Psalms in the New Testament

The Book of Psalms is in the Old Testament, not the New. It comes after Job and before Proverbs, and it holds 150 psalms. The New Testament quotes it often. Of the quotations checked for this page, Psalm 110 appears most: its first verse in five places and its fourth verse in three. Psalm 118, Psalm 2 and Psalm 22 are also quoted several times. Each quotation below names the New Testament verse and the psalm verse it repeats.

Some pocket Bibles print the New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs, which may be one reason the question comes up. In an ordinary Bible, Psalms sits near the middle of the Old Testament.

Psalms is an Old Testament book. In the book order of the World English Bible it is the 19th book, after Job and before Proverbs. That puts it well before the prophets, such as Isaiah. Some small Bibles print only the New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs. The Gideons, for example, give out copies of the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs to individuals. Those editions borrow the two books from the Old Testament; they do not move them into the New. Psalm 23 and Psalm 91 are therefore Old Testament psalms, like the other 148.

In the verses checked for this page, Psalm 110 comes first. Its opening line, "The LORD says to my Lord, sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet," is quoted in Matthew 22:44, Mark 12:36, Luke 20:42 to 43, Acts 2:34 to 35 and Hebrews 1:13. Its fourth verse, "You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek," appears in Hebrews 5:6, 7:17 and 7:21. Psalm 118:22, the stone the builders rejected, is quoted in Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17, Acts 4:11 and 1 Peter 2:7. Psalm 2:7, "You are my son. Today I have become your father," appears in Acts 13:33, Hebrews 1:5 and Hebrews 5:5.

Three psalm verses are quoted in the accounts of the crucifixion. In Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34 Jesus cries, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?", the first line of Psalm 22:1. John 19:24 says the soldiers cast lots for his clothing so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, and quotes Psalm 22:18: "They parted my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing." In Luke 23:46 his last words are "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit," close to Psalm 31:5, "Into your hand I commend my spirit." In Luke 24:44, after the resurrection, Jesus names "the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms" as writings about him.

Both belong to the Old Testament, but they fare differently in the New. Psalm 91 is quoted directly. In Matthew 4:6 and Luke 4:10 to 11 the devil quotes Psalm 91:11 to 12 to Jesus: the angels will bear you up so that you do not dash your foot against a stone. Psalm 23 is not quoted word for word. A search of the New Testament text finds none of its lines about green pastures, still waters or the valley of the shadow of death. The shepherd picture does return, though. In John 10:11 Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd."

Several more psalms are quoted by name or by clear wording. Acts 4:25 to 26 quotes the opening of Psalm 2, "Why do the nations rage," and gives the words to David. Acts 2:27 and Acts 13:35 quote Psalm 16:10, about the Holy One not seeing decay. John 2:17 recalls Psalm 69:9, "Zeal for your house," when Jesus clears the temple. Acts 1:20 names "the book of Psalms" and joins lines from Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8. Matthew 21:9 repeats Psalm 118:26, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." Hebrews 4:7 quotes Psalm 95:7 to 8, "Today if you will hear his voice."