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Psalms 113

BSB·9 verses ·Old Testament
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1Hallelujahהַ֥לְלוּhal·lū — To praise, boast, or shine; to celebrate or make a displayH1984 — Full Word Study →! Give praiseהַ֭לְלוּhal·lū — To praise, boast, or shine; to celebrate or make a displayH1984 — Full Word Study →, O servantsעַבְדֵ֣י‘aḇ·ḏê — Servant; slave; one in bondage or serviceH5650 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְהוָ֑הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →; praiseהַֽ֝לְלוּhal·lū — To praise, boast, or shine; to celebrate or make a displayH1984 — Full Word Study → the nameשֵׁ֥םšêm — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →. 2Blessedמְבֹרָ֑ךְmə·ḇō·rāḵ — to bless, kneel, praiseH1288 — Full Word Study → beיְהִ֤יyə·hî — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → the nameשֵׁ֣םšêm — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → both nowמֵֽ֝עַתָּ֗הmê·‘at·tāh — Now; at the present timeH6258 — Full Word Study → and forevermoreוְעַד־wə·‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study →. 3From where the sun risesמִמִּזְרַח־mim·miz·raḥ- — east; direction of the sunrise; eastern regionH4217 — Full Word Study → toעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → where it setsמְבוֹא֑וֹmə·ḇō·w·’ōw — entrance, entry point, way of accessH3996 — Full Word Study →, the nameשֵׁ֣םšêm — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → is praised. 4The LORDיְהוָ֑הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → is exaltedרָ֖םrām — To raise, lift up, exalt; to be highH7311 — Full Word Study → overעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → the nationsגּוֹיִ֥ם׀gō·w·yim — Nation; a people or ethnic groupH1471 — Full Word Study →, His gloryכְּבוֹדֽוֹ׃kə·ḇō·w·ḏōw — weightiness, honor, splendor, gloryH3519 — Full Word Study → aboveעַ֖ל‘al — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the heavensהַשָּׁמַ֣יִםhaš·šā·ma·yim — The heavens; sky; dwelling place of GodH8064 — Full Word Study →. 5Whoמִ֭יmî — who? what person?H4310 — Full Word Study → is like the LORDכַּיהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → our Godאֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ’ĕ·lō·hê·nū — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, the One enthronedלָשָֽׁבֶת׃lā·šā·ḇeṯ — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → on highהַֽמַּגְבִּיהִ֥יham·maḡ·bî·hî — to rise up, exalt, or be proud; to make highH1361 — Full Word Study →? 6He humbles Himselfהַֽמַּשְׁפִּילִ֥יham·maš·pî·lî — To make low, humble, or abaseH8213 — Full Word Study → to beholdלִרְא֑וֹתlir·’ō·wṯ — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → the heavensבַּשָּׁמַ֥יִםbaš·šā·ma·yim — The heavens; sky; dwelling place of GodH8064 — Full Word Study → and the earthוּבָאָֽרֶץ׃ū·ḇā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →. 7He raisesמְקִֽימִ֣יmə·qî·mî — To rise, stand, or be establishedH6965 — Full Word Study → the poorדָּ֑לdāl — poor, needy, weakH1800 — Full Word Study → from the dustמֵעָפָ֣רmê·‘ā·p̄ār — dust; fine particles of earth or ground matterH6083 — Full Word Study → and liftsיָרִ֥יםyā·rîm — To raise, lift up, exalt; to be highH7311 — Full Word Study → the needyאֶבְיֽוֹן׃’eḇ·yō·wn — Poor person in dire needH34 — Full Word Study → from the dumpמֵֽ֝אַשְׁפֹּ֗תmê·’aš·pōṯ — Dung; refuse heap; dunghillH830 — Full Word Study → 8to seat themלְהוֹשִׁיבִ֥יlə·hō·wō·šî·ḇî — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → withעִם־‘im- — with, together with, amongH5973 — Full Word Study → noblesנְדִיבִ֑יםnə·ḏî·ḇîm — Noble, willing, generous person or heartH5081 — Full Word Study →, withעִ֝֗ם‘im — with, together with, amongH5973 — Full Word Study → the princesנְדִיבֵ֥יnə·ḏî·ḇê — Noble, willing, generous person or heartH5081 — Full Word Study → of His peopleעַמּֽוֹ׃‘am·mōw — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study →. 9He settlesמֽוֹשִׁיבִ֨י׀mō·wō·šî·ḇî — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → the barren womanעֲקֶ֬רֶת‘ă·qe·reṯ — barren, unable to bear childrenH6135 — Full Word Study → in her homeהַבַּ֗יִתhab·ba·yiṯ — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study → as a joyfulשְׂמֵחָ֗הśə·mê·ḥāh — to be glad, rejoice, make merryH8056 — Full Word Study → motherאֵֽם־’êm- — mother; female parentH517 — Full Word Study → to her childrenהַבָּנִ֥יםhab·bā·nîm — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — 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 113
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 113 is a magnificent call to praise that celebrates the greatness and compassion of God. This psalm opens the Egyptian Hallel (Psalms 113–118), a collection traditionally sung during Passover and other Jewish festivals. The theme moves from God's transcendent glory—His position above all creation—to His tender condescension, in which He stoops to lift the lowly and transform their circumstances. It is a psalm that reminds us that the God who dwells in the highest heavens is also intimately concerned with the poorest and most forgotten among us.

Verses 1–3: The Universal Call to Praise

The psalm begins with a threefold imperative: "Praise ye the LORD." This repetition emphasizes the urgency and importance of worship. The call extends to all "servants of the LORD," inviting believers of every station to join in adoration. Notice that it is specifically the name of the Lord that is to be praised—His revealed character, attributes, and covenant promises. Verse 2 declares that God's name is blessed "from this time forth and for evermore," establishing praise as both an immediate present duty and an eternal reality. Verse 3 expands the scope further: from sunrise to sunset, across the whole earth, God's name deserves recognition and worship. This speaks to the universality and constancy of our devotion. There is no time, place, or circumstance where God ceases to be worthy of praise.

Application: We are invited into a lifestyle of continuous, deliberate praise—not merely as a Sunday habit, but as an ongoing recognition of God's worthiness throughout every day.

Verses 4–6: God's Transcendence and Humility

Verses 4–5 establish God's absolute supremacy. He is "high above all nations," and His glory transcends even the heavens themselves. The rhetorical question in verse 5—"Who is like unto the LORD our God?"—emphasizes His incomparability. Yet verses 5–6 introduce a striking paradox. Despite His infinite elevation, God "humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth." The word "humbleth" (Hebrew shach) suggests a stooping or bowing down. This is astonishing: the God who needs bend to no one voluntarily lowers Himself to observe and care for His creation. This is not weakness; it is the self-emptying love of the Almighty. He does not remain distant or detached from His world.

Application: God's greatness is paradoxically expressed through His willingness to care for the small and insignificant. We are called to mirror this quality—to use our strength and position to serve others, not to elevate ourselves.

Verses 7–9: God's Compassion for the Lowly

The final section demonstrates God's active compassion. Verses 7–8 describe God raising the poor from dust and placing them among princes. This is not merely metaphorical; it speaks to actual reversals of fortune. The "dunghill" symbolizes the depths of human despair and shame, yet God reaches into such darkness to lift up the needy. Verse 9 offers a specific and tender example: the barren woman—often a symbol of shame and hopelessness in ancient culture—is transformed into "a joyful mother of children." Her reproach is removed, her purpose fulfilled, her joy restored. These verses celebrate God's attentiveness to those society overlooks or dismisses.

Application: God sees the forgotten. If you feel abandoned, poor in spirit, or hopeless, know that the God of heaven bends low to notice you and is mighty to save.

Application for Today

Psalm 113 calls us to a renewed confidence in God's character: He is supremely great, yet intimately loving. In a world that often judges people by status or wealth, this psalm reminds us that God's kingdom operates by different values. Whether we are celebrated or overlooked, wealthy or struggling, our dignity rests in God's attention and care. We are invited to praise Him—not because He needs our praise, but because doing so realigns our hearts with truth and transforms our perspective on both His greatness and His grace.

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