceαὐτός: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
ἐστινbeV9 PAI3S · εἰμίverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ ongoing verbal processεἰμί: meaning 'be'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
ὁtheRA NSM · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodN2 NSM · θεόςnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceθεός: meaning 'God'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
αὐτὸςheRD NSM · αὐτόςpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ participant referenceαὐτὸς: meaning 'he'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
ἐποίησενdidVAI AAI3S · ποιέωverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ constative aoristποιέω: meaning 'did'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
ἡμᾶςusRP AP · ἐγώpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ participant referenceἡμᾶς: meaning 'us'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
καὶandC · καίconnective or conjunction linking the clause to its context→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐχnotD · οὐadverbial or particle element shaping the clause or phrase→ discourse linkage or contrastοὐχ: meaning 'not'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἡμεῖςweRP NP · ἐγώpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ participant referenceἡμεῖς: meaning 'we'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
λαὸςpeopleN2 NSM · λαόςnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceλαός: meaning 'people'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
αὐτοῦhisRD GSM · αὐτόςpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
καὶandC · καίconnective or conjunction linking the clause to its context→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πρόβαταsheepN2N NPN · πρόβατονnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceπρόβατον: meaning 'sheep'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
τῆςtheRA GSF · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νομῆςpastureN1 GSF · νομήgenitive nominal element defining relation, possession, source, or quality→ relational specificationνομή: meaning 'pasture'; it serves as genitive nominal element defining relation, possession, source, or quality.
αὐτοῦhisRD GSM · αὐτόςpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
4
εἰσέλθατε εἰς τὰς πύλας αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐξομολογήσει εἰς τὰς αὐλὰς αὐτοῦ ἐν ὕμνοις ἐξομολογεῖσθε αὐτῷ αἰνεῖτε τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ
Go in through his gates with thanksgiving, into his courts with hymns; give thanks to him, praise his name.
The worshipers are pictured as moving bodily into the temple precincts, and every stage of entry is marked by thanksgiving and sung praise.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
εἰσέλθατεgo inVBI AAD2P · ἔρχομαι + εἰςverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ verbal action or stateἔρχομαι + εἰς: meaning 'go in'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
εἰςintoP · εἰςpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
τὰςtheRA APF · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πύλαςgatesN1 APF · πύληaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationπύλη: meaning 'gates'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
αὐτοῦhisRD GSM · αὐτόςpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
ἐνinP · ἐνpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
ἐξομολογήσειwith thanksgivingN3I DSF · ἐξομολόγησιςdative nominal element marking relation, instrument, sphere, or recipient→ sphere or referenceἐξομολόγησις: meaning 'with thanksgiving'; it serves as dative nominal element marking relation, instrument, sphere, or recipient.
εἰςintoP · εἰςpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
τὰςtheRA APF · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αὐλὰςcourtsN1 APF · αὐλήaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationαὐλή: meaning 'courts'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
αὐτοῦhisRD GSM · αὐτόςpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
ἐνinP · ἐνpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
ὕμνοιςhymnsN2 DPM · ὕμνοςdative nominal element marking relation, instrument, sphere, or recipient→ sphere or referenceὕμνος: meaning 'hymns'; it serves as dative nominal element marking relation, instrument, sphere, or recipient.
ἐξομολογεῖσθεgive thanks / confessV2 PMI2P · ὁμολογέω + ἐκverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ ongoing verbal processὁμολογέω + ἐκ: meaning 'give thanks'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
αὐτῷto himRD DSM · αὐτόςpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
αἰνεῖτεpraiseV2 PAI2P · αἰνέωverbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause→ ongoing verbal processαἰνέω: meaning 'praise'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verbal form carrying the action, process, or state of the clause.
τὸtheRA ASN · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνομαnameN3M ASN · ὄνομαaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationὄνομα: meaning 'name'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
αὐτοῦhisRD GSM · αὐτόςpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
5
ὅτι χρηστὸς κύριος εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ καὶ ἕως γενεᾶς καὶ γενεᾶς ἡ ἀλήθεια αὐτοῦ
For the Lord is good; his mercy is forever, and his truth is from generation to generation.
The closing confession explains why such thanksgiving is fitting: God's goodness, mercy, and truth endure beyond the single liturgical moment into all generations.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
ὅτιthatC · ὅτιconnective or conjunction linking the clause to its context→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
χρηστὸςgoodA1 NSM · χρηστόςnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceχρηστός: meaning 'good'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
κύριοςLordN2 NSM · κύριοςnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceκύριος: meaning 'Lord'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
εἰςintoP · εἰςpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
τὸνtheRA ASM · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἰῶναage / foreverN3W ASM · αἰώνaccusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal→ object specificationαἰών: meaning 'age'; it serves as accusative element functioning as object, extent, or goal.
τὸtheRA NSN · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἔλεοςmercyN3E NSN · ἔλεοςnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceἔλεος: meaning 'mercy'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
αὐτοῦhisRD GSM · αὐτόςpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.
καὶandC · καίconnective or conjunction linking the clause to its context→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἕωςuntilP · ἕωςpreposition governing its complement phrase→ spatial or relational framingἕως: meaning 'until'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition governing its complement phrase.
γενεᾶςof generationN1A GSF · γενεάgenitive nominal element defining relation, possession, source, or quality→ relational specificationγενεά: meaning 'of generation'; it serves as genitive nominal element defining relation, possession, source, or quality.
καὶandC · καίconnective or conjunction linking the clause to its context→ discourse linkage or contrastκαὶ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γενεᾶςof generationN1A GSF · γενεάgenitive nominal element defining relation, possession, source, or quality→ relational specificationγενεά: meaning 'of generation'; it serves as genitive nominal element defining relation, possession, source, or quality.
ἡtheRA NSF · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀλήθειαtruthN1A NSF · ἀλήθειαnominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition→ participant prominenceἀλήθεια: meaning 'truth'; it serves as nominative element functioning as subject, predicate, or apposition.
αὐτοῦhisRD GSM · αὐτόςpronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as pronominal form marking person, reference, or participant role within the clause.