Meaning, commentary and cross references
Psalms 115:1
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.
NIV · New International Version
Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.
WEB · World English Bible
Not to us, LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for your loving kindness, and for your truth’s sake.
What does Psalms 115:1 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Psalms 115:1
Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory,.... There is no glory due to men; no, not to the best of men, not to be given them on any account whatever; neither on account of things natural, civil, and temporal, nor on account of things spiritual and eternal; but all to be given to the Lord: for, as for their beings and the preservation of them, with all the mercies of life, food, raiment, &c. they are not of themselves, but of the Lord; and so are the salvation of their souls, their election and redemption, their regeneration, conversion, and sanctification, their justification and pardon; whatsoever good thing is in them, or done by them: nor have they anything for the…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Psalms 115:1–8
Whatever becomes of us, unto thy name give glory. See Joh 12:27, Joh 12:28. II. The reproach of the heathen is here for ever silenced and justly retorted. 1.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on Psalms 115:1–3
1. Not unto us, O Jehovah! not unto us, but unto thy name give the glory, on account of thy mercy, on account of thy truth. 2. Why should the heathen say, Where is now their God? 3. Surely our God is in heaven: he hath done whatsoever pleased him. 1 Not unto us, O Jehovah!
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Psalms 115:1–4 (WEB)
1Not to us, LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for your loving kindness, and for your truth’s sake. 2Why should the nations say, “Where is their God, now?” 3But our God is in the heavens. He does whatever he pleases. 4Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
Cross references
- Psalms 79:9–10
- Isaiah 48:11
For my own sake, for my own sake, I will do it; for how would my name be profaned? I will not give my glory to another.
- Psalms 96:8
- Ezekiel 20:14
But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.
- Ezekiel 36:32
I don’t do this for your sake,” says the Lord GOD. “Let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, house of Israel.”
- Ephesians 1:6
to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely gave us favor in the Beloved.
- Ezekiel 36:22
“Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘The Lord GOD says: “I don’t do this for your sake, house of Israel, but for my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.
- Daniel 9:19
Lord, hear. Lord, forgive. Lord, listen and do. Don’t defer, for your own sake, my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”