Psalm 113:1 kjv
Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.
Psalm 113:1 nkjv
Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, Praise the name of the LORD!
Psalm 113:1 niv
Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, you his servants; praise the name of the LORD.
Psalm 113:1 esv
Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD!
Psalm 113:1 nlt
Praise the LORD!
Yes, give praise, O servants of the LORD.
Praise the name of the LORD!
Psalm 113 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 106:1 | Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good... | Call to praise God's goodness and mercy. |
| Ps 115:18 | but we will bless the LORD From this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD! | Eternal and ongoing nature of praise. |
| Rev 19:5 | And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants... | Call to praise for God's servants in new covenant. |
| Is 43:21 | the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise. | God's purpose in creating His people for praise. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name... every tongue confess... | Every creature called to praise Christ's name. |
| Ps 134:1 | Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD... | Similar call to servants of the Lord. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood... that you may proclaim the excellencies... | New Testament believers as God's servants praising Him. |
| Jer 10:6 | There is none like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is great... | God's name as an expression of His incomparable greatness. |
| Rom 1:25 | ...exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature... | Contrast to idolatry, highlighting worship of Creator. |
| Deut 6:4 | Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. | Monotheistic emphasis on God's unique name/identity. |
| Ps 117:1 | Praise the LORD, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples! | Call for universal praise, extending beyond Israel. |
| Hab 2:20 | But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him. | Reverence required when in God's presence for praise. |
| Eph 1:3 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us... | Praise offered in response to God's blessings. |
| Col 3:16 | Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly... singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs... | Praise as an act empowered by Christ's indwelling. |
| Ps 145:1-3 | I will extol you, my God, O King... great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised... | Praising God's majesty, greatness, and worthiness. |
| Ps 22:3 | Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. | God dwelling amidst the praises of His people. |
| Luke 19:37-38 | ...the whole crowd of disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice... | Direct praise of Jesus, fulfilling prophecies of God's praise. |
| Heb 13:15 | Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God... | Christian praise as a continuous spiritual sacrifice. |
| Ex 3:15 | "The LORD, the God of your fathers... This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered... | God's covenant name revealed, central to His identity. |
| Mal 1:11 | For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations... | Future universal praise of God's name by all nations. |
| Ps 34:1 | I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. | Individual and continuous commitment to praise. |
| Ps 107:8 | Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works... | Praise tied to remembering and acknowledging God's deeds. |
| Jer 33:11 | Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! | Expressing gratitude alongside praise for His goodness and love. |
Psalm 113 verses
Psalm 113 1 Meaning
Psalm 113:1 issues a passionate and direct command to praise the Lord. It opens the Hallel (Psalms 113-118), a significant collection of psalms sung by the Israelites, particularly during their major pilgrimage festivals. The verse calls the "servants of the Lord" to specifically "praise the name of the Lord," emphasizing the active and communal adoration of God's very essence and revealed character. It is a universal invitation, yet first directed at God's covenant people, urging them to declare His incomparable glory and mighty acts.
Psalm 113 1 Context
Psalm 113:1 initiates the Egyptian Hallel (Psalms 113-118), a series of psalms historically chanted by Jews during their major pilgrimage festivals: Passover, Pentecost (Shavuot), and Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), as well as on New Moons and Hanukkah. Specifically, during the Passover Seder, Psalm 113-114 were sung before the meal, and Psalms 115-118 after the meal. This sequence places the psalm in a rich communal worship context, looking back at God's deliverance (like the Exodus) and forward to His ongoing care and ultimate triumph. The command to praise God sets the tone for celebrating His transcendence—His dwelling on high—and His condescension—His humble regard for the lowly, themes elaborated throughout Psalm 113. This opening call is a declaration of loyalty and adoration for Yahweh alone, subtly opposing the worship of false gods and idols prevalent in the surrounding nations.
Psalm 113 1 Word analysis
Praise (הַלְלוּ - Hallĕlû): This is the plural imperative form of the Hebrew verb halal, meaning "to praise, laud, commend, boast, celebrate." It signifies an active, enthusiastic, and often public declaration of God's worth and glory, not just a quiet appreciation. The reduplication "Praise... praise" in the verse emphasizes intensity and insistence. It implies boasting in God, celebrating Him with all one's being.
the LORD (יָהּ - Yah, then יְהוָה - Yahweh):
- The first "the Lord" uses Yah, a shortened, poetic form of God's proper name, Yahweh. Its concise nature often appears in exclamatory expressions of praise like "Hallelujah" (Hallĕlûyah, "Praise Yah").
- The second "the Lord" uses Yahweh (rendered "LORD" in capital letters in most English Bibles to signify the sacred Tetragrammaton YHWH). This is the personal, covenantal name of God, revealed to Moses (Ex 3:14-15). It denotes God's self-existence, His active presence, and His unchanging faithfulness to His covenant people. Praising Yahweh signifies worship of the one true God, distinct from any other named deity.
O servants (עַבְדֵי - ʿaḇdəy): Literally "servants of." This term describes those in a relationship of devotion and allegiance to God. In the ancient Near East, kings had servants, and gods had worshippers; these servants are privileged individuals uniquely bound to Yahweh through covenant. It implies ownership, but in a redemptive and honoring sense, emphasizing their specific responsibility and privilege to praise. This specifically points to Israel as God's chosen nation.
name (שֵׁם - šēm): In Hebrew thought, the "name" of God refers to His entire revealed character, attributes, power, reputation, and presence. To praise God's name is to praise all that God is—His holiness, justice, love, power, sovereignty, mercy, and faithfulness—as He has made Himself known. It's not just the phonetic sound, but the sum total of His divine being and manifestation in creation and redemption.
Words-group Analysis:
- "Praise the LORD!" (Hallĕlûyah!): This iconic imperative serves as both an introduction and a summary for the entire Hallel, and indeed for much of biblical praise. It sets a worshipful, joyous, and celebratory tone, directly addressing the assembled community.
- "Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD!": This repetition underscores the command, but more importantly, specifies who is to praise and what they are to praise. The "servants of the LORD" are the covenant community, those redeemed and set apart. They are called to praise "the name of the LORD," highlighting God's essential being and manifest character as the proper object of all worship. This repetition, intensifying the imperative, also reflects the fervor and collective nature of this divine summons to worship.
Psalm 113 1 Bonus section
The repeated "Praise" (Hallĕlû) underscores a deliberate and communal act of worship, distinct from casual admiration. The use of the divine names Yah and Yahweh sequentially in this single verse creates a powerful effect, moving from a common, exclamatory call to praise the universally acknowledged Divine to a specific and profound emphasis on the covenant God of Israel. This deepens the object of praise from a general deity to the living, relational God who intervenes in human history. The "servants of the LORD" concept foreshadows the New Testament understanding of believers as bondservants of Christ, whose ultimate freedom is found in complete devotion and service to Him. The fact that Jesus Himself sang these Hallel Psalms (Matt 26:30; Mark 14:26) before His crucifixion imbues this call to praise with profound redemptive significance, highlighting His perfect devotion and anticipating the New Covenant community's continuous worship. The psalmist here implies that praise is not an optional add-on to faith but is integral to the very identity and purpose of God's people.
Psalm 113 1 Commentary
Psalm 113:1 bursts forth as a clarion call, inviting and commanding God's covenant people to engage in fervent and intentional praise. The initial "Hallelujah" is not merely an exclamation but an urgent summons, echoing through history and particularly within the temple liturgies. The command is addressed to "servants of the Lord," specifically identifying Israel, the people whom God delivered and with whom He established His covenant. This identification emphasizes their unique relationship and privileged responsibility to offer praise. The object of their adoration is meticulously defined: "the Name of the Lord," encompassing the totality of God's revealed character, His unparalleled majesty, power, and faithfulness demonstrated in history and salvation. This is a call to extol His unique identity and sovereignty, challenging the widespread idolatry of the surrounding cultures that worshipped mere objects or limited deities. It lays the theological foundation for the subsequent verses of Psalm 113, which detail why God is worthy of such praise—because He is both supremely transcendent, dwelling on high, and profoundly immanent, caring for the lowliest. Practically, this verse urges communal and personal recognition of God's full identity and His gracious dealings, leading to heartfelt expressions of worship and thanksgiving for all that He is and all that He has done.