Psalm 63:4

Psalm 63:4

Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

a. ASV: So will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

b. YLT: So I bless Thee in my life, in Thy name I lift up my hands.

c. Amplified Bible Classic: So will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.

d. Septuagint [Psalm 63:4 in our Bibles is Psalm 62:5 in the Septuagint]: Thus will I bless thee during my life: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

e. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings [Psalm 63:4 in our Bibles is Psalm 63:5 in Jewish Bibles]: Thus shall I bless You all my life, in Your Name I shall lift my hands. 

1. “Thus will I bless thee while I live…”

a. Thus [Strong: 3651  ken kane from 3559; properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner, time and relation; often with other particles):--+ after that (this, -ward, -wards), as ... as, + (for-)asmuch as yet, + be (for which) cause, + following, howbeit, in (the) like (manner, -wise), X the more, right, (even) so, state, straightway, such (thing), surely, + there (where)-fore, this, thus, true, well, X you.]

b. [will I] bless [thee] [Strong: 1288 bârak, baw-rak'; a primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason):—× abundantly, × altogether, × at all, blaspheme, bless, congratulate, curse, × greatly, × indeed, kneel (down), praise, salute, × still, thank.]

c. [while I] live [Strong: 2416 chay, khah'-ee; from H2421; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively:— age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, merry, multitude, (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.]

1). It amazes me that God’s word says that we can bless God and in the next section it tells us how.

2. “...I will lift up my hands in thy name.”

a. [I will] lift up [Strong 5375 nâsâʼ, naw-saw'; or נָסָה nâçâh; (Psalm 4:6 [7]), a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative:—accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ( man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, × needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, swear, take (away, up), × utterly, wear, yield.]

b. [my] hands [Strong: 3709 kaph, kaf; from H3721; the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree); figuratively, power:—branch, foot, hand((-ful), -dle, (-led)), hollow, middle, palm, paw, power, sole, spoon.]

c. [in thy] name [Strong: 8034 shêm, shame; a primitive word [perhaps rather from H7760 through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare H8064]; an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character:—+ base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.]

1). The New Covenant also teaches us that we can pray with our hands raised unto God.

a). 1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

2). In Psalms it declares that prayer is like incense ascending to God, and the lifting of our hands is like the evening sacrifice.

 a). Psalm 141:2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. 

3). To see how significant this is we must look at what God told the Israelites after they were delivered out of Egypt. The evening and morning sacrifice was to be down every day of their existence.

a). Exodus 29:38-41 Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually.

29:39 The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even:

29:40 And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering.

29:41 And the other lamb thou shalt offer at even, and shalt do thereto according to the meat offering of the morning, and according to the drink offering thereof, for a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the Lord.

29:42 This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee.