Psalms 135:4
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For the LORD has chosen Jacob as His own, Israel as His treasured possession.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
This is one of the Hallelujah-psalms; that is the title of it, and that is the Amen of it, both its Alpha and its Omega. I. It begins with a call to praise God, particularly a call to the "servants of the Lord" to praise him, as in the foregoing psalm (Psa 135:1-3). II. It goes on to furnish us with matter for praise. God is to be praised, 1. As the God of Jacob (Psa 135:4). 2. As the God of gods (Psa 135:5). 3. As the God of the whole world (Psa 135:6, Psa 135:7). 4. As a terrible God to the enemies of Israel (Psa 135:8-11). 5. As a gracious God to Israel, both in what he had done for them and what he would do (Psa 135:12-14). 6. As the only living God, all other gods being vanity and a lie (Psa 135:15-18). III. It concludes with another exhortation to all persons concerned to praise God (Psa 135:19-21). In singing this psalm our hearts must be filled, as well as our mouths, with the high praises of God.
Open source ↗135:4 The synonyms Jacob and Israel include all twelve tribes. The Lord cherishes his chosen people. They are his treasure out of all the kingdoms of the world (Exod 19:5-6).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Yet the LORD has set His affection on your fathers and loved them. And He has chosen you, their descendants after them, above all the peoples, even to this day.
“They will be Mine,” says the LORD of Hosts, “on the day when I prepare My treasured possession. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.
But the LORD’s portion is His people, Jacob His allotted inheritance.
Indeed, for the sake of His great name, the LORD will not abandon His people, because He was pleased to make you His own.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His inheritance!
“But you, O Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham My friend—
O offspring of His servant Abraham, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones.
He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.