📖 Biblical Definition
To ascribe is to attribute, give credit to — and in Scripture it is the worship-verb par excellence. "Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness" (Psalm 29:2; 96:8) is literally "ascribe to YHWH glory." Worship is fundamentally ascription: declaring out loud what is true of God. "Ascribe ye greatness unto our God" (Deuteronomy 32:3). The Christian does not give God anything He did not already possess; the worshiper merely names rightly what is. This is why the Psalms are so saturated with attributes — He is strong, holy, just, merciful, everlasting. Christian men should learn the discipline: speak God’s attributes back to Him, daily, out loud.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
To attribute, credit, give to.
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To attribute or credit something to a person or cause; in Scripture especially the worship-verb — "give (ascribe) unto the LORD the glory due unto his name." Worship is fundamentally ascription, the public declaring of what is true of God.
📖 Key Scripture
Psalm 29:1-2 — "Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness."
Psalm 96:7-8 — "Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name."
Deuteronomy 32:3 — "Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Vocabulary largely lost; the worship-as-ascription concept has thinned along with it.
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Modern English uses "ascribe" rarely ("the discovery is ascribed to Newton"). Scripture uses it as the worship-verb. To worship is to ascribe — to verbally credit God with what is His: glory, strength, holiness, sovereignty.
Recover the precision: worship is not vibing; it is declaring. Ascribe out loud what is true of Him, and worship has happened.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew yahab; Latin ascribere.
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['Hebrew', 'H3051', 'yahab', 'to give, ascribe']
['Hebrew', 'H3034', 'yadah', 'to give thanks, ascribe']
Usage
"Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name."
"Worship is ascription."
"Declare out loud what is true of Him."