Psalm 115 15

Psalm 115:15 kjv

Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.

Psalm 115:15 nkjv

May you be blessed by the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 115:15 niv

May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 115:15 esv

May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth!

Psalm 115:15 nlt

May you be blessed by the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 115 verses

Psalm 115 15 Meaning

Psalm 115:15 declares that those who belong to the Lord are uniquely favored and sustained by the sovereign God, emphasizing His singular power as the Creator of the entire universe. It highlights that true, lasting blessing originates exclusively from the One who made all things, establishing a clear distinction between the living God and any impotent, man-made idols.

Psalm 115 15 Context

Psalm 115 is a potent anthem affirming God's unique glory and power, especially when contrasted with the impotence of pagan idols. The verses preceding 15 (v.2-8) detail the mockery faced by Israel concerning their God ("Where is their God now?") and vividly describe the inertness of idols, highlighting their inability to see, hear, speak, smell, handle, or walk. Following this indictment (v.9-11), the psalm transitions to a call for Israel, the house of Aaron, and all who fear the Lord to trust in Him, as He is their "help and shield." Verse 15 then serves as a direct affirmation and a source of assurance. It declares the blessed state of those who put their trust in the Lord, whose supreme attribute as "Maker of heaven and earth" establishes His absolute sovereignty and unique capacity to truly bless and sustain His people. This truth serves as a direct polemic against the polytheistic and idolatrous beliefs of surrounding nations, whose gods were perceived to control limited aspects of existence; YHWH, in contrast, controls and created all.

Psalm 115 15 Word analysis

• You: (Hebrew: ’attem) - This plural pronoun refers to the collective "us" mentioned earlier in the Psalm (v.1), implicitly identifying with Israel, the house of Aaron, and those who fear the Lord (v.9-11). It highlights the blessed state of God's chosen people or anyone who trusts in Him.
• are blessed: (Hebrew: bārûḵ - בָּרוּךְ) - This is a passive participle, meaning "one who is blessed" or "in a state of being blessed." It is not merely a wish or prayer, but a declaration of an existing condition bestowed by God. It signifies divine favor, prosperity, empowerment, and comprehensive well-being.
• by the Lord: (Hebrew: miyyhwh - מִיהוָה) - "Yahweh" is God's covenant Name, revealing His personal, relational, and unchanging character. The prefix min means "from" or "by." This phrase directly identifies the unique source of all true blessing as the singular, living God, distinguishing Him from any other claimants.
• who made: (Hebrew: ‘ōśêh - עֹשֶׂה) - This participle means "the one who makes" or "the Maker." It emphasizes God's continuous creative activity and ultimate power. It signifies not merely a past act but His ongoing sovereignty and active control over creation.
• heaven and earth: (Hebrew: šāmayim wā’āreṣ - שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ) - This is a merism, a figure of speech where two contrasting parts represent the whole. It signifies the totality of creation—the entire cosmos, visible and invisible. It encompasses all reality, denoting God's absolute sovereignty, omnipresence, and omnipotence over all existence, a direct challenge to the limited domains attributed to pagan deities.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "You are blessed by the Lord": This phrase asserts that divine favor and well-being flow directly and exclusively from the Lord. It signifies a profound, foundational relationship where God actively bestows His goodness upon those who are His. It underscores that humans are recipients of blessing, not generators of it.
• "who made heaven and earth": This describes the very nature of the Lord as the basis for His ability to bless. His power as Creator of everything implies universal dominion, ultimate authority, and an inexhaustible capacity to provide. This foundational truth elevates the Lord above all other supposed powers, establishing His unique fitness to confer true blessing.

Psalm 115 15 Bonus section

• The declaration "who made heaven and earth" served as a foundational confession for ancient Israel, echoing creational accounts and asserting God's sovereignty over all pagan pantheons which were often limited to specific natural forces or geographical areas. This truth forms the basis of all biblical theology, establishing God as the absolute authority and ultimate reference point.
• This verse undergirds the concept that God's people, despite any current struggles or external pressures, are eternally privileged by their connection to the ultimate Source of all power and goodness. This blessing is not dependent on worldly recognition but on divine favor.
• In the New Testament, this understanding of God as Creator (often tied to the Father and Christ as agent of creation) continues to be foundational for understanding redemption. The Creator who brought light out of darkness also brings spiritual light and new life.
• The blessing described here is comprehensive, encompassing not just material prosperity but peace, security, and spiritual favor. It implies that those blessed by the Lord have His benevolent design at work in their lives, orchestrated by the one who orchestrates the entire universe.

Psalm 115 15 Commentary

Psalm 115:15 encapsulates a core theological truth about God's relationship with His people and His distinct identity from idols. After presenting the vivid impotence of man-made deities, the psalm redirects focus to the living God. The declaration "You are blessed by the Lord" is not a mere wish, but a definitive statement of the inherent spiritual and often material benefits conferred by a covenantal relationship with Yahweh. This blessing is potent because its source is "the Lord, who made heaven and earth." This attribute emphasizes God's absolute and unchallenged sovereignty over all creation. He is not merely a regional deity or one among many, but the ultimate Reality who brought all things into existence and continues to sustain them.

This profound statement provides immense comfort and security to the faithful. Their hope and well-being are rooted not in fickle circumstances or human constructs, but in the unwavering power of the Creator of the cosmos. It implies that true, holistic blessedness stems from aligning one's life with the One who designed and sustains every facet of existence. Therefore, for God's people, recognizing His unique status as Maker of heaven and earth strengthens their trust and deepens their worship, knowing their blessing flows from an infinitely powerful and reliable source.