Psalm 148:3 kjv
Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
Psalm 148:3 nkjv
Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light!
Psalm 148:3 niv
Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars.
Psalm 148:3 esv
Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars!
Psalm 148:3 nlt
Praise him, sun and moon!
Praise him, all you twinkling stars!
Psalm 148 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:14-18 | God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens..." | God created celestial bodies |
| Ps 8:3 | When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers... the moon and the stars... | God's creative power |
| Ps 19:1 | The heavens declare the glory of God... | Creation reveals God's glory |
| Ps 33:6 | By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. | God's powerful word in creation |
| Ps 67:5 | Let the peoples praise you, O God... | Universal praise theme |
| Ps 96:11-12 | Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice... Let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. | Creation personified in praise |
| Ps 104:19 | He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting. | God governs celestial functions |
| Neh 9:6 | You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host... | God as sole Creator |
| Isa 40:26 | Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number... | God’s command over creation |
| Jer 31:35 | Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night... | God established natural order |
| Job 9:7 | He commands the sun, and it does not rise; he seals up the stars. | God's absolute control |
| Deut 4:19 | beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars... you be drawn away... and worship them... | Prohibition of idolatry |
| Deut 17:3 | and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or the moon or any of the host of heaven... | Forbidden worship |
| Job 31:26-28 | if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor... | Rejection of stellar worship |
| Rev 21:23 | And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light... | God's glory supersedes natural lights |
| Rev 22:5 | And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light... | New creation without natural light |
| 2 Pet 1:19 | And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. | Jesus as the ultimate light (morning star) |
| Col 1:16 | For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible... | Christ as Creator/Upholder of all creation |
| Ps 150:6 | Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! | Universal call to praise |
| Ps 148:1-2 | Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens... Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! | Broader context of cosmic praise |
Psalm 148 verses
Psalm 148 3 Meaning
Psalm 148:3 is a call to the celestial bodies—the sun, moon, and all stars—to offer praise to their Creator, the Lord. It signifies that even the grandest and most distant elements of the cosmos are subjects of God’s sovereignty and are expected to acknowledge Him. Their very existence and function are seen as an act of glorifying the divine source of all creation.
Psalm 148 3 Context
Psalm 148 is a universal call to praise the Lord. It systematically summons all aspects of creation, from the highest heavens to the lowest earth, to worship their Creator. The psalm opens with a directive for those in the "heights" (v. 1-6) to praise God, specifically mentioning celestial beings and phenomena. Verse 3 focuses on the visible luminaries – the sun, moon, and stars – as central components of this cosmic orchestra of praise. This immediately precedes calls for waters above the heavens, fire, hail, snow, vapor, stormy wind, mountains, hills, trees, beasts, livestock, creeping things, flying birds, and finally, all humanity from kings to children, to join in glorifying God. Historically, in the ancient Near East, many cultures deified celestial bodies, worshipping the sun and moon as powerful deities. This psalm offers a direct theological counterpoint, asserting that these celestial objects are not gods to be worshipped, but created entities that must praise the one true God, highlighting His supreme sovereignty.
Psalm 148 3 Word analysis
- Praise: (Hebrew: הַלְלוּהוּ, halləlūhū) This is an imperative verb, a direct command. The root הָלַל (halal) means "to praise, to commend, to boast, to glorify." It's an active and emphatic call to action, signifying vibrant and wholehearted worship. The suffix "-hū" means "Him," specifically referring to the Lord, mentioned in verse 1.
- Him: Refers to Yahweh, the Lord, the focus of all praise throughout the psalm, as established in verse 1.
- sun: (Hebrew: שֶׁמֶשׁ, šemeš) The most prominent and life-giving celestial body in the daytime sky. In many ancient cultures, the sun was a powerful deity, but here it is depicted as a mere servant, commanded to praise its Maker. Its consistent motion and provision of light and warmth are inherently praiseful acts by fulfilling their divine purpose.
- and moon: (Hebrew: יָרֵחַ, yārēaḥ) The dominant nocturnal luminary. Like the sun, it was often deified in pagan traditions (e.g., Sin in Mesopotamia). The psalm places it firmly under God's dominion, praising Him by its cyclical light and guidance for time.
- praise Him: A repetition of the initial command, emphasizing the universality and absolute necessity of this praise. It reiterates that the call extends to all named elements, ensuring no ambiguity.
- all: (Hebrew: כּוּלָּם, kullām) This term stresses comprehensiveness. No star is exempt, whether large or small, known or unknown.
- you stars: (Hebrew: כּוֹכְבֵי, kōwkḇê, "stars of...") Referring to the countless stars in the night sky. Their vast number and distant brilliance testify to God's immense power and wisdom.
- of light: (Hebrew: אוֹר, ’ōwr) This descriptive phrase "stars of light" (כּוֹכְבֵי אוֹר) is significant. It's not just "stars" but "stars which are light," highlighting their divinely ordained purpose as sources of illumination in the cosmos. It implies that their very nature and function—giving light—are an intrinsic act of praising their Creator, who is Himself Light. It further distinguishes them from chaotic or random entities, emphasizing their order and beauty as part of God's perfect design. This contrasts sharply with beliefs that saw stars as chaotic omens or arbitrary deities.
Psalm 148 3 Bonus section
The praise of celestial bodies, while metaphorical in nature, also points to their inherent purpose in God's cosmic order. Their stable orbits, predictable paths, and light-giving functions are perfect demonstrations of God's unchanging faithfulness and wisdom in governance. In ancient thought, the predictability of celestial cycles was a source of awe and often reverence; this psalm redirects that reverence squarely to the Creator. The "stars of light" may also subtly anticipate the ultimate Light that comes into the world in Jesus Christ, whose glory outshines any created light. The Psalmist is reminding Israel, and all subsequent readers, that even the most impressive natural phenomena are subservient to God, inspiring not worship of creation itself, but worship of the transcendent God who made it all.
Psalm 148 3 Commentary
Psalm 148:3 exemplifies a foundational truth in biblical theology: God is the sole Creator, and therefore, all creation is His subject, intended to reflect His glory. By commanding the sun, moon, and stars to praise Him, the psalmist performs a polemical act against widespread pagan practices of deifying or worshipping celestial bodies. Instead, these grand luminaries are depicted not as gods but as instruments within God's vast orchestra of praise. Their constant operation, predictable cycles, and provision of light are their "praise"—a continuous testament to the power, wisdom, and steadfastness of their Creator. This verse underscores that worship is not exclusively a human prerogative but a cosmic reality, where every element of the universe, in fulfilling its purpose, proclaims God’s sovereignty and splendor. It is a powerful affirmation of the intelligent design and ordered magnificence of God's creation, all orchestrated to magnify His name.