Psalm 147:2 kjv
The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.
Psalm 147:2 nkjv
The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
Psalm 147:2 niv
The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel.
Psalm 147:2 esv
The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
Psalm 147:2 nlt
The LORD is rebuilding Jerusalem
and bringing the exiles back to Israel.
Psalm 147 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 102:16 | For the LORD shall build up Zion; He shall appear in His glory. | God builds Zion for His glory |
| Isa 60:10 | The sons of strangers shall build up your walls... | Gentiles assist in Jerusalem's rebuilding |
| Neh 2:17-18 | "Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem...". And I told them... the good hand of my God upon me. | God's hand enabling Jerusalem's rebuilding |
| Ps 127:1 | Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain... | God's indispensable role in building |
| Isa 11:12 | He will set up a banner... And assemble the outcasts of Israel, And gather together the dispersed... | God's future gathering of Israel's dispersed |
| Isa 49:5-6 | "...that I may bring Jacob back to Him, And that Israel might be gathered to Him..." | God's mission to gather Israel |
| Isa 56:8 | The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, "Yet I will gather to him Others besides those who are gathered to him." | God gathers both Israel and gentiles |
| Jer 23:3 | "But I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries... And I will bring them back..." | God re-gathers His dispersed flock |
| Jer 31:10 | "Hear the word of the LORD, O nations... He who scattered Israel will gather him, And keep him as a shepherd does his flock." | God's promise to gather His scattered people |
| Ezek 34:13 | "I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries..." | God will gather His sheep |
| Amos 9:11 | "On that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David... And I will repair its damages..." | Prophecy of future restoration of David's house |
| Deut 30:3-5 | "...then the LORD your God will bring you back from captivity... And gather you from all the nations..." | God's covenant promise to re-gather |
| Mic 2:12 | "I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob... I will surely gather the remnant of Israel..." | God's promise to assemble His people |
| Zeph 3:19-20 | "...I will save the lame And gather those driven out; I will give them praise..." | God will save the vulnerable and driven out |
| Lk 13:34 | "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings..." | Jesus' desire to gather Jerusalem |
| Jn 10:16 | "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice..." | Jesus gathers all His sheep |
| Heb 3:3-4 | For He who built the house has more honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. | God as the ultimate Builder |
| Ps 146:9 | The LORD watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow... | God's care for the marginalized |
| Isa 40:1-2 | "Comfort, yes, comfort My people!" Says your God. "Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her... that her warfare is ended..." | Comfort and restoration for Jerusalem |
| Zec 1:16 | "Therefore thus says the LORD: 'I am returning to Jerusalem with compassion; My house shall be built in it,' says the LORD of hosts..." | God's compassionate return to build |
Psalm 147 verses
Psalm 147 2 Meaning
Psalm 147:2 declares God's active and ongoing work in restoring His people and their sacred city. It portrays the LORD as the sovereign builder and gatherer, highlighting His faithfulness in reconstructing Jerusalem and reassembling the scattered, exiled, and marginalized members of Israel. This verse signifies divine restoration, encompassing both physical rebuilding and the re-gathering and reintegration of those who were dispersed or cast out.
Psalm 147 2 Context
Psalm 147 is a song of praise to God for His manifold blessings. It belongs to a group of psalms (Pss 146-150) that collectively praise God, possibly for a post-exilic community. This psalm celebrates God's omnipotence displayed in creation (maintaining cosmic order, sending rain and snow) and, crucially, His particular providence and covenant faithfulness toward Israel. Verse 2 specifically speaks to the experience of a community that has known dispersion and devastation. The "building up of Jerusalem" and "gathering of outcasts" strongly suggests a setting where the city has been ruined or its population scattered, likely after the Babylonian exile, or reflecting the ongoing spiritual yearning for restoration among scattered Jewish people throughout history. The psalm assures Israel that their God, unlike the idols of other nations, actively cares for and restores His people.
Psalm 147 2 Word analysis
- The LORD (Yahweh - יְהוָה - YHWH): This is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal, relational, and unchanging faithfulness to Israel. It highlights His unique power and authority as distinct from human or pagan deities. He is not merely a distant creator but an active participant in the lives of His people.
- builds up (bōneh - בּוֹנֶה): This is a participle, indicating an active, ongoing process rather than a singular event. It implies not just physical construction, but also restoration, strengthening, and rebuilding of community and spiritual life. In the post-exilic context, it refers to the literal rebuilding of walls and homes but also encompasses the restoration of hope, identity, and the covenant relationship. It is God Himself who is the agent, emphasizing divine enablement over human effort alone (compare Ps 127:1).
- Jerusalem (Yərûšālayim - יְרוּשָׁלַיִם): More than just a physical city, Jerusalem represents the spiritual heart of Israel, the place of God's dwelling, and the symbol of His covenant promises. Its destruction (by Babylon) was a deep spiritual wound for Israel. God building it up signifies the restoration of His presence, the re-establishment of His covenant people, and the re-instatement of their dignity and religious center.
- He gathers together (yəqabbēṣ - יְקַבֵּץ): This verb also implies an active and deliberate action, literally "to collect," "to assemble," or "to bring in." It points to God's initiative in bringing His scattered people back together, overcoming obstacles and distances. This is a divine action of unity and reconciliation.
- the outcasts (niddeḥê - נִדְּחֵי): This term refers to those who have been "thrust out," "driven away," "dispersed," or "exiled." It describes a state of vulnerability, isolation, and perhaps even despair. This goes beyond mere geographical dispersion; it encompasses those marginalized, forgotten, or cast aside by society, or by circumstances such as war and conquest. God’s focus on the "outcasts" reveals His compassion for the vulnerable and His power to reverse human calamities.
- of Israel (Yiśrā’ēl - יִשְׂרָאֵל): Refers to the collective people of God, descendants of Jacob, God's chosen covenant nation. This indicates that God's special care and promises are directed specifically towards His people, whose identity is intrinsically linked to His covenant.
- The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel. (Phrase analysis) This phrase forms a strong parallelism. "Building up Jerusalem" refers to the restoration of the physical city and its national identity, while "gathering the outcasts of Israel" points to the spiritual and demographic reunification of its scattered people. Both actions are divine and are expressions of God's sovereign power, covenant faithfulness, and profound compassion for His chosen nation after suffering exile and dispersion. The verse functions as a polemic against the idea that God has abandoned His people or that other gods hold sway over Israel's destiny, asserting Yahweh's unique and benevolent sovereignty.
Psalm 147 2 Bonus section
The concept of "outcasts" in this verse extends beyond literal physical exile to encompass anyone who is marginalized, forgotten, or devalued. God's act of "gathering" them signifies His desire for inclusion and His ability to redeem even the most desperate situations. This truth has powerful implications for personal spiritual restoration, as Christ's work also involves gathering those alienated from God and bringing them into His kingdom. Furthermore, the spiritual application of "Jerusalem" extends to the Church as the new Jerusalem or the people of God (Gal 4:26, Heb 12:22, Rev 21:2), signifying that God continues to build and gather His redeemed people into a unified spiritual dwelling.
Psalm 147 2 Commentary
Psalm 147:2 stands as a profound declaration of God's active involvement in the restoration of His people. It reveals that the rebuilding of Jerusalem is not a mere human endeavor, but a divine work, illustrating God's covenant faithfulness even in the aftermath of desolation. This rebuilding encompasses both the literal reconstruction of the city's physical structures and the deeper spiritual and communal renewal of Israel. Parallel to this physical restoration is the divine act of gathering the "outcasts"—those dispersed by war, exiled from their homeland, or marginalized within society. This highlights God's compassionate care for the vulnerable and His power to reverse human suffering and dislocation. The verse asserts that only the LORD has the will and power to effect such a holistic restoration, bringing unity and wholeness where there was fragmentation and despair. It teaches us that God's promises of restoration are sure and His care extends to the individual who is cast aside as much as to the collective nation.