Psalm 148 2

Psalm 148:2 kjv

Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.

Psalm 148:2 nkjv

Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts!

Psalm 148:2 niv

Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts.

Psalm 148:2 esv

Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts!

Psalm 148:2 nlt

Praise him, all his angels!
Praise him, all the armies of heaven!

Psalm 148 verses

Psalm 148 2 Meaning

Psalm 148:2 issues a command for God’s unseen, heavenly creation to actively render praise to Him. This verse specifically calls upon all His angels and all His heavenly hosts to exalt and honor the Lord. It signifies a cosmic, universal scope of worship, establishing that even the most powerful and glorious beings in the spiritual realm are subservient to God and have the duty to praise their Creator.

Psalm 148 2 Context

Psalm 148 is a magnificent hymn of universal praise, orchestrating a cosmic chorus to extol the Lord. The chapter opens with a commanding call to "Praise the Lord!" (Ps 148:1). It then meticulously lists various parts of creation, inviting them to join this symphony of adoration. The first six verses (148:1-6) focus on the celestial realm, specifically addressing heavenly beings and phenomena: the heavens, heights, angels, hosts, sun, moon, stars, and highest heavens. Psalm 148:2 forms an integral part of this celestial segment, directing the charge to angels and heavenly hosts, setting the standard for universal praise before the psalm moves to encompass the earthly realm (148:7-14). Historically, this context also provided a strong counter-narrative to Ancient Near Eastern polytheistic beliefs where celestial bodies or powerful spirits were often worshipped as gods. The psalmist clearly establishes that even these powerful heavenly entities are created by God and exist solely to praise Him, demonstrating God's singular supremacy and authority over all visible and invisible creation.

Psalm 148 2 Word analysis

• Praise Him: (הַלְלוּהוּ - Hallēlūhū)
  • Transliteration: Hallēlūhū.
  • Original Meaning: This is an imperative plural form of the Hebrew verb הָלַל (halal), which signifies "to praise, laud, commend, boast, or even shine." The suffix "-hū" means "Him."
  • Significance: It is an active command, not an observation, calling for an intentional act of adoration and honor. The repeated use throughout Psalm 148 emphasizes the centrality and necessity of praise to God, for He is the rightful recipient. This very word gives us the root for "Hallelujah" (Praise the Lord!).
• all His angels; (כָל־מַלְאָכָיו - kōl mal’āḵāw)
  • Transliteration: kōl mal’āḵāw.
  • Original Meaning: kōl means "all" or "every." mal’āk (מַלְאָךְ) means "messenger" or "angel" and the suffix "-āv" means "His."
  • Significance: "Angels" (plural) refers to the spiritual, intelligent beings created by God who serve as His messengers and agents (e.g., Ps 103:20). The inclusion of "all" stresses the comprehensive nature of this praise; no angel, regardless of rank or power, is exempt from this universal duty of worship towards God. This underlines God's ultimate sovereignty even over these powerful spiritual entities.
• Praise Him, (הַלְלוּהוּ - Hallēlūhū)
  • Transliteration: Hallēlūhū.
  • Original Meaning: Same as above.
  • Significance: The repetition of this command creates a strong literary device known as anaphora, emphasizing the urgency and breadth of the call to praise. It sets a rhythmic and commanding tone, unifying the different parts of the celestial host in their primary purpose.
• all His hosts. (כָל־צְבָאָיו - kōl ṣəḇā’āw)
  • Transliteration: kōl ṣəḇā’āw.
  • Original Meaning: kōl means "all." tsāḇā (צָבָא) means "army, host, or array," and the suffix "-āv" means "His." While tsāḇā can refer to human armies, or even stars ("host of heaven," referring to celestial bodies as an organized army, e.g., Ps 33:6), in parallel with "angels," it clearly refers to a collective multitude of spiritual beings, often understood as all the organized celestial beings or spiritual forces that serve God (e.g., 1 Kgs 22:19, Neh 9:6).
  • Significance: This term expands on "angels" or acts as a parallel synonym, signifying all of God's organized, spiritual forces in the heavenly realm. It highlights the vast, innumerable, and powerful nature of God’s invisible creation, all of whom are commanded into a singular act of praise. This demonstrates God's ultimate authority over all realms, whether visible or invisible, created for His purpose and glory.
• Words-group Analysis: "Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts."
  • Parallelism: The verse employs synonymous parallelism, a common feature in Hebrew poetry. Both clauses express the same fundamental command and refer to similar, if not identical, categories of beings. This intensifies the message and confirms the universal call to praise from God's entire spiritual creation.
  • Divine Authority: The repeated imperative underscores God's absolute authority to command even His most powerful created beings. They are not independent deities or forces, but creatures obligated to render honor to their Maker.
  • Scope of Praise: The inclusion of both "angels" and "hosts" implies the entirety of God's spiritual creation, leaving no heavenly being excluded from the command to praise. This sets the stage for the universal call to praise that encompasses all creation later in the Psalm.
  • Polemical undertone: In an ancient world where people often worshipped heavenly beings or celestial bodies (as seen in Deut 4:19), this verse directly challenges such idolatry. It states that these powerful entities are merely created servants, themselves obligated to worship the One true God, rather than being worshipped.

Psalm 148 2 Bonus section

The concept of God's "hosts" extends beyond just angels in certain biblical contexts to also encompass the celestial bodies like stars, often seen as an organized "army" in the heavens (e.g., Gen 2:1, Ps 33:6). While in Psalm 148:2, the direct parallelism with "angels" suggests sentient spiritual beings, the broader sense of "hosts" points to God's mastery over all organized heavenly entities, reinforcing that nothing in the cosmos is outside His dominion or the purview of His call to praise. Furthermore, this universal mandate for praise sets the stage for a recurring biblical theme: God is worthy of ultimate honor from all His creation. The celestial choir's continuous praise (Rev 4:8, Rev 5:11-12) serves as an eternal example and perpetual witness to God's infinite worthiness, inspiring humanity to join in this magnificent cosmic adoration.

Psalm 148 2 Commentary

Psalm 148:2 serves as a foundational declaration of God's supreme authority, initiating a comprehensive call for universal praise by addressing the highest tier of creation: God’s spiritual host. It firmly establishes that divine worship is not solely a human endeavor, but an inherent duty and joy for all intelligent, created beings. By commanding "all His angels" and "all His hosts" to praise Him, the verse underscores several profound truths: God's ultimate sovereignty extends over both the visible and invisible realms; all celestial powers are subordinate to Him, created for His purposes, including glorifying Him; and the worship they render exemplifies the ceaseless adoration that is due to the Creator from every part of His vast universe. This angelic praise also models what human worship should aspire to be: complete, devoted, and centered entirely on the Lord.