Psalms 8 · ESV Study Bible

How Majestic Is Your Name

PSALM 8 [†] O LORD, our Lord,

how majestic is your q name in all the earth!

You have set your r glory above the heavens.

2[^][†] s Out of the mouth of babies and infants,

you have established t strength because of your foes,

to still u the enemy and the avenger.

3[†] When I v look at your heavens, the work of your w fingers,

the moon and the stars, x which you have set in place,

4 y what is man that you are z mindful of him,

and a the son of man that you b care for him?

5[^][†] Yet you have made him a little lower than c the heavenly beings [2]

and crowned him with d glory and honor.

6[^][†] You have given him e dominion over the works of your hands;

f you have put all things under his feet,

7 all sheep and oxen,

and also the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,

whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

9[†] O LORD, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

[1] To the choirmaster: according to Muth-labben. [2] A Psalm of David.

PSALM—NOTE ON 8:6 This echoes Gen. 1:26. put all things under his feet. Paul combines this with the explicitly messianic Ps. 110:1 (1 Cor. 15:25–27; cf. Eph. 1:22), reflecting an approach similar to that of Hebrews (Heb. 2:6–9).

PSALM—NOTE ON Psalm 8. This is a hymn of praise, enabling the Lord’s people to celebrate their privileged place in the created order, which speaks of the glorious Creator. Genesis 1–2 lies behind the words here, especially in presenting mankind as the pinnacle of the creation week, as the rulers over the animal world, and as the object of God’s special attention. At the same time, the mention of “foes,” “enemy,” and “avenger” (Ps. 8:2), as well as the covenantal name “LORD” (vv. 1, 9), show that readers cannot ignore Genesis 3 and God’s plan for fallen mankind. Although the psalm is covenantal, and thus specifically for Israelite voices to sing, it nevertheless speaks of “man” in general terms, including all humanity. Israel’s calling was to be the firstfruits of restored humanity; thus the Israelite worshiper could embrace his dignity and seek to live worthily of it. This points the way to understanding how Heb. 2:6–8 uses Ps. 8:4–6: Jesus, as Davidic king, is the ideal Israelite, and thus the ideal human being, in this case by being crowned with glory and honor after his suffering on behalf of mankind.

PSALM—NOTE ON 8:1 The covenant name (Lord) was given specifically to Israel, but it is majestic … in all the earth, even if not all people acknowledge it.

PSALM—NOTE ON 8:1–2 God’s Majestic Name. The opening words (v. 1) set the theme of the psalm, which v. 9 then repeats. The majesty of God’s name (his revealed character) is seen in the dignity he gives to mankind.

PSALM—NOTE ON 8:2 Perhaps the babies and infants are the people of Israel, seen as weak in comparison with the mighty unbelieving Gentiles, the foes, the enemy, the avenger. It is through these insignificant mouths that God reveals his majesty. The Greek translation of the Septuagint (see Matt. 21:16) rightly interprets strength as “strength attributed to God in song,” or “praise.”