Psalms Chapter 33

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns 22 Verses

What is Psalms 33 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.
1Rejoice in Jehovah, O ye righteous: Praise is comely for the upright.
2Give thanks unto Jehovah with the harp: Sing praises unto him with the psaltery of ten strings.
3Sing unto him a new song; Play skilfully with a loud noise.
4For the word of Jehovah is right; And all his work is [done] in faithfulness.
5He loveth righteousness and justice: The earth is full of the lovingkindness of Jehovah.
6By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made, And all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
7He gathereth the waters of the sea together as a heap: He layeth up the deeps in store-houses.
8Let all the earth fear Jehovah: Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9For he spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.
10Jehovah bringeth the counsel of the nations to nought; He maketh the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect.
11The counsel of Jehovah standeth fast for ever, The thoughts of his heart to all generations.
12Blessed is the nation whose God is Jehovah, The people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
13Jehovah looketh from heaven; He beholdeth all the sons of men;
14From the place of his habitation he looketh forth Upon all the inhabitants of the earth,
15He that fashioneth the hearts of them all, That considereth all their works.
16There is no king saved by the multitude of a host: A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
17A horse is a vain thing for safety; Neither doth he deliver any by his great power.
18Behold, the eye of Jehovah is upon them that fear him, Upon them that hope in his lovingkindness;
19To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine.
20Our soul hath waited for Jehovah: He is our help and our shield.
21For our heart shall rejoice in him, Because we have trusted in his holy name.
22Let thy lovingkindness, O Jehovah, be upon us, According as we have hoped in thee. Psalm 34 A Psalm of David; when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.

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
“Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous, etc.] (See Gill on “<193211>Psalm 32:11”); [for] praise is comely for the upright; it becomes them; it is their duty; they are bound unto it by the mercies and favours they have received; should they not give praise to God, the stones of the wall would cry out, and rebuke them for their ingratitude: it is beautiful, and looks lovely in them; it is an ornament to them, and is, in the sight of God, of great esteem: it is very acceptable to him, and when grace is in exercise, and their hearts in tune, being sensibly touched and impressed with the goodness of God, it is desirable…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“A call to lively and joyous praise to God for His glorious attributes and works, as displayed in creation, and His general and special providence, in view of which, the Psalmist, for all the pious, professes trust and joy and invokes God's mercy. (Psa. 33:1-22) The sentiment falls in with Psa 32:11 (compare Co1 14:15). The instruments (Psa 92:3; Psa 144:9) do not exclude the voice.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous - This is the sentiment with which the preceding psalm closes. See the notes at Psalms 32:11. For praise is comely for the upright - Is befitting, suitable, proper. That is, the upright - the righteous - have abundant cause for praise, and it is for them a suitable employment, or one which becomes them. A man who is upright, or who is a righteous man, has in this very fact much which lays a foundation for praise, for the fact that he has such a character is to be traced to the grace of God, and this in itself is a more valuable possession than gold or kingly crowns would he.…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 2
“Harp, &c. - These instruments were used in the publick worship of God in the tabernacle. Psalms 33:3”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“Ps 33 This hymn of creation (see also Pss 8, 19, 104, 145) might be a continuation of Ps 32. It exhorts readers to praise God (33:1-3), to recognize the power of his word in creation (33:4-7), and to fear the Creator (33:8-11). It offers hope to forgiven sinners (Ps 32) that they can live a new life in the fear of the Lord and under divine protection. 33:1-3 The psalmist exhorts the godly to praise the Lord with melodies, with a new song, and with skillfully-played music.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“Rejoice: Psa 32:11, Psa 97:12; Co1 1:30, Co1 1:31; Phi 4:4 ye righteous: Psa 118:15; Rom 3:10, Rom 5:19 praise: Psa 50:14-16, Psa 78:36, Psa 78:37, Psa 135:3, Psa 147:1; Pro 15:8 Psalms 33:2”
Read attributed excerpt →
Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“The call contained in this hexastich is addressed to the righteous and upright, who earnestly seek to live a godly and God-pleasing life, and the sole determining rule of whose conduct is the will and good pleasure of God. These alone know God, whose true nature finds in them a clear mirror; so on their part they are joyfully to confess what they possess in Him. For it is their duty, and at the same time their honour, to praise him, and make their boast in Him. נאוה is the feminine of the adjective נאוה (formed out of נאוי), as in Psa 147:1, cf. Pro 19:10. On כּנּור (lxx κιθάρα, κινύρα) and נבל (lxx ψαλτήριον,…”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Sources and verification