When the Bible Says That We Are to Praise the Lord, Who Is It Referring to, the Father or the Son?
- Edward D. Andrews
- 9 hours ago
- 6 min read
The Words Behind “Praise the Lord”
The phrase “praise the Lord” can sound simple in English, but the Bible uses several different words and titles that must be read in context. In the Hebrew Scriptures, “praise Jehovah” is often tied to the covenant Name of God represented by the Tetragrammaton, which faithful English renderings should represent as Jehovah. In those contexts, “praise the Lord” is not generic praise directed at an undefined deity; it is praise directed to Jehovah, the God of Israel, the One who revealed Himself to Moses and acted in history to redeem and govern His people. In the Greek Scriptures, however, the title “Lord” (kyrios) is frequently applied to Jesus, and sometimes it refers to the Father, depending on the passage. That means the only faithful answer is this: “Lord” refers to the Father in many Old Testament-based uses, and it refers to the Son in many New Testament confessions, and sometimes the text intentionally includes both within a single stream of praise. The deciding factor is always grammar, immediate context, and the way the biblical authors use the titles.
Praise Directed to Jehovah in the Hebrew Scriptures
In the Psalms and many prophetic texts, praise is explicitly anchored to Jehovah’s Name and works. “Praise Jah!” is a shortened form connected to Jehovah, and the Psalms repeatedly call God’s people to praise Jehovah for His creation, His mercy, His justice, and His saving acts. For example, Psalm 150 piles up commands to praise God because He is worthy in Himself and worthy for what He has done. This praise is covenantal and historical: Jehovah brought Israel out of Egypt, upheld His promises, disciplined His people, and preserved the line through which the Messiah would come. The historical-grammatical sense is plain: when the text names Jehovah, the referent is the Father, the one true God, the Supreme One. The Hebrew Scriptures do not use “Jehovah” as an ambiguous title that could float between persons; it is the personal Name of God, and the commands to praise Jehovah direct worship and gratitude to Him.
The New Testament’s Use of “Lord” for Jesus
The New Testament boldly applies “Lord” to Jesus in ways that are not merely polite respect. After Jesus’ resurrection and exaltation, Peter proclaims, “God made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus” (Acts 2:36). Paul declares, “If you publicly confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord… you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Those statements show that “Lord” is a central confession about Jesus’ authority, kingship, and exalted status. When Christians praise “the Lord” in many New Testament contexts—especially in Christian gatherings, prayers, and confessions—the referent is often the Son. This does not compete with honoring the Father; it fulfills the Father’s purpose that the Son be honored as the Father’s appointed King. Jesus Himself states the principle: “so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father” (John 5:23). Therefore, when a passage places Jesus in the foreground as the exalted Lord, praising “the Lord” is praising the Son, and such praise is obedience to God’s design.
Doxologies and Praise That Include Both the Father and the Son
Many New Testament passages present praise that moves naturally from the Father to the Son, or that honors the Father through what He has done in the Son. Ephesians 1 blesses “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” and then celebrates salvation accomplished through Christ. Revelation 5 portrays heavenly praise that is directed both to “the One seated on the throne” and to “the Lamb,” expressing honor, glory, and power in a unified chorus. The grammar and scene do not suggest rivalry; they present ordered worship within God’s saving arrangement. The Father is praised as the Source and Planner of salvation, and the Son is praised as the One who accomplished redemption through His sacrifice and now reigns as the exalted Lord. In these contexts, asking, “Is it the Father or the Son?” can be too narrow, because the text sometimes intends praise to encompass both, with each honored according to His role.
How to Identify the Referent of “Lord” in Context
The Bible does not leave readers without guidance. When “Lord” appears in an Old Testament quotation in the New Testament, the writer may be drawing on a Hebrew text that originally used Jehovah’s Name, which often indicates reference to the Father. Yet the New Testament writers also apply Old Testament language about Jehovah’s actions to Jesus’ exalted authority in ways that show Jesus shares in the fulfillment of God’s redemptive work. The safest method is to examine the immediate context: Who is being discussed in the preceding verses? Who is the subject of the verbs? Who is receiving prayer, thanksgiving, or confession in the passage? If the text speaks of God raising Jesus, then “God” is the Father and “Lord” may be Jesus. If the text speaks of “the Lord Jesus,” the referent is explicit. If the text speaks of “the Lord God,” the referent is the Father. Scripture frequently provides these clarifying markers, and careful reading resolves most confusion without forcing a one-size-fits-all rule.
Praise, Worship, and the Father’s Purpose for the Son’s Honor
Some readers worry that praising Jesus might detract from praising the Father. The New Testament removes that fear by explaining that honoring the Son is part of honoring the Father. Philippians 2:9–11 teaches that God exalted Jesus and granted Him a Name above every name, so that every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, “to the glory of God the Father.” That closing phrase is decisive: confession and homage to Jesus as Lord results in glory to the Father, not competition with Him. The Son’s authority is given by the Father, exercised in harmony with the Father’s will, and aimed at fulfilling the Father’s saving purpose. Therefore, when Christians praise Jesus as Lord in the biblical sense—acknowledging His kingship, His sacrifice, His resurrection, and His present authority—they are participating in a pattern of honor that God Himself established.
Prayer and Praise Ordered by Jesus’ Own Teaching
Jesus teaches His disciples to direct prayer to the Father: “Our Father in heaven…” (Matthew 6:9). He also teaches that access to the Father is through Him, and that His followers come to the Father in His name (John 14:13–14; 16:23). That means the normal pattern of Christian prayer is Father-directed, Christ-mediated. Yet the New Testament also records prayers and appeals addressed to the Lord Jesus in contexts where His lordship is in view (compare Acts 7:59–60, where Stephen addresses the Lord Jesus in a moment of crisis). The overall biblical picture is ordered rather than chaotic: Christians praise and thank the Father for His saving purpose, and they praise and honor the Son as the Lord through whom salvation was accomplished and through whom the Father’s rule is administered. When a congregation sings “praise the Lord,” the referent should be determined by the song’s content and by the biblical language it draws upon.
The Holy Spirit and the Content of Christian Praise
Christian praise is shaped by the Spirit-inspired Word of God. The Holy Spirit does not lead Christians through private inner voices or indwelling impressions; He leads by the Scriptures He inspired, which train the mind and conscience to worship rightly. That is why Christian praise must be saturated with biblical truth rather than vague emotionalism. The Holy Spirit glorifies the Son by making the truth about Him clear in God’s Word, and He anchors worship in what God has actually revealed. When praise is faithful to Scripture, it will honor Jehovah the Father as the Supreme One and honor Jesus as the exalted Lord and Messiah, without confusion and without diminishing either. In that sense, the question is not only “Which Person is ‘Lord’ here?” but also “Is this praise content true to the Word the Holy Spirit inspired?” Right praise is informed praise.
Practical Guidance for Reading and Using “Praise the Lord” Faithfully
When believers encounter “praise the Lord” in the Psalms, the historical-grammatical meaning commonly points to Jehovah, the Father, because the Name and covenant context govern the referent. When believers encounter “the Lord” in apostolic teaching, confessions, and many Christian hymns rooted in New Testament language, the referent often points to Jesus, the exalted Lord. When believers encounter doxologies and heavenly scenes that honor both the One on the throne and the Lamb, the text itself signals a broader stream of praise that includes both, with each praised according to His revealed role. If Christians keep their reading anchored to context, grammar, and the Bible’s own patterns of worship, they will not be trapped in confusion. They will praise Jehovah wholeheartedly, and they will honor and praise the Son as the Father’s appointed Lord, to the Father’s glory.
About the Author
EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).
Comments