Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Chronicles 29:11

"Thine, O Jehovah, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heavens and in the earth [is thine]; thine is the kingdom, O Jehovah, and thou art exalted as head above all." — 1 Chronicles 29:11 (ASV)

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness. —The point of 1 Chronicles 29:11–12 seems to be that David arrogates nothing to himself; but, with the humility of genuine greatness, ascribes everything to God. It is as if he said, “The greatness of my kingdom, the prowess of my warriors, the splendor and majesty of my throne, are yours, for yours are all things.”

Greatness. — Gĕdullâh, a late word. (Psalms 145:3.)

Power. —Strictly, manly strength; then valor, prowess (Psalms 21:13). (Compare to Exodus 15:3.)

The glory. —Ornament, beauty, splendor (Isaiah 3:18; Isaiah 13:19; Isaiah 46:13; Psalms 96:6).

Majesty. —See Psalms 21:6; Psalms 96:6.

Victory. —Glory, splendor (1 Samuel 15:29). “Victory” is the meaning of the word in Syriac, and so the Septuagint and Vulgate render it here. But the Syriac version has “beauty” or “glory.” With the whole ascription, compare to Revelation 4:11; Revelation 5:12; Revelation 7:12.

All that is in the heavens ... is yours. —The pronoun (lâk) seems to have fallen out before the following: “Yours (lĕkâ) is the kingdom.” (Compare for the idea to Psalms 89:11; Psalms 24:1.)

The kingdom. —The universal sovereignty (Psalms 96:10; Psalms 97:1; Psalms 22:28).

You are exalted as head above all. —Literally, And the self-exalted over all as head (are you). (Compare to Numbers 16:3.) Here also the pronoun (’âttâh) may have been lost at the end. Ewald, however, explains the apparent participle as an Aramaized infinitive: “And the being exalted over all as head is yours.” (Compare to Isaiah 24:21 for the supremacy of God over all powers of heaven and earth.)

As head. —Compare to Deuteronomy 28:13; Psalms 18:43; Colossians 2:10.