Psalm 148 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the heights.
2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
Psalms Chapter 148 continued
4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created.
6 He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:
8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
9 Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:
10 Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:
11 Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
12 Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
14 He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 148:1
Verse: הַלְלוּ אֶת-יְהוָה מִן-הַשָּׁמַיִם
Transliteration: Hallelu et-Adonai min-ha-shamayim
English: “Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights!”
Focus Word: שָׁמַיִם (Shamayim)
- Root: ש-מ-י-ם (Shin-Mem-Yod-Mem)
- Meaning: “Heaven,” “sky,” “expanse.”
- Deeper Insight: Shamayim conveys divine dwelling and majesty, calling all creation in the heavens to praise God.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| הַלְלוּ־יָהּ — hallelu-Yah | Verse 1 — “Praise the LORD…” | “Praise Yah,” exalt. | Hallelu-Yah (“praise Yah”) calls for universal worship. It frames cosmic praise as commanded and fitting. The term anchors the Psalm’s doxology. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| מָרוֹם — marom | Verse 1 — “…from the heavens.” | “Height,” elevated place. | Marom (“height”) depicts exalted realms of spiritual beings. It emphasizes heavenly participation in praise. The word broadens the worshippers’ scope. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| מַלְאָךְ — mal’akh | Verse 2 — “Praise Him, all His angels…” | “Angel,” messenger. | Mal’akh (“angel”) identifies spiritual beings as worshippers. It reflects the hierarchical order praising God. The term unites heaven and earth in worship. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary |
| צָבָא — tzava | Verse 2 — “…all His hosts.” | “Army,” multitude. | Tzava (“host/army”) emphasizes the vastness of heavenly forces. It portrays organized praise. The word enhances cosmic majesty. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| תְּהוֹם — tehom | Verse 7 — “Praise the LORD from the earth…” | “Depth,” abyss. | Tehom (“deep/abyss”) captures primal waters. It symbolizes creation’s foundation praising God. The term expresses universal acknowledgement. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| רֶשֶׁף — reshef | Verse 8 — “…fire and hail…” | “Flame,” burning. | Reshef (“flame”) represents elemental forces obeying divine decree. It shows nature’s submission. The word expands the scope of worship. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| סְעָרָה — se’arah | Verse 8 — “…stormy wind fulfilling His word.” | “Storm,” tempest. | Se’arah (“storm”) symbolizes powerful natural obedience to God’s commands. It expresses controlled chaos under divine rule. The term strengthens creation theology. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| הָרִים — harim | Verse 9 — “Mountains and all hills…” | “Mountains,” heights. | Harim (“mountains”) evokes stability and grandeur. It signifies creation’s towering praise. The word expands the hymnic chorus. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| בְּהֵמָה — behemah | Verse 10 — “Beasts and all cattle…” | “Beast,” animal. | Behemah (“beast”) includes large land animals in the worship circle. It highlights total creation’s participation. The term shows the universality of praise. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| הוֹדוֹ — hodo | Verse 13 — “…for His name alone is exalted.” | “Splendor,” majesty. | Hodo (“splendor”) emphasizes radiant glory belonging exclusively to God. It affirms His supreme exaltation. The term crowns the Psalm with theological climax. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 148 |
|---|---|---|
| William Perkins (University of Cambridge, 1558–1602) | Commentary on the Psalms | Perkins emphasizes that all elements of creation are summoned to worship, reflecting God’s universal sovereignty. |
| Thomas Manton (University of Cambridge, 1620–1677) | Expositions of the Psalms | Manton highlights the Psalm’s inclusivity, urging every creature to recognize God’s glory. |
| Samuel Rutherford (University of St Andrews, 1600–1661) | Letters | Rutherford sees the Psalm as a vivid reminder that praise should flow from both heaven and earth. |
| Richard Baxter (University of Cambridge, 1615–1691) | Paraphrase of the Psalms | Baxter notes that universal praise demonstrates the ordered harmony of creation under God’s authority. |
| Matthew Henry (Chester / Various, 1662–1714) | Commentary on the Whole Bible | Henry emphasizes that this Psalm encourages believers to join creation in heartfelt worship. |
Prayer: What a Wonderful Conselor You are, Mighty God and Everlasting Father. Thank You for Your glorious goodness and Your great Love that you've poured out on us that we should be called Your Children. Thank You Father for being Faithful. We praise You, because You are worthy! Let all the creation praise You, O Lord. Let The Peoples praise You! Thank you for all that You Do, have done and will do in our lives in Jesus' Name. Amen!
