Psalms 148
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Praise ye the Lord,.... Or, hallelujah: which, in some versions, and with some interpreters, is the title of the psalm; expressive of the subject matter of it, the praise of the Lord; and is an exhortation of all creatures to it; praise ye the Lord from the heavens; that is, those that are of the heavens; let their praises of the Lord, of his perfections, works, and benefits, resound from thence; the angels of heaven particularly, who have their habitation and residence there, and sometimes descend from thence on special business, by the order and appointment of their great Creator and Master: so the Targum, "praise the Lord, ye holy creatures from heaven.'' Though some take the phrase, "from heaven", to be descriptive of the Lord, the object of praise, who is the Lord from heaven; the character of Christ, the second Adam, Co1 15:47; who is from above; came down from heaven to do the will of God; and was in heaven, as to his divine Person, while here on earth in human nature, working out the salvation of men; for which he justly deserves the praise of all in heaven and in earth. But as all creatures are distinguished in this psalm into celestial and terrestrial, called upon to praise the Lord; this seems to be the general character of the celestial ones, persons, bodies, and things; as the phrase "from the earth", Psa 148:7, includes all in the terraqueous globe; praise him in the heights; either in the highest heavens where he dwells, or with the highest notes of praise that can be raised; see Psa 149:6. The Targum is, "praise him, all the hosts of angels on high:'' or the high hosts of angels: but these are particularly mentioned in Psa 148:2.
Open source ↗The call does not rise step by step from below upwards, but begins forthwith from above in the highest and outermost spheres of creation. The place whence, before all others, the praise is to resound is the heavens; it is to resound in the heights, viz., the heights of heaven (Job 16:19; Job 25:2; Job 31:2). The מן might, it is true, also denote the birth or origin: ye of the heavens, i.e., ye celestial beings (cf. Psa 68:27), but the parallel בּמּרומים renders the immediate construction with הללוּ more natural. Psa 148:2-4 tell who are to praise Jahve there: first of all, all His angels, the messengers of the Ruler of the world - all His host, i.e., angels and stars, for צבאו (Chethמb) or צבאיו (Kerמ as in Psa 103:21) is the name of the heavenly host armed with light which God Tsebaoth commands (vid., on Gen 2:1), - a name including both stars (e.g., in Deu 4:19) and angels (e.g., in Jos 5:14., Kg1 22:19); angels and stars are also united in the Scriptures in other instances (e.g., Job 38:7). When the psalmist calls upon these beings of light to praise Jahve, he does not merely express his delight in that which they do under any circumstances (Hengstenberg), but comprehends the heavenly world with the earthly, the church above with the church here below (vid., on Psa 29:1-11; Ps 103), and gives a special turn to the praise of the former, making it into an echo of the praise of the latter, and blending both harmoniously together. The heavens of heavens are, as in Deu 10:14; Kg1 8:27, Sir. 16:18, and frequently, those which lie beyond the heavens of the earth which were created on the fourth day, therefore they are the outermost and highest spheres. The waters which are above the heavens are, according to Hupfeld, "a product of the fancy, like the upper heavens and the w…
Open source ↗We, in this dark and depressed world, know but little of the world of light and exaltation, and, conversing within narrow confines, can scarcely admit any tolerable conceptions of the vast regions above. But this we know, I. That there is above us a world of blessed angels by whom God is praised, an innumerable company of them. Thousand thousands minister unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before him; and it is his glory that he has such attendants, but much more his glory that he neither needs them, nor is, nor can be, any way benefited by them. To that bright and happy world the psalmist has an eye here, Psa 148:1, Psa 148:2. In general, to the heavens, to the heights. The heavens are the heights, and therefore we must lift up our souls above the world unto God in the heavens, and on things above we must set our affections. It is his desire that God may be praised from the heavens, that thence a praising frame may be transmitted to this world in which we live, that while we are so cold, and low, and flat, in praising God, there are those above who are doing it in a better manner, and that while we are so often interrupted in this work they rest not day nor night from it. In particular, he had an eye to God's angels, to his hosts, and calls upon them to praise God. That God's angels are his hosts is plain enough; as soon as they were made they were enlisted, armed, and disciplined; he employs them in fighting his battles, and they keep ranks, and know their place, and observe the word of command as his hosts. But what is meant by the psalmist's calling upon them, and exciting them to praise God, is not so easy to account for. I will not say, They do not heed it, because we find that to the principalities and powers is known by the church the manifold w…
Open source ↗Ps 148 This psalm calls for the whole created order to praise the Lord because he has honored his faithful people. 148:1 During Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the crowds called out various blessings, including a phrase taken from this verse (Matt 21:9; Mark 11:10; Luke 19:38).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
הָלַל (hâlal, H1984) — to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make ashow, to… יָהּ (Yâhh, H3050) — Jah, the sacred name יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… מָרוֹם (mârôwm, H4791) — altitude, i.e. concretely (an elevated place), abstractly (elevation, figuratively…
Open source ↗הָלַל (hâlal, H1984) — to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make ashow, to… מֲלְאָךְ (mălʼâk, H4397) — a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher) צָבָא (tsâbâʼ, H6635) — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army);…
Open source ↗הָלַל (hâlal, H1984) — to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make ashow, to… שֶׁמֶשׁ (shemesh, H8121) — the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched… יָרֵחַ (yârêach, H3394) — the moon כּוֹכָב (kôwkâb, H3556) — a star (as round or as shining); figuratively, a prince אוֹר (ʼôwr, H216) — illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.)
Open source ↗הָלַל (hâlal, H1984) — to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make ashow, to… שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
Open source ↗הָלַל (hâlal, H1984) — to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make ashow, to… שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) — (intensively) to constitute, enjoin בָּרָא (bârâʼ, H1254) — (absolutely) to create; (qualified) to cut down (a wood), select, feed (as formative…
Open source ↗עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) עַד (ʻad, H5703) — properly, a (peremptory) terminus, i.e. (by implication) duration, in the sense of… עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or… נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) חֹק (chôq, H2706) — an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage) עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,…
Open source ↗הָלַל (hâlal, H1984) — to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make ashow, to… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) תַּנִּין (tannîyn, H8577) — a marine or land monster, i.e. sea-serpent or jackal תְּהוֹם (tᵉhôwm, H8415) — an abyss (as a surging mass of water), especially the deep (the main sea or the…
Open source ↗אֵשׁ (ʼêsh, H784) — fire (literally or figuratively) בָּרָד (bârâd, H1259) — hail שֶׁלֶג (sheleg, H7950) — snow (probably from its whiteness) קִיטוֹר (qîyṭôwr, H7008) — a fume, i.e. cloud סַעַר (çaʻar, H5591) — a hurricane רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
Open source ↗הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) גִּבְעָה (gibʻâh, H1389) — a hillock פְּרִי (pᵉrîy, H6529) — fruit (literally or figuratively) עֵץ (ʻêts, H6086) — a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks) אֶרֶז (ʼerez, H730) — a cedar tree (from the tenacity of its roots)
Open source ↗חַי (chay, H2416) — alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially… בְּהֵמָה (bᵉhêmâh, H929) — properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective) רֶמֶשׂ (remes, H7431) — a reptile or any other rapidly moving animal כָּנָף (kânâph, H3671) — an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a wing, (of a garment or… צִפּוֹר (tsippôwr, H6833) — a little bird (as hopping)
Open source ↗מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) לְאֹם (lᵉʼôm, H3816) — a community שַׂר (sar, H8269) — a head person (of any rank or class) שָׁפַט (shâphaṭ, H8199) — to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or…
Open source ↗בָּחוּר (bâchûwr, H970) — properly, selected, i.e. a youth (often collective) בְּתוּלָה (bᵉthûwlâh, H1330) — a virgin (from her privacy); sometimes (by continuation) a bride; also (figuratively) a… זָקֵן (zâqên, H2205) — old נַעַר (naʻar, H5288) — (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a…
Open source ↗הָלַל (hâlal, H1984) — to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make ashow, to… שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God שָׂגַב (sâgab, H7682) — to be (causatively, make) lofty, especially inaccessible; by implication, safe, strong;… הוֹד (hôwd, H1935) — grandeur (i.e. an imposing form and appearance) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds…
Open source ↗רוּם (rûwm, H7311) — to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively) קֶרֶן (qeren, H7161) — a horn (as projecting); by implication, a flask, cornet; by resemblance. an elephant's… עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… תְּהִלָּה (tᵉhillâh, H8416) — laudation; specifically (concretely) a hymn חָסִיד (châçîyd, H2623) — properly, kind, i.e. (religiously) pious (a saint) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity קָרוֹב (qârôwb, H7138) — near (in place, kindred or time) הָלַל (hâlal, H1984) — to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make ashow, to… יָהּ (Yâhh, H3050) — Jah, the sacred name
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
The heavens praise Your wonders, O LORD— Your faithfulness as well— in the assembly of the holy ones.
Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them.
Hallelujah! Praise the LORD, O my soul.
The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed were shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!”
Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; break forth in song, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, and He will have compassion on His afflicted ones.