Psalm 148 13

Psalm 148:13 kjv

Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.

Psalm 148:13 nkjv

Let them praise the name of the LORD, For His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven.

Psalm 148:13 niv

Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

Psalm 148:13 esv

Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven.

Psalm 148:13 nlt

Let them all praise the name of the LORD.
For his name is very great;
his glory towers over the earth and heaven!

Psalm 148 verses

Psalm 148 13 Meaning

Psalm 148:13 proclaims that all creation, previously called to action in the psalm, is to direct its praise toward "the Name of the LORD." The foundational reason for this universal worship is explicitly stated: His Name alone possesses ultimate excellence, signifying His unparalleled exaltation and majestic preeminence. This means there is no other entity, divine or created, that rivals His inherent worth. Further, the verse asserts that His inherent glory and manifest splendor eternally transcend and rise above the entire created cosmos, encompassing both the earthly realm and the vast expanse of the heavens. This comprehensive statement underscores God's singular supremacy and infinite transcendence as the sole worthy object of universal adoration.

Psalm 148 13 Context

Psalm 148 belongs to a collection of psalms known as the "Hallel Psalms" (146-150), all beginning and ending with "Praise the LORD" (Hallelujah). It is a majestic hymn that summons the entire cosmos to worship God. The chapter divides its call to praise into two primary sections: verses 1-6 invite celestial entities and elements—angels, sun, moon, stars, and the "waters above the heavens"—to offer their adoration. Verses 7-12 extend this grand invitation to all of earth's inhabitants and features, including great sea creatures, meteorological phenomena, mountains, trees, all forms of animals, and all ranks of human beings from kings to children. Within this vast, all-encompassing call, Psalm 148:13 functions as the definitive theological anchor, articulating the irrefutable reasons why the LORD alone merits such universal, creation-wide praise. Historically, this psalm stands in profound counter-distinction to the widespread polytheistic beliefs of ancient Near Eastern cultures, where celestial bodies and natural forces were often deified and worshipped. Psalm 148 explicitly positions these as mere created entities, subordinate to YHWH, whose existence itself testifies to His unique excellence and supreme glory. The psalm's theological momentum then flows into verse 14, where the focus narrows to God's specific redemptive work among His chosen people, Israel, underscoring that their praise is especially due to the God who acts on their behalf.

Psalm 148 13 Word analysis

• "Let them praise" (יְהַלְלוּ, yĕhallělû): This imperative, or jussive, form of the Hebrew verb halal (הלל), the root for "hallelujah," is a command or fervent exhortation. It calls the enumerated elements of creation into an active, jubilant, and resounding acclamation. The "them" refers collectively to everything mentioned from verses 1-12, from highest heavens to youngest child. It implies a response that is enthusiastic and celebratory.
• "the name" (שֵׁם, šēm): In ancient Hebrew thought, a "name" signifies much more than a mere label; it embodies the full character, authority, reputation, and presence of the one named. To praise God's name is to praise His entire revealed being, His attributes, His deeds, and His very essence. It encompasses all that God is and has demonstrated Himself to be.
• "of the LORD" (יְהוָה, YHVH): This is the unutterable Tetragrammaton, the personal, covenantal Name of God revealed to Moses ("I AM WHO I AM"). It denotes God's self-existence, eternal being, and His unchanging faithfulness to His covenant people. Its inclusion here emphasizes that the praise is due to the specific, relational, and all-powerful God of Israel, the one true Creator, rather than any generic deity.
• "for" (כִּי, kî): This conjunction acts as a causal "because," introducing the justification and ultimate reason for the universal command to praise God's Name. It links the command directly to God's unparalleled nature.
• "his name alone" (שְׁמוֹ לְבַדּוֹ, šəmōw ləḇaddōw): "His name" reinforces the identity of the One being praised. The crucial addition of "alone" (ləḇaddōw) signifies exclusivity and singularity. It declares emphatically that YHWH has no rival, no equal, no peer among all gods or created powers. This is a foundational assertion of monotheism, declaring God's unmatched uniqueness and supreme position.
• "is excellent" (נִשְׂגָּב, niśgav): This Niphal participle of the verb sagav (שָׂגַב) conveys concepts of being high, exalted, lifted up, inaccessible, or secure beyond reach. It points to God's sublime loftiness, His transcendent majesty, and His unassailable, sovereign position above all else. He is elevated beyond human or cosmic scale.
• "his glory" (הוֹדוֹ, hōḏōw): "Hod" refers to majesty, splendor, honor, or glory. It denotes the manifest, awe-inspiring, radiant display of God's presence, inherent power, and intrinsic worth. While His "Name" speaks of His revealed character, His "Glory" refers to the brilliant manifestation of His divine essence that demands profound reverence.
• "is above" (עַל, ʿal): This preposition expresses spatial superiority, transcendence, and preeminence. It communicates that God's glory extends infinitely beyond and supervenes upon creation.
• "the earth" (אֶרֶץ, ʾereṣ): This term denotes the physical ground, the planet, and all its terrestrial inhabitants. It represents the observable, tangible world.
• "and heaven" (וְשָׁמָיִם, wəšāmāyim): This refers to the celestial realm, encompassing the skies, stars, and also the spiritual dwelling place of God and angels. Together with "earth," it represents the totality and furthest extent of created reality, signifying that God's glory is superior to and fills the entire cosmos.

Words-group analysis

• "Let them praise the name of the LORD:" This commanding phrase sets the theme of the entire psalm and focuses the universal acclamation on the specific covenantal God, YHWH. It is a divine injunction for all existence to acknowledge and glorify God's very being, as revealed through His "Name." This demonstrates that the proper response to recognizing God's role as Creator is active worship directed at His person.
• "for his name alone is excellent;" This declaration provides the first and primary justification for cosmic praise. The emphasis on "alone" (ləḇaddōw) highlights the Lord's absolute uniqueness and unparalleled supremacy, establishing a clear theological boundary against any form of polytheism. His inherent character (represented by His Name) is supremely exalted and inimitable, rendering Him singularly worthy of universal worship. This directly challenges the contemporary beliefs that worshipped nature or multiple deities.
• "his glory is above the earth and heaven." This phrase reinforces the reason for universal praise by emphasizing God's transcendence and His overwhelming manifest splendor. It proclaims that God's majestic presence and inherent radiance are not confined within creation but rather pervade, exceed, and are superior to every created thing, from the lowest point on earth to the highest heaven. This further negates any idolatry by positioning God's glory as superior to and the source of all perceived 'divinity' in the created order.

Psalm 148 13 Bonus section

The close juxtaposition of "Name" (šēm) and "Glory" (hod) in this single verse is biblically rich. While God's "Name" signifies His revealed character and identity—how He makes Himself known through covenant and action—His "Glory" refers to the outward, tangible manifestation of His intrinsic majesty and power, His awesome presence that fills creation. Thus, the verse states that both who God is in His essence and how He visibly displays Himself are the reasons for universal praise. This comprehensive scope of praise extends beyond the Old Testament. The New Testament writers frequently ascribe ultimate "name" and "glory" to Jesus Christ (e.g., Phil 2:9-11, Heb 1:3), revealing His co-equality with God the Father and His rightful claim to the cosmic praise originally due to YHWH alone. This implies a profound Christological echo, suggesting that the praise due to the Lord is now perfectly embodied in the Son, through whom all things were created and held together. Therefore, the command to praise in Psalm 148:13 points forward to a time when all creation will indeed bow and acknowledge the supremacy of the Lamb, giving Him the honor due to His Name and Glory.

Psalm 148 13 Commentary

Psalm 148:13 is the profound theological heart of a psalm that summons all creation to praise God. Having detailed a sweeping panorama of everything from angels to atoms, the psalm then reveals the core motivation for this universal symphony of worship. It states that all praise must be directed to "the Name of the LORD" because His Name, signifying His essence and revealed character, "alone is excellent" (or "supremely exalted"). This singular declaration underscores the exclusive supremacy of YHWH. He stands unrivaled and peerless in His being, dismantling any polytheistic notions of competing deities or personified natural forces by asserting that He is utterly unique. Furthermore, "His glory is above the earth and heaven." This magnificent assertion portrays God's majesty and manifest splendor not merely as present within creation, but as powerfully transcending it, filling every sphere of existence while simultaneously towering infinitely above all. The very existence of creation testifies to this God, and its proper function is to reflect and resonate with His glory. Thus, this verse provides a concise yet comprehensive summary of why God is uniquely worthy of all praise: because of who He fundamentally is (His Name), because there is none like Him (His Name alone), and because His majestic presence and power permeate and surpass all reality (His glory). For practical application, this verse reminds believers that their praise is not merely an emotional outflow but a reasoned, theological response to the incomparable character and preeminence of God revealed in all creation and Scripture. It should cultivate an awareness that every part of existence, from a blossoming flower to the distant stars, tacitly points to His unmatched worth, compelling human hearts to join the cosmic chorus.