Psalm 148 14

Psalm 148:14 kjv

He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 148:14 nkjv

And He has exalted the horn of His people, The praise of all His saints? Of the children of Israel, A people near to Him. Praise the LORD!

Psalm 148:14 niv

And he has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his faithful servants, of Israel, the people close to his heart. Praise the LORD.

Psalm 148:14 esv

He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the LORD!

Psalm 148:14 nlt

He has made his people strong,
honoring his faithful ones ?
the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the LORD!

Psalm 148 verses

Psalm 148 14 Meaning

Psalm 148:14 declares God's mighty act of exalting and empowering His chosen people, Israel, manifesting His strength and delivering power among them. This divine intervention establishes a reason for boundless praise from all His devoted ones, emphasizing the unique, intimate relationship between the Almighty and the people He has drawn near to Himself.

Psalm 148 14 Context

Psalm 148 is a powerful hymn of praise that begins by calling on all of creation, from the heavens and its celestial bodies to earthly creatures and elements, to laud the Creator. The first six verses call the heavenly hosts to praise, and verses 7-12 extend this call to all things on earth—sea creatures, fire, hail, snow, vapor, stormy wind, mountains, hills, trees, beasts, birds, kings, princes, young men, maidens, old and young. Verse 13 transitions, giving the reason for this universal praise: God's name alone is exalted. Then, verse 14 shifts the focus from universal praise to God's specific act for Israel. While the universe praises Him for His general sovereignty and creation, Israel, as God’s "people" and "saints," has a distinct reason and ability to praise Him because of His unique intervention and presence among them. This verse climaxes the Psalm, connecting God’s global sovereignty to His intimate relationship with His covenant people, grounding their unique praise in His specific mighty works on their behalf. Historically, this relationship stems from the Exodus and the giving of the Law, establishing Israel as God's treasured possession.

Psalm 148 14 Word analysis

• He: Refers to the Lord (Yahweh), the sovereign God mentioned throughout Psalm 148. It signifies God as the ultimate active agent in His people's exaltation.
• has raised up: (רוֹמַם - rōmăm): This Hebrew word means to lift up, exalt, or elevate. It implies a divine act of promotion, empowerment, or restoration, signifying God's purposeful and active intervention on behalf of His people. It’s an act of sovereignty and care.
• a horn: (קֶרֶן - qeren): Symbolically, "horn" represents strength, power, dignity, honor, and victory. In the animal kingdom, the horn is a weapon and a sign of prowess. Biblically, it frequently signifies royal power, leadership, salvation, and protection (e.g., horn of anointing oil, horn as a defensive weapon). It points to God granting His people significant power and renown, often in the face of enemies or weakness. The raising of the horn implies a bestowal of glory or a means of deliverance.
• for his people: (לְעַמּוֹ - l’ammô): Directly refers to Israel, God's chosen nation. This highlights God's particular love and covenant relationship with Israel, distinguishing them from all other nations. It implies a benefit or action directed specifically towards them.
• praise: (תְּהִלָּה - tĕhillâ): This word is the root of "Hallelujah" (Praise Yah!). It signifies adoration, acclamation, and acknowledgment of God's greatness and acts. It's the proper response to God's "raising up a horn," indicating that His mighty deeds naturally evoke worship from His beneficiaries. The praise here is both a result of and a recognition of God's acts.
• for all his saints: (לְכָל־חֲסִידָיו - l’kāl-ḥăsîdāyw): "Saints" here (ḥăsîdîm) refers to God’s faithful, pious, or godly ones within Israel. These are those who demonstrate loyal love (hesed) towards God. It emphasizes that this praise comes not just from Israel collectively but specifically from those among them who truly adhere to God and His covenant. It implies their unique capacity or duty to praise Him.
• for the people of Israel: This phrase repeats and emphasizes "his people," explicitly naming them to avoid any ambiguity. It reinforces the particular focus on Israel as the object of God's redemptive power and the subject of their praise. It underlines their identity as God's special possession.
• who are near to him: (עַם קְרֹבוֹ - ‘am qerôḇô): This phrase highlights Israel's unique covenant relationship and proximity to God. Unlike other nations, God has chosen Israel, entered into a covenant with them, and established His dwelling among them. This closeness denotes intimacy, favor, and direct communication, giving them a distinct reason for praise and access to divine power and blessings. It’s a profound privilege and source of their identity.
• Praise the Lord!: (הַלְלוּ־יָהּ - Hal-lū-yāh): The concluding "Hallelujah," which caps many Psalms. It serves as an emphatic call to worship, acting as both an exclamation and an invitation to praise Yahweh (the Lord) in light of all that has been stated. It functions as a doxology, bringing the Psalm to a powerful conclusion.

• "He has raised up a horn for his people": This phrase encapsulates God's active, powerful intervention specifically on behalf of Israel. It denotes the establishment of strength, victory, or even a messianic figure, bringing deliverance and exalting His chosen ones.
• "praise for all his saints": This part describes the expected and fitting response to God's powerful acts. The "saints"—the faithful and loyal among Israel—are called to express deep adoration and thanksgiving for God’s grace and power manifested towards them.
• "for the people of Israel who are near to him": This explains who specifically benefits from God's act and who gives the unique praise. It defines the recipient as God's chosen nation, Israel, highlighting their privileged, intimate relationship with Him due to His covenant. Their closeness implies special access and divine favor, underpinning their specific reasons for praise compared to universal praise.

Psalm 148 14 Bonus section

The concept of God "raising a horn" for His people finds its most profound and complete fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. While historically this could refer to judges, kings, or general national strength, the New Testament, particularly Zechariah's prophecy in Luke 1:69, identifies Jesus as the "horn of salvation" raised up from the house of David. This establishes an eternal salvation and an indestructible power for all of God's saints—not just ethnic Israel, but all who are "near to Him" through faith in Christ. This expands the scope of the "people who are near to Him" to include the church, Jew and Gentile united in Christ, who now, as spiritual Israel, share in this privilege and responsibility of praise. The praise due to God for His saving acts in Christ is now a global chorus.

Psalm 148 14 Commentary

Psalm 148 culminates its universal call to praise by specifically focusing on God’s particular acts for Israel, linking this divine favoritism to their unique capacity for praise. "He has raised up a horn for his people" signifies God bestowing great strength, dignity, and often military or salvific power upon Israel. This "horn" could refer to specific deliverers, kings like David, or more broadly, the inherent strength and honor God gives to His chosen nation, eventually fulfilled most perfectly in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate "Horn of Salvation." This act of divine elevation generates profound "praise for all his saints"—the faithful within Israel—because they recognize God's covenant loyalty and active intervention. Their praise is specific and deep precisely because they are "the people of Israel who are near to him," set apart by God's choice and intimately connected through covenant. Their unique proximity to the Almighty creates a special responsibility and privilege to laud Him, fulfilling their purpose as His treasured possession.