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Psalms 147

BSB·20 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Hallelujahהַ֥לְלוּhal·lū — To praise, boast, or shine; to celebrate or make a displayH1984 — Full Word Study →! Howכִּי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → good it is to sing praisesזַמְּרָ֣הzam·mə·rāh — To sing praises, make music to GodH2167 — Full Word Study → to our Godאֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ’ĕ·lō·hê·nū — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, howכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → pleasantנָ֝עִיםnā·‘îm — Pleasant, delightful, agreeableH5273 — Full Word Study → and lovelyנָאוָ֥הnā·wāh — Comely, fitting, or becoming; what is proper and suitableH5000 — Full Word Study → to praise Him! 2The LORDיְהוָ֑הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → builds upבּוֹנֵ֣הbō·w·nêh — to build, construct, establishH1129 — Full Word Study → Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֣םyə·rū·šā·lim — City of peaceH3389 — Full Word Study →; He gathersיְכַנֵּֽס׃yə·ḵan·nês — to gather together, assemble, collectH3664 — Full Word Study → the exilesנִדְחֵ֖יniḏ·ḥê — to drive away, banish, or thrust outH5080 — Full Word Study → of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֣לyiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study →. 3He healsהָ֭רֹפֵאhā·rō·p̄ê — To heal, restore to healthH7495 — Full Word Study → the brokenheartedלִשְׁב֣וּרֵיliš·ḇū·rê — to break, shatter, crushH7665 — Full Word Study → and bindsוּ֝מְחַבֵּ֗שׁū·mə·ḥab·bêš — To bind, saddle, or gird; to restrain or governH2280 — Full Word Study → up their woundsלְעַצְּבוֹתָֽם׃lə·‘aṣ·ṣə·ḇō·w·ṯām — sorrow, pain, or injuryH6094 — Full Word Study →. 4He determinesמוֹנֶ֣הmō·w·neh — To count, number, appoint, or ordainH4487 — Full Word Study → the numberמִ֭סְפָּרmis·pār — number, count, enumerationH4557 — Full Word Study → of the starsלַכּוֹכָבִ֑יםlak·kō·w·ḵā·ḇîm — Star; heavenly bodyH3556 — Full Word Study →; He calls themיִקְרָֽא׃yiq·rā — To call, summon, or proclaimH7121 — Full Word Study → eachלְ֝כֻלָּ֗םlə·ḵul·lām — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → by nameשֵׁמ֥וֹתšê·mō·wṯ — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study →. 5Greatגָּד֣וֹלgā·ḏō·wl — Great, mighty, large in size or significanceH1419 — Full Word Study → is our Lord, and mightyוְרַב־wə·raḇ- — great, many, abundant, mightyH7227 — Full Word Study → in powerכֹּ֑חַkō·aḥ — Strength, power, might, or abilityH3581 — Full Word Study →; His understandingלִ֝תְבוּנָת֗וֹliṯ·ḇū·nā·ṯōw — Prudent understanding; discernment and skillH8394 — Full Word Study → has noאֵ֣ין’ên — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study → limitמִסְפָּֽר׃mis·pār — number, count, enumerationH4557 — Full Word Study →. 6The LORDיְהוָ֑הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → sustainsמְעוֹדֵ֣דmə·‘ō·w·ḏêḏ — to testify, witness, or solemnly affirmH5749 — Full Word Study → the humbleעֲנָוִ֣ים‘ă·nā·wîm — Humble, meek, afflicted poorH6035 — Full Word Study →, but casts the wickedרְשָׁעִ֣יםrə·šā·‘îm — wicked, guilty, morally corruptH7563 — Full Word Study → toעֲדֵי־‘ă·ḏê- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → the groundאָֽרֶץ׃’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →. 7Singעֱנ֣וּ‘ĕ·nū — To answer, respond, or testifyH6030 — Full Word Study → to the LORDלַיהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → with thanksgivingבְּתוֹדָ֑הbə·ṯō·w·ḏāh — Thanksgiving; grateful praise and acknowledgment to GodH8426 — Full Word Study →; make musicזַמְּר֖וּzam·mə·rū — To sing praises, make music to GodH2167 — Full Word Study → on the harpבְכִנּֽוֹר׃ḇə·ḵin·nō·wr — stringed musical instrument; lyreH3658 — Full Word Study → to our Godלֵאלֹהֵ֣ינוּlê·lō·hê·nū — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, 8who coversהַֽמְכַסֶּ֬הham·ḵas·seh — to cover, conceal, hideH3680 — Full Word Study → the skyשָׁמַ֨יִם׀šā·ma·yim — The heavens; sky; dwelling place of GodH8064 — Full Word Study → with cloudsבְּעָבִ֗יםbə·‘ā·ḇîm — Cloud, thick cloud, or cloud massH5645 — Full Word Study →, who preparesהַמֵּכִ֣יןham·mê·ḵîn — to establish, prepare, or make firmH3559 — Full Word Study → rainמָטָ֑רmā·ṭār — Rain; rainfall; precipitation from heavenH4306 — Full Word Study → for the earthלָאָ֣רֶץlā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →, who makes grassחָצִֽיר׃ḥā·ṣîr — grass; vegetation; hayH2682 — Full Word Study → to growהַמַּצְמִ֖יחַham·maṣ·mî·aḥ — to sprout, grow, or spring upH6779 — Full Word Study → on the hillsהָרִ֣יםhā·rîm — Mountain, hill, or elevated land massH2022 — Full Word Study →. 9He providesנוֹתֵ֣ןnō·w·ṯên — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → foodלַחְמָ֑הּlaḥ·māh — Bread; food; sustenanceH3899 — Full Word Study → for the animalsלִבְהֵמָ֣הliḇ·hê·māh — Animal, beast, livestockH929 — Full Word Study →, and for the youngלִבְנֵ֥יliḇ·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → ravensעֹ֝רֵ֗ב‘ō·rêḇ — raven, a black birdH6158 — Full Word Study → when they callיִקְרָֽאוּ׃yiq·rā·’ū — To call, summon, or proclaimH7121 — Full Word Study →. 10He does notלֹ֤אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → delightיֶחְפָּ֑ץyeḥ·pāṣ — to delight in; to desire; to take pleasureH2654 — Full Word Study → in the strengthבִגְבוּרַ֣תḇiḡ·ḇū·raṯ — Mighty power, strength, or valorH1369 — Full Word Study → of the horseהַסּ֣וּסhas·sūs — horse; swift creatureH5483 — Full Word Study →; He takes noלֹֽא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → pleasureיִרְצֶֽה׃yir·ṣeh — to accept, be pleased with, delight inH7521 — Full Word Study → in the legpower of the man. 11The LORDיְ֭הוָהYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → is pleasedרוֹצֶ֣הrō·w·ṣeh — to accept, be pleased with, delight inH7521 — Full Word Study → with those who fear Himיְרֵאָ֑יוyə·rê·’āw — to fear, be afraid, dreadH3373 — Full Word Study →, who hopeהַֽמְיַחֲלִ֥יםham·ya·ḥă·lîm — To wait; to hope; to expect with patienceH3176 — Full Word Study → in His loving devotionלְחַסְדּֽוֹ׃lə·ḥas·dōw — Covenant loyalty and steadfast kindnessH2617 — Full Word Study →. 12Exaltשַׁבְּחִ֣יšab·bə·ḥî — To praise loudly; to commend or triumphH7623 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָ֑הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, O Jerusalemיְ֭רוּשָׁלִַםyə·rū·šā·lim — City of peaceH3389 — Full Word Study →; praiseהַֽלְלִ֖יhal·lî — To praise, boast, or shine; to celebrate or make a displayH1984 — Full Word Study → your Godאֱלֹהַ֣יִךְ’ĕ·lō·ha·yiḵ — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, O Zionצִיּֽוֹן׃ṣî·yō·wn — The Lord's MountainH6726 — Full Word Study →! 13Forכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → He strengthensחִ֭זַּקḥiz·zaq — To strengthen, make firm, establishH2388 — Full Word Study → the barsבְּרִיחֵ֣יbə·rî·ḥê — bar, bolt, or fugitiveH1280 — Full Word Study → of your gatesשְׁעָרָ֑יִךְšə·‘ā·rā·yiḵ — Gate; entrance to a city or enclosureH8179 — Full Word Study → and blessesבֵּרַ֖ךְbê·raḵ — to bless, kneel, praiseH1288 — Full Word Study → the childrenבָּנַ֣יִךְbā·na·yiḵ — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → within youבְּקִרְבֵּֽךְ׃bə·qir·bêḵ — midst, inner part, heart, inward beingH7130 — Full Word Study →. 14He makesהַשָּׂם־haś·śām- — to put, place, set, appointH7760 — Full Word Study → peaceשָׁל֑וֹםšā·lō·wm — Peace, wholeness, well-being, prosperityH7965 — Full Word Study → at your borders; He fills youיַשְׂבִּיעֵֽךְ׃yaś·bî·‘êḵ — to satisfy, fill, have enoughH7646 — Full Word Study → with the finestחֵ֥לֶבḥê·leḇ — Fat; the richest or best partH2459 — Full Word Study → wheatחִ֝טִּ֗יםḥiṭ·ṭîm — wheat grain or wheat cropH2406 — Full Word Study →. 15He sends forthהַשֹּׁלֵ֣חַhaš·šō·lê·aḥ — to send, let go, releaseH7971 — Full Word Study → His commandאִמְרָת֣וֹ’im·rā·ṯōw — A spoken word, utterance, or divine sayingH565 — Full Word Study → toעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → the earthאָ֑רֶץ’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →; His wordדְּבָרֽוֹ׃də·ḇā·rōw — word, matter, thing, affairH1697 — Full Word Study → runsיָר֥וּץyā·rūṣ — to run; move swiftlyH7323 — Full Word Study → swiftlyמְ֝הֵרָ֗הmə·hê·rāh — Haste, speed, urgency of actionH4120 — Full Word Study →. 16He spreadsהַנֹּתֵ֣ןhan·nō·ṯên — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → the snowשֶׁ֣לֶגše·leḡ — snow; whiteness; purityH7950 — Full Word Study → like woolכַּצָּ֑מֶרkaṣ·ṣā·mer — wool; fleece from sheepH6785 — Full Word Study →; He scattersיְפַזֵּֽר׃yə·p̄az·zêr — to scatter, disperse, spread abroadH6340 — Full Word Study → the frostכְּ֝פ֗וֹרkə·p̄ō·wr — Covered vessel or white frostH3713 — Full Word Study → like ashesכָּאֵ֥פֶרkā·’ê·p̄er — Ashes, dust, or residue from fireH665 — Full Word Study →; 17He casts forthמַשְׁלִ֣יךְmaš·lîḵ — to throw, cast, or hurlH7993 — Full Word Study → His hailקַֽרְח֣וֹqar·ḥōw — Ice, crystal, frozen waterH7140 — Full Word Study → like pebblesכְפִתִּ֑יםḵə·p̄it·tîm — A morsel, bit, or small piece of foodH6595 — Full Word Study →. Whoמִ֣יmî — who? what person?H4310 — Full Word Study → can withstandלִפְנֵ֥יlip̄·nê — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → His icy blastקָ֝רָת֗וֹqā·rā·ṯōw — Cold, coldness (literal or figurative)H7135 — Full Word Study →? 18He sends forthיִשְׁלַ֣חyiš·laḥ — to send, let go, releaseH7971 — Full Word Study → His wordדְּבָר֣וֹdə·ḇā·rōw — word, matter, thing, affairH1697 — Full Word Study → and melts themוְיַמְסֵ֑םwə·yam·sêm — to melt, dissolve, or waste awayH4529 — Full Word Study →; He unleashesיַשֵּׁ֥בyaš·šêḇ — to blow; to cause wind or breath to moveH5380 — Full Word Study → His windsר֝וּח֗וֹrū·ḥōw — Spirit, breath, wind, or inner dispositionH7307 — Full Word Study →, and the watersמָֽיִם׃mā·yim — Water; liquid; fluidsH4325 — Full Word Study → flowיִזְּלוּ־yiz·zə·lū- — To flow, stream, or pour outH5140 — Full Word Study →. 19He declaresמַגִּ֣ידmag·gîḏ — to tell, declare, make knownH5046 — Full Word Study → His wordדְּבָרוֹdə·ḇå̄·rō — word, matter, thing, affairH1697 — Full Word Study → to Jacobלְיַעֲקֹ֑בlə·ya·‘ă·qōḇ — He grasps the heelH3290 — Full Word Study →, His statutesחֻקָּ֥יוḥuq·qāw — A statute or decree; an appointed rule or lawH2706 — Full Word Study → and judgmentsוּ֝מִשְׁפָּטָ֗יוū·miš·pā·ṭāw — Justice, judgment, or legal decisionH4941 — Full Word Study → to Israelלְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃lə·yiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study →. 20He has doneעָ֤שָׂה‘ā·śāh — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → thisכֵ֨ן׀ḵên — so, thus, rightly, thereforeH3651 — Full Word Study → for no otherלְכָל־lə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → nationגּ֗וֹיgō·w — Nation; a people or ethnic groupH1471 — Full Word Study →; they do notבַּל־bal- — not, lest, nothingH1077 — Full Word Study → knowיְדָע֗וּםyə·ḏā·‘ūm — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → His judgmentsוּמִשְׁפָּטִ֥יםū·miš·pā·ṭîm — Justice, judgment, or legal decisionH4941 — Full Word Study →. Hallelujahהַֽלְלוּ־hal·lū- — To praise, boast, or shine; to celebrate or make a displayH1984 — Full Word Study →!
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 147
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 147 is a jubilant hymn of praise that celebrates God's character and His tender care for His people. The psalmist calls the congregation to sing praises to the Lord, not merely as a duty, but because it is inherently good and fitting. Throughout this psalm, we see God portrayed in two essential ways: first, as the sovereign Lord of the cosmos who upholds all creation, and second, as the compassionate God who heals the broken-hearted and lifts up the humble. The psalm moves from general praise, to God's care for individuals and nations, to His special revelation of His word to Israel. This creates a beautiful portrait of a God who is both infinitely great and intimately concerned with His people's welfare.

Verses 1–5: The Goodness and Greatness of Praise

The psalm opens with a stirring call to worship: Praise ye the LORD (v. 1). The psalmist tells us that praise is not merely obligatory—it is good, pleasant, and comely (fitting and beautiful). This sets the tone: worship of God is the most natural and delightful response to who He is. The reason for praise becomes clear as the psalmist highlights God's dual work: He buildeth up Jerusalem and gathereth together the outcasts of Israel (v. 2). God is both restorer of His people's corporate life and merciful gatherer of the scattered and rejected. In verses 3–5, we see God's intimate compassion: He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds (v. 3). This is gospel truth—Christ exemplifies this healing ministry perfectly (Luke 4:18). Simultaneously, God demonstrates infinite wisdom and power: He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names (v. 4). A God great enough to name the stars is great enough to know and care for each individual believer.

Application: God's greatness and His intimacy are not contradictory. The One who governs the cosmos personally tends to your broken heart.

Verses 6–11: God's Reversal of Values

These verses present God's radical reordering of human values. The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground (v. 6). This echoes a consistent biblical theme: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5). Verses 7–9 show God's providential care for creation. He prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow and giveth to the beast his food (vv. 8–9). Even the young ravens—the most helpless of creatures—receive His provision (compare Matthew 6:26). Yet verses 10–11 contain a surprising shift: God delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man (v. 10). Military might and human vigor do not impress God. Instead, The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy (v. 11). True strength lies in reverence for God and trust in His character.

Application: In a world that prizes power and achievement, believers are called to prize humility and hope. God's favor rests on those who fear and trust Him, not on those who trust themselves.

Verses 12–20: God's Word and Covenant Faithfulness

The final section celebrates God's specific blessings on Jerusalem and Israel (vv. 12–14), followed by a meditation on God's powerful word. He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly (v. 15). God's word is not static or weak; it accomplishes His purposes with divine efficiency. Verses 16–18 poetically describe winter's snow and ice as God's works, melted by His word—illustrating that all natural forces obey His voice. The psalm concludes with a profound truth: He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel (v. 19). God has given Israel (and now the Church) His written revelation. He hath not dealt so with any nation (v. 20)—this highlights the privilege and responsibility of those who possess Scripture.

Application: God's word is living, active, and reliable. We have been entrusted with Scripture; let us treasure it, obey it, and share it with a world that desperately needs to hear God's voice.

Application for Today

Psalm 147 invites us into a lifestyle of praise rooted in theological truth. Whatever your circumstances—whether you are broken-hearted or secure, humble or tempted to pride—this psalm reminds us that our God is infinitely great, intimately compassionate, and sovereign over all things. He has revealed Himself through His word. Our response should be joyful praise, humble obedience, and hope in His mercy.

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