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Psalms Chapter 147

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns 20 Verses

What is Psalms 147 about?

One hundred fifty inspired poems and hymns — Israel's prayer book, spanning lament and praise, confession and trust. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1Praise ye Jehovah; For it is good to sing praises unto our God; For it is pleasant, [and] praise is comely.
2Jehovah doth build up Jerusalem; He gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.
3He healeth the broken in heart, And bindeth up their wounds.
4He counteth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by [their] names.
5Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.
6Jehovah upholdeth the meek: He bringeth the wicked down to the ground.
7Sing unto Jehovah with thanksgiving; Sing praises upon the harp unto our God,
8Who covereth the heavens with clouds, Who prepareth rain for the earth, Who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
9He giveth to the beast his food, [And] to the young ravens which cry.
10He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: He taketh no pleasure in the legs of a man.
11Jehovah taketh pleasure in them that fear him, In those that hope in his lovingkindness.
12Praise Jehovah, O Jerusalem; Praise thy God, O Zion.
13For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; He hath blessed thy children within thee.
14He maketh peace in thy borders; He filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.
15He sendeth out his commandment upon earth; His word runneth very swiftly.
16He giveth snow like wool; He scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes.
17He casteth forth his ice like morsels: Who can stand before his cold?
18He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: He causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
19He showeth his word unto Jacob, His statutes and his ordinances unto Israel.
20He hath not dealt so with any nation; And as for his ordinances, they have not known them. Praise ye Jehovah. Psalm 148
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“Praise ye the Lord, etc.] When he shall reign, as Kimchi connects this psalm with the preceding; the arguments used to engage men to this work are taken partly from the nature of it, as in the next clauses; and partly from what the Lord is and does, as in the following verses; for [it is] good to sing praises unto our God; it being agreeably to his revealed will, what he enjoins, approves of, and accepts, and is profitable to his people, as well as makes his glory; (see <199201>Psalm 92:1). Some render it, “because [he is] good”, as in (<19A601>Psalm 106:1 107:1); but the accents, and what follows, will not admit…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 2
“(Compare Psa 107:3; Isa 11:12).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Praise ye the Lord - Hallelu-jah. See Psalms 146:1. For it is good to sing praises unto our God - See the notes at Psalms 92:1 : “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord.” For it is pleasant - See the notes at Psalms 135:3 : “Sing praises unto his name, for it is pleasant.” The Hebrew word is the same. And praise is comely - Becoming; proper. See the notes at Psalms 33:1 : “praise is comely for the upright.” The Hebrew word is the same. If these psalms were composed for the rededication of the temple, it would not be unnatural that much of the language employed should be borrowed from earlier psalms with…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 4
“Calleth them - He exactly knows them as we do those whom we can call by name. Psalms 147:9”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“Ps 147 The psalmist calls for the Lord to be praised for restoring and blessing Zion, caring for the poor, displaying his power over nature, and revealing himself to his people. 147:1 This verse is a call to worship.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“for it is good: Psa 63:3-5, Psa 92:1, Psa 135:3 and praise: Psa 33:1, Psa 42:4, Psa 122:1-4; Rev 5:9-14, Rev 19:1-6 Psalms 147:2”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“The Hallelujah, as in Psa 135:3, is based upon the fact, that to sing of our God, or to celebrate our God in song (זמּר with an accusative of the object, as in Ps 30:13, and frequently), is a discharge of duty that reacts healthfully and beneficially upon ourselves: "comely is a hymn of praise" (taken from Psa 33:1), both in respect of the worthiness of God to be praised, and of the gratitude that is due to Him. Instead of זמּר or לזמּר, Psa 92:2, the expression is זמּרה, a form of the infin. Piel, which at least can still be proved to be possible by ליסּרה in Lev 26:18. The two כּי are co-ordinate, and כּי־נעים…”
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