Bible Commentaries
Psalms 146

Verse 1

The first of the five "Hallelujah" Psalms concluding the whole book; each beginning and ending with this word. The first has GENESIS for its subject; the second, Exodus; the third, LEVITICUS; the fourth, NUMBERS, and the fifth, DEUTERONOMY. See the Structure, p. 827, and notes below.

Praise ye THE LORD = Hallelu-JAH. App-4 .

Praise. Figure of speech Apostrophe. App-6 .

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

O my soul = O I myself (emphatic). Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 2

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 3

trust = confidence. Hebrew. batah. App-69 .

man. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

no help = no salvation, or saving help. Compare Psalms 33:16 ; Psalms 60:11 .

Verse 4

His breath, &c. This verse occurs in the Apocrypha (1 Mace. Psa 2:63 ); but why is it assumed that this verse is taken from the Book of Maccabees, instead of this verse in Maccabees being taken from this Psalm?

breath = spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 . Not the same word as in Psalms 150:6 .

returneth. See Genesis 2:7 ; Genesis 3:19 , and compare Ecclesiastes 12:7 . Ecc 104:29 .

earth = ground, or dust. Hebrew. 'adamah. Not ' erez = the Earth.

thoughts = purposes, or plans.

Verse 5

Happy. The last of the twenty-seven Beatitudes in the Book of Psalms. See App-63 .

GOD. Hebrew El. App-4 .

of Jacob: i.e. the God who met Jacob (Genesis 28:13 ) when he had nothing (Genesis 32:10 and deserved nothing (but wrath, Genesis 27:0 ) and promised him everything. This title answers to the N.T. title "the Godof all grace" (1 Peter 5:10 ). Happy indeed are all they who have this God for their God.

Whose. Supply the Ellipsis by repeating [Happy he] whose, &c.

hope = expectation.

Verse 6

made heaven, and earth. Another reference to Genesis 1:0 . Compare Psalms 146:4 . See notes on Genesis 14:19 and Deuteronomy 4:26 .

Verse 7

food. Hebrew bread. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), App-6 , for food in general.

the. No Art. in Hebrew

Verse 9

strangers = aliens.

relieveth. Plenty of saving "help" here. Compare the contrast with "man", (Psalms 146:3 ), "no help".

wicked = lawless. Hebrew. rasha'.

Verse 10

for ever. Contrast Psalms 146:4 . Compare Revelation 11:15 .

Zion. See App-68 .