Psalms 22:23 Meaning and Explanation
“Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Praise in Psalm 22 is never detached from the character of God. After promising to praise in the congregation, the speaker turns toward the gathered people and summons them to respond. Verse 23 shows that reverence, glory, and praise belong together when God's deliverance has been made known.
The psalmist calls all who fear the LORD, especially the seed of Jacob and Israel, to answer God's heard prayer and saving faithfulness with praise, glory, and reverent fear.
The Context of Psalms 22:23
Verse 22 has announced the psalmist's purpose to declare God's name among his brethren and praise him in the congregation. Verse 23 extends that praise as an exhortation to those assembled. The parallel names "Jacob" and "Israel" recall the people descended from the patriarch whose name God changed. Verse 24 immediately supplies the reason for the command: the LORD has attended to the afflicted person's cry and has heard him. Verses 25 and 26 return to the speaker's public praise and vows, then promise satisfaction and enduring life to the meek who seek the LORD. The psalm's praise continues outward toward every nation and future generation.
What Does Psalms 22:23 Mean?
The verse uses three related commands. Those who "fear the LORD" are called to praise him. The "seed of Jacob" are called to glorify him, giving public honor to the God whose works deserve honor. The "seed of Israel" are called to fear him. Biblical fear of the LORD includes awe, loyalty, humility, and recognition of God's holy authority. It belongs with praise because praise is more than enjoyment of God's gifts. The people are called to acknowledge the giver himself. The repetition of Jacob and Israel intensifies the summons and addresses the covenant people as a whole, inviting a united response to the God who has heard the afflicted.
Verse 23 stands between one person's rescue and the worship of a wider people. The speaker's experience does not terminate in private relief. It becomes a reason for Israel to glorify the LORD. Verse 24 clarifies that the afflicted person's cry was heard, which gives the congregation a concrete basis for praise. This pattern appears often in the Psalms: God acts, the rescued person tells of it, and the people join in worship. The verse also holds together reverence and joy. Fear of the LORD is fitting because he is holy and sovereign; praise is fitting because his attention to the afflicted reveals his faithfulness. Neither response is shallow when rooted in his character.
The call reaches its fullest canonical setting in the worship gathered around God's saving work in Christ. Psalm 22 is cited in relation to Jesus' suffering, and its later praise is linked in Hebrews with the Son among his brethren. Verse 23 therefore helps us hear a communal response to that saving work: those who know the LORD are summoned to honor him together. The verse does not make praise a spectacle of human achievement. It directs attention toward God, whose faithfulness has been declared. In the wider psalm, that worship finally includes the ends of the earth, showing that God's worthy praise is greater than one person's deliverance or one generation's memory.
Bible Verses Related to Psalms 22:23
“Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.”
- Psalm 86:11
“Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.”
- Psalm 96:7
“And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,”
- Deuteronomy 10:12
“And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.”
- Revelation 19:5
How to Apply Psalms 22:23 Today
This verse gives shape to gathered worship and to ordinary gratitude. We can praise God with words that name his character and works, rather than speaking only in general terms. Reverence can guide our speech, choices, and treatment of others, especially when we remember that God hears afflicted people. Families, congregations, and friends can also preserve stories of God's help so that praise has substance. When another person testifies to mercy, we may receive it as an invitation to glorify the LORD with them. Shared praise resists isolation and helps a community remember that God remains worthy of honor in seasons of both relief and waiting.
Reflection & Prayer
What aspect of God's character calls for renewed praise and reverence in our present circumstances? Name it before the LORD, then consider how it may shape one conversation or act of worship. Pray: "Holy LORD, form in us reverent joy, and teach our community to glorify thee for thy faithful works."