Bible Commentaries
Psalms 147

Verse 1

The second of these five Hallelujah Psalms, the EXODUS Psalm.

Praise ye THE LORD. Hebrew Hallelu-JAH. App-4 . Not "inserted by mistake in verse Psalms 147:1 instead of in the title", but required here by the Structure. See the Structure.

For. Not "come into the first line from the second by dittography", but an essential part of the second line, which is repeated by the Figure of speech Anadiplosis ( App-6 ) in the third line. The first verse thus does contain two lines (beside the "Hallelujah") like all the other verses.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 2

The LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

doth build up Jerusalem = is Jerusalem's builder (participle). No reference to post-exilic building. Compare Psalms 122:3 .

gathereth = will gather.

outcasts = the driven away.

Verse 4

stars . . . names. See App-12 . Compare Isaiah 40:26 .

names. The reference is to the knowledge of the "names" in building up the nation of Israel. Compare verses: Psalms 147:2 ; Psalms 147:20 with Exodus 1:7-20 ; and verses: Psa 15:19 with Exodus 20:0 .

Verse 5

our LORD. Hebrew. 'Adonim. App-4 . Compare Psalms 135:5 .

of great power = abounding in power. Compare Isaiah 40:26 .

Verse 6

the meek = meek or humble ones. Numbers 12:3 .

wicked = lawless. Hebrew. rasha. App-44 .

Verse 8

mountains. The Septuagint adds "and herb for the service of men". From thence it found its way into the Prayer Book Version. Compare Psalms 104:14 . Here, the addition is out of place, as "man" is not introduced till Psalms 147:10 .

Verse 10

He taketh not. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "Nor taketh delight".

man. Hebrew ' ish . App-4 .

Verse 11

hope in His mercy = wait for His lovingkindness.

Verse 12

Praise the LORD. Not the same word as in Psalms 147:1 . Used only by David and Solomon. Zion. See App-68 . Zion then still standing.

Verse 13

children = sons.

Verse 14

peace in thy borders = thy borders peace.

Verse 15

commandment = sayings, or utterances. Hebrew. 'imrah. See App-73 . Compare Psalms 33:9 ; Psalms 107:20 .

Verse 18

word. Hebrew. dabar = the subject-matter of the articulate utterance (Psalms 147:16 ). See App-73 .

wind. Hebrew. ruach, App-9 .

Verse 19

word. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "word". Others read plural.

Jacob . . . Israel. See notes on Genesis 32:28 ; Compare Psa 43:6 ; Psa 45:26 , Psa 45:28 .

Verse 20

not dealt so, &c. The reference is to Exodus 20:0 . Compare Deuteronomy 4:7 , Deuteronomy 4:8 ; and see App-15 .

they have not known them. Septuagint and Vulg, read "He maketh not known to them".