About Psalms

Psalms is Israel's hymnbook and prayer book, expressing the full range of human emotion in relationship with God, from deep lament to exuberant praise.

Author: David and othersWritten: c. 1410-450 BCReading time: ~1 minVerses: 9
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King James Version

Psalms 113

9 verses with commentary

Who Is Like the Lord Our God?

1

Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Praise ye: Heb. Hallelujah

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KJV Study Commentary

<strong>Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.</strong> This triadic call to worship opens the Hallel psalms (113-118) with emphatic, repetitive summons. The threefold <strong>"Praise"</strong> (הַלְלוּ/<em>halelu</em>) creates rhythmic intensity, each iteration reinforcing the command. <em>Halal</em> means to celebrate, boast, shine, or make a show—exu...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(1) **Ye servants of the Lord**—*i.e.*, Israel. (See Psalm 69:36.)
2

Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.

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KJV Study Commentary

"Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore." The benediction <em>yehi shem YHWH mevorakh</em> (may the name of the LORD be blessed) calls for perpetual praise. <em>Barak</em> (bless) when applied to God means to praise, adore, speak well of. <em>Shem</em> (name) represents God's revealed character and reputation. The temporal scope: <em>me'atah ve'ad olam</em> (from now...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

PSALM 82 Psa 82:1-8. Before the great Judge, the judges of the earth are rebuked, exhorted, and threatened. **1. congregation--**(Compare Ex 12:3; 16:1). **of the mighty--**that is, of God, of His appointment. **the gods--**or, "judges" (Ex 21:6; 22:9), God's representatives.
3

From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised.

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KJV Study Commentary

"From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised." The Hebrew <em>mimizrach shemesh ad mevo'o mehullal shem YHWH</em> (from the rising of the sun to its setting, praised be the name of the LORD) employs geographic totality to express universal praise. <em>Mizrach</em> (east/rising) and <em>mevo</em> (west/setting) encompass the entire horizontal sphere—e...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

**2. accept the persons--**literally, "lift up the faces," that is, from dejection, or admit to favor and communion, regardless of merit (Le 19:15; Pr 18:5).
4

The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.

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KJV Study Commentary

"The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens." The declaration <em>ram al kol goyim YHWH, al hashamayim kevodo</em> (high above all nations is the LORD, above the heavens His glory) asserts absolute supremacy. <em>Ram</em> (high/exalted) indicates elevation, superiority. <em>Goyim</em> (nations/gentiles) encompasses all peoples. <em>Shamayim</em> (heavens) includes both sky...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(4) Comp. Psalm 8:1, &c

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

3-4. So must good judges act (Psa 10:14; Job 29:12).
5

Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, dwelleth: Heb. exalteth himself to dwell

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KJV Study Commentary

"Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high." The rhetorical question <em>mi ka'YHWH Eloheinu</em> (who is like the LORD our God) expects the answer: none. <em>Mi</em> (who) challenges any claimant to divine uniqueness. This echoes Exodus 15:11 ("Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods?"), Isaiah 40:18, 25 ("To whom then will ye liken God?"), and Micah 7:18 ("Who is a God like u...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

3-4. So must good judges act (Psa 10:14; Job 29:12).
6

Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!

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KJV Study Commentary

"Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!" The Hebrew <em>hamashpili lir'ot bashamayim uva'aretz</em> (who stoops/humbles to see in heaven and in earth) captures divine condescension. <em>Shaphel</em> (stoop/humble/condescend) indicates lowering oneself—God must "stoop" even to observe heavens and earth! This staggering claim: creation is so far beneath God's...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(6) **Humbleth himself.**—Contrast this condescension with the *indifference *to human joys and sorrows which heathen deities were said to show.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

5. By the wilful ignorance and negligence of judges, anarchy ensues (Psa 11:3; 75:3). **out of course--**(Compare Margin; Psa 9:6; 62:2).
7

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;

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KJV Study Commentary

"He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill." The verse illustrates God's condescension (v.6) through specific examples. <em>Mekimi me'afar dal</em> (who raises from dust the poor/weak). <em>Qum</em> (raise) means to lift up, establish, cause to stand. <em>Afar</em> (dust) indicates lowest position—sitting in dust signals mourning, poverty, or humiliation. <e...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(7-8) See 1Samuel 2:8, from which the verses are taken; and comp. Luke 1:52. So the heathen poet sang of Jove (Hor.: *Odes *i., 34, 35). (7) **Dunghill.**—Literally, *a heap of rubbish. *“Before each village in Hauran there is a place where the household heap up the sweepings of their stalls, and it gradually reaches a great circumference and a height which rises far above the highest buildings of...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

6-7. Though God admitted their official dignity (Joh 10:34), He reminds them of their mortality.
8

That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.

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KJV Study Commentary

"That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people." The purpose clause <em>lehoshivi im nedivim</em> (to make sit with nobles/princes) describes the elevation's extent. <em>Yashav</em> (sit/dwell) indicates secure position; <em>im</em> (with) shows association. <em>Nedivim</em> (nobles/princes/generous ones) were the wealthy, powerful, influential. <em>Im nedivei amo</em> (wit...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

6-7. Though God admitted their official dignity (Joh 10:34), He reminds them of their mortality.
9

He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD. to keep: Heb. to dwell in an house

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KJV Study Commentary

This verse celebrates God's compassionate intervention in human suffering. The Hebrew <strong>מוֹשִׁיבִי עֲקֶרֶת הַבַּיִת</strong> (moshivi aqeret habayit, 'He causes to dwell the barren woman of the house') shows God actively settling her in a home—transforming exile into belonging. The term <strong>עֲקֶרֶת</strong> (aqeret, 'barren') carried deep shame in ancient Israel, where a woman's worth wa...
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Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(9) **He maketh.**—See margin. Motherhood alone assured the wife of a fixed and dignified position in her husband’s house. The quotation from Hannah’s song suggested the allusion to her story. We are no doubt right in taking this joyful mother as emblematic of the nation itself restored to prosperity and joy. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Per...
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

8. As rightful sovereign of earth, God is invoked personally to correct the evils of His representatives.

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