Praise Him, Sun and Moon
Psalm 148 summary: what it means
Psalm 148 is a roll call of creation. It opens and closes with praise the LORD, and in between it summons everything to join in. The first half starts in the heavens: angels, the heavenly army, sun, moon, shining stars and the waters above the heavens. They are to praise his name because he commanded and they were created, and he established them forever.
Verse 7 turns to the earth: sea creatures and the depths, lightning, hail, snow and wind, mountains, trees, wild animals, birds, kings, judges, young and old. The reason is that his name alone is exalted. The last verse narrows from all creation to Israel, a people near to him.
Psalm 148: Praise Him, Sun and Moon
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-148
Psalm 148 commentary: explained verse by verse
Praise the LORD!Praise the LORD from the heavens!Praise him in the heights!
Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.
The psalm begins at the top. Praise the LORD from the heavens and in the heights sets the direction the first half will follow.
Also read Matthew 21:9, Psalm 69:34, Psalm 146:1, Isaiah 49:13
Praise him, all his angels!Praise him, all his army!
Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
Angels and God's army are the first to be called. The praise starts with those in the heights before moving to the sky itself.
Also read Revelation 5:11-13, Genesis 2:1, Ezekiel 3:12, Job 38:7
Praise him, sun and moon!Praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
Sun, moon and shining stars are told to praise him. Things that cannot speak are addressed as if they could, which is how the whole psalm works.
Also read Psalm 8:1-3, Psalm 136:7-9, Genesis 8:22, Jeremiah 33:20
Praise him, you heavens of heavens,you waters that are above the heavens.
Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
Also read Deuteronomy 10:14, Genesis 1:7, Psalm 104:3, Nehemiah 9:6
Let them praise the LORD’s name,for he commanded, and they were created.
Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.
This is the reason for the heavenly praise. God commanded, and they were created, so their praise is owed to the one who made them.
Also read Genesis 1:1-2, Psalm 33:6-9, Genesis 1:6, Amos 9:6
He has also established them forever and ever.He has made a decree which will not pass away.
He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.
The heavens are established forever by a decree that will not pass away. Their stability is itself the result of God's command.
Also read Isaiah 54:9, Psalm 89:37, Job 38:10-11, Psalm 119:90-91
Praise the LORD from the earth,you great sea creatures, and all depths,
Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:
The second half begins here, from the earth. The great sea creatures and all the depths come first, the counterpart of the heights in verse 1.
Also read Job 41:1-34, Isaiah 43:20, Psalm 104:25-26, Psalm 74:13-14
lightning and hail, snow and clouds,stormy wind, fulfilling his word,
Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
Lightning, hail, snow, clouds and stormy wind are all said to be fulfilling his word. Even the weather is pictured as obeying him.
Also read Job 38:22-37, Amos 7:4, Exodus 9:23-25, Jonah 1:4
mountains and all hills,fruit trees and all cedars,
Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:
Mountains, hills, fruit trees and cedars join in. The list moves across the landscape before reaching animals and people.
Also read Psalm 97:4-5, Psalm 96:11-13, Isaiah 42:11, Isaiah 64:1
wild animals and all livestock,small creatures and flying birds,
Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:
Also read Psalm 150:6, Psalm 103:22, Genesis 1:20-25, Psalm 50:10-11
kings of the earth and all peoples,princes and all judges of the earth,
Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
People enter the list: kings of the earth, all peoples, princes and judges. Rulers are called to praise alongside everything else.
Also read Psalm 2:10-12, Isaiah 60:3, Revelation 21:24, Proverbs 8:15-16
both young men and maidens,old men and children.
Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:
Young men and maidens, old men and children. Every age is named, so no one is left out of the call.
Also read Psalm 8:2, Titus 2:4-6, Psalm 68:25, Luke 19:37
Let them praise the LORD’s name,for his name alone is exalted.His glory is above the earth and the heavens.
Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
This is the reason for the earthly praise: his name alone is exalted, and his glory is above the earth and the heavens. It matches the reason given for the heavens in verse 5.
Also read Psalm 57:6, Song of Songs 5:9, Psalm 99:9, Ephesians 4:10
He has lifted up the horn of his people,the praise of all his saints,even of the children of Israel, a people near to him.Praise the LORD!
He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.
The psalm ends by narrowing its focus to Israel. God has lifted up the horn of his people, and they are called a people near to him.
Also read Jeremiah 17:14, Exodus 19:5-6, Deuteronomy 4:7, Ephesians 2:13
A prayer from Psalm 148
LORD, I join the praise of everything you have made. The heavens praise you, and your angels, the sun and moon and all the shining stars. You commanded, and they were created. From the earth the great sea creatures and the depths praise you, the lightning and hail, the snow and clouds and the stormy wind, the mountains and hills, the fruit trees and cedars, the wild animals and the birds. Kings and peoples, young and old, are all called to praise your name, for your name alone is exalted. Let my voice be one among them. Amen.
Psalm 148 Bible study questions
- In verses 1 to 4, who and what is called to praise the LORD from the heavens?
- In verse 5, what reason is given for why the heavens should praise the LORD's name?
- Verses 7 to 10 call on weather, mountains, trees and animals to praise. How do you think non human things can praise God?
- Verse 12 names young men and maidens, old men and children together. What might it look like for different generations to praise together?
- Psalm 19:1 says the heavens declare the glory of God. How does it compare with the call to the heavens in Psalm 148:1?
Questions about Psalm 148
What is Psalm 148 about?
It calls all of creation to praise the LORD, first everything in the heavens and then everything on earth, from sea creatures and weather to kings and children.
Who wrote Psalm 148?
The author is not named in the text. Psalm 148 has no heading.
What does Psalm 148:3 mean?
It calls the sun, the moon and the shining stars to praise the LORD. Verse 5 gives the reason: he commanded and they were created.
What does Psalm 148:13 mean?
It tells everything on earth to praise the LORD's name, because his name alone is exalted and his glory is above the earth and the heavens.
What does Psalm 148:8 mean?
It names lightning, hail, snow, clouds and stormy wind, and says they fulfill God's word. The weather is included in the call to praise.
What does Psalm 148:5 mean?
It gives the reason the heavens should praise God: he commanded, and they were created.
Psalm 148 KJV: the King James Version
Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.1
Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.2
Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.3
Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.4
Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.5
He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.6
Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:7
Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:8
Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:9
Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:10
Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:11
Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:12
Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.13
He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.14
Psalm 148 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 הַ֥לְלוּ יָ֨הּ ׀ הַֽלְל֣וּ אֶת־יְ֭הוָה מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֑יִם הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ בַּמְּרוֹמִֽים׃
2 הַֽלְל֥וּהוּ כָל־מַלְאָכָ֑יו הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ כָּל־צבאו ׃
3 הַֽ֭לְלוּהוּ שֶׁ֣מֶשׁ וְיָרֵ֑חַ הַ֝לְל֗וּהוּ כָּל־כּ֥וֹכְבֵי אֽוֹר׃
4 הַֽ֭לְלוּהוּ שְׁמֵ֣י הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וְ֝הַמַּ֗יִם אֲשֶׁ֤ר ׀ מֵעַ֬ל הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃
5 יְֽ֭הַֽלְלוּ אֶת־שֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֑ה כִּ֤י ה֭וּא צִוָּ֣ה וְנִבְרָֽאוּ׃
6 וַיַּעֲמִידֵ֣ם לָעַ֣ד לְעוֹלָ֑ם חָק־נָ֝תַ֗ן וְלֹ֣א יַעֲבֽוֹר׃
7 הַֽלְל֣וּ אֶת־יְ֭הוָה מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ תַּ֝נִּינִ֗ים וְכָל־תְּהֹמֽוֹת ׃
8 אֵ֣שׁ וּ֭בָרָד שֶׁ֣לֶג וְקִיט֑וֹר ר֥וּחַ סְ֝עָרָ֗ה עֹשָׂ֥ה דְבָרֽוֹ׃
9 הֶהָרִ֥ים וְכָל־גְּבָע֑וֹת עֵ֥ץ פְּ֝רִ֗י וְכָל־אֲרָזִֽים׃
10 הַֽחַיָּ֥ה וְכָל־בְּהֵמָ֑ה רֶ֝֗מֶשׂ וְצִפּ֥וֹר כָּנָֽף׃
11 מַלְכֵי־אֶ֭רֶץ וְכָל־לְאֻמִּ֑ים שָׂ֝רִ֗ים וְכָל־שֹׁ֥פְטֵי אָֽרֶץ׃
12 בַּחוּרִ֥ים וְגַם־בְּתוּל֑וֹת זְ֝קֵנִ֗ים עִם־נְעָרִֽים ׃
13 יְהַלְל֤וּ ׀ אֶת־שֵׁ֬ם יְהוָ֗ה כִּֽי־נִשְׂגָּ֣ב שְׁמ֣וֹ לְבַדּ֑וֹ ה֝וֹד֗וֹ עַל־אֶ֥רֶץ וְשָׁמָֽיִם׃
14 וַיָּ֤רֶם קֶ֨רֶן ׀ לְעַמּ֡וֹ תְּהִלָּ֤ה לְֽכָל־חֲסִידָ֗יו לִבְנֵ֣י יִ֭שְׂרָאֵל עַֽם־קְרֹב֗וֹ הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ׃
Psalm 148 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 148 there.
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1 Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise ye him in the high places.
2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
3 Praise ye him, O sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars and light.
4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens: and let all the waters that are above the heavens
5 Praise the name of the Lord. For he spoke, and they were made: he commanded, and they were created.
6 He hath established them for ever, and for ages of ages: he hath made a decree, and it shall not pass away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all ye deeps:
8 Fire, hail, snow, ice, stormy winds which fulfill his word:
9 Mountains and all hills, fruitful trees and all cedars:
10 Beasts and all cattle: serpents and feathered fowls:
11 Kings of the earth and all people: princes and all judges of the earth:
12 Young men and maidens: let the old with the younger, praise the name of the Lord:
13 For his name alone is exalted.
14 The praise of him is above heaven and earth: and he hath exalted the horn of his people. A hymn to all his saints: to the children of Israel, a people approaching to him. Alleluia.
Psalm 148 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 148.
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1 Alleluja. Laudate Dominum de cælis; laudate eum in excelsis.
2 Laudate eum, omnes angeli ejus; laudate eum, omnes virtutes ejus.
3 Laudate eum, sol et luna; laudate eum, omnes stellæ et lumen.
4 Laudate eum, cæli cælorum; et aquæ omnes quæ super cælos sunt,
5 laudent nomen Domini. Quia ipse dixit, et facta sunt; ipse mandavit, et creata sunt.
6 Statuit ea in æternum, et in sæculum sæculi; præceptum posuit, et non præteribit.
7 Laudate Dominum de terra, dracones et omnes abyssi;
8 ignis, grando, nix, glacies, spiritus procellarum, quæ faciunt verbum ejus;
9 montes, et omnes colles; ligna fructifera, et omnes cedri;
10 bestiæ, et universa pecora; serpentes, et volucres pennatæ;
11 reges terræ et omnes populi; principes et omnes judices terræ;
12 juvenes et virgines; senes cum junioribus, laudent nomen Domini:
13 quia exaltatum est nomen ejus solius.
14 Confessio ejus super cælum et terram; et exaltavit cornu populi sui. Hymnus omnibus sanctis ejus; filiis Israël, populo appropinquanti sibi. Alleluja.
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Psalm 148 at a glance
| Verses | 14 |
| Heading in the text | No heading |
| Attributed to | Not named in the text. The psalm has no heading. |
| Type | Hallelujah and Praise |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 148, the same |
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Psalm 148 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 148 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 148 belongs
Hallelujah psalmsBook 5 of the Psalms
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source