Psalms 63:4

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 63:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “So will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

So will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
Psalms 63:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 63

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
4So will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

What do historical commentaries say?

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Thus--literally, "Truly." will I bless--praise Thee (Psa 34:1). lift up my hands--in worship (compare Psa 28:2). in thy name--in praise of Thy perfections.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Thus will I bless thee while I live - In my life; or, as long as life lasts, will I praise thee. The word “thus” refers to the sentiment in the previous verse, meaning that as the result of his deep sense of the value of the loving kindness of God, he would praise him through all the remainder of his life, or would never cease to praise him. A true purpose of serving God embraces the whole of this life, and the whole of eternity. He who loves God, and who has any proper sense of his mercy, does not anticipate a time when he will cease to praise and bless him, or when he will have any desire or wish not to be engaged in his service. I will lift up my hands in thy name - In solemn prayer and…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Thus: Psa 104:33, Psa 145:1-3, Psa 146:1, Psa 146:2 I will lift: Psa 134:2; 1Kings 8:22-66; Hab 3:10 Psalms 63:5”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“This strophe again takes up the כּן ( Psa 63:3): thus ardently longing, for all time to come also, is he set towards God, with such fervent longing after God will he bless Him in his life, i.e., entirely filling up his life therewith (בּחיּי as in Psa 104:33; Psa 146:2; cf. Baruch 4:20, ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις μου), and in His name, i.e., invoking it and appealing to it, will he lift up his hands in prayer. The being occupied with God makes him, even though as now in the desert he is obliged to suffer bodily hunger, satisfied and cheerful like the fattest and most marrowy food: velut adipe et pinguedine satiatur anima mea. From Lev 3:17; Lev 7:25, Grussetius and Frisch infer that spiritualies…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification