Psalm 148:9 kjv
Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:
Psalm 148:9 nkjv
Mountains and all hills; Fruitful trees and all cedars;
Psalm 148:9 niv
you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars,
Psalm 148:9 esv
Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!
Psalm 148:9 nlt
mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
Psalm 148 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 65:12-13 | The pastures of the wilderness drip, and the hills gird themselves with joy... | Hills joyful testimony |
| Isa 55:12 | For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. | Mountains and trees sing in joy |
| 1 Chr 16:33 | Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. | Trees sing before the Lord |
| Psa 96:12 | let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy. | Trees of forest exult |
| Rev 5:13 | And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all therein, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" | Universal creation worship |
| Luke 19:40 | He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out." | Inanimate objects witnessing God's glory |
| Rom 1:20 | For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. | Creation reveals God's nature |
| Psa 29:5-6 | The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. | God's power over cedars and mountains |
| Psa 104:16-17 | The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted... | God sustains great trees |
| Gen 1:11-12 | And God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth." And it was so. | God creates diverse vegetation |
| Job 12:7-9 | "But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you...the hand of the LORD has done this." | Creation teaches about God |
| Hab 3:6 | He stood and measured the earth; he looked and made the nations tremble; the eternal mountains were scattered; the ancient hills bowed low. His ways are everlasting. | God's power over mountains and hills |
| Nah 1:5 | The mountains quake before him; the hills melt away; the earth heaves before him, the world and all who dwell in it. | Mountains' fear before God's presence |
| Psa 72:16 | May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field! | Fruitfulness of mountains (metaphorical) |
| Isa 44:23 | Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it; shout, O depths of the earth; break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and will be glorified in Israel. | Mountains and trees sing for God's redemption |
| Heb 1:3 | He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. | Christ's sustaining power over creation |
| Col 1:16 | For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. | All creation through Christ |
| Psa 114:4-6 | The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs...At the presence of the Lord, O earth, at the presence of the God of Jacob. | Mountains move at God's presence |
| Jer 33:20 | "Thus says the LORD: If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night will not come at their appointed time..." | God's covenant with natural order |
| Isa 40:4 | Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low... | God's power to reshape creation |
| Jer 31:12 | ...like a watered garden; and they shall languish no more...they shall not sorrow anymore. | Fruitfulness and flourishing (divine blessing) |
| Song 5:15 | His legs are alabaster columns set on pedestals of gold...His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as the cedars. | Cedars representing strength and majesty |
Psalm 148 verses
Psalm 148 9 Meaning
Psalm 148:9 is part of a universal summons for all of creation to offer praise to the Lord. This verse specifically calls upon key elements of the Earth's natural landscape—mountains and hills representing the grandeur of topography, and fruit trees and cedars representing the diverse and vital aspects of flora—to participate in this divine chorus. It signifies that even inanimate and vegetative parts of creation inherently testify to the power, wisdom, and majesty of their Creator by simply existing and fulfilling their divinely appointed purpose.
Psalm 148 9 Context
Psalm 148 belongs to the "Hallelujah Psalms" (Psalms 146-150), which primarily focus on enthusiastic and unrestrained praise of the Lord. The structure of Psalm 148 itself is a call-and-response anthem: verses 1-6 invite the heavenly realms to praise God, while verses 7-12 extend this summons to all earthly creatures, starting with the deep and elemental forces (v. 7), moving through geographical features (v. 8-9), animals (v. 10), and culminating in humanity from all social strata (v. 11-12). Verse 9 fits within the section of earthly elements, highlighting both the majestic and the productive aspects of the Earth's flora and topography, underscoring the universal nature of God's dominion and the corresponding call to praise Him as the Creator of all.
Psalm 148 9 Word analysis
Mountains (הָרִים - harim):
- Symbolize immovability, permanence, strength, and vastness. Often associated with God's dwelling (Mount Sinai, Mount Zion) or places where significant divine encounters occur.
- In the Ancient Near East, mountains were seen as connecting earth to heaven, often viewed as abodes of gods or powerful spirits. By calling mountains to praise the LORD, the Psalmist unequivocally declares the one true God as their sovereign Creator, subtly polemicizing against pagan beliefs that divinized such natural features or deities residing within them.
- Their praise is through their sheer existence and unchanging nature, testifying to God's enduring power.
All hills (וְכָל-גְּבָעוֹת - vechol geva'ot):
- The term geva'ot refers to smaller, often gentler elevations than mountains.
- The inclusion of "all hills" signifies a complete inclusion of varied landforms, ensuring no part of the earth's natural topography is left out of the universal call to praise. It highlights the pervasive reach of God's glory, visible even in the less imposing features of the landscape.
Fruit trees (עֵץ פְּרִי - 'ets pri):
- Refers specifically to trees that bear edible fruit.
- Symbolizes God's provision, blessing, and life itself (e.g., Tree of Life, blessing of abundance in Deut 28:4). They embody productiveness and sustenance.
- Their praise stems from their very design to provide, thrive, and multiply, demonstrating the Lord's bountiful and ordered creation.
All cedars (וְכָל-אֲרָזִים - vechol arazim):
- Refers to the magnificent and towering cedar trees, especially those of Lebanon.
- Known for their immense size, longevity, strength, and fragrance, cedars were highly valued and associated with royalty, grandeur, and sacred architecture (e.g., Solomon's Temple).
- They symbolize majesty, resilience, and awe-inspiring beauty, often towering above other flora.
- The inclusion of "all cedars" emphasizes that even the most impressive and valuable elements of nature, often perceived as embodying inherent power, are ultimately created by and subject to the Lord, called to praise Him for their very existence and splendor.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Mountains and all hills": This pairing encompasses the grandest and most imposing geological features down to the smaller, more common elevations. It signifies the totality of earth's topography. The praise they render is in their fixed existence, silent majesty, and participation in the hydrological cycle that nourishes life, all ordained by God. This emphasizes that God's glory is declared through the entire range of landforms, from the most majestic peaks to the humble slopes.
- "Fruit trees and all cedars": This duo covers both the practical, life-sustaining flora (fruit trees) and the aesthetically grand, powerful flora (cedars). This showcases the dual aspect of God's creation—His benevolent provision for life and His creation of sheer, awe-inspiring beauty and strength. Their praise is expressed in their natural functions, their beauty, and their capacity to sustain and shelter life, fulfilling their designed purpose under God's dominion.
Psalm 148 9 Bonus section
The concept of inanimate creation praising God resonates with the Hebrew understanding of the cosmos as dynamically participating in God's will. Unlike a passive, silent backdrop, creation is seen as alive, responsive, and declarative of its Maker's attributes. This perspective offers a profound counter-narrative to materialistic or secular worldviews that separate creation from its Creator. It teaches us to perceive the world not just for its utility or beauty, but as a perpetual symphony of praise, continuously broadcasting the attributes of the Living God. This cosmic praise underscores that worship is not limited to humanity or sentient beings but is a fundamental characteristic woven into the fabric of the universe itself by divine design.
Psalm 148 9 Commentary
Psalm 148:9 encapsulates the truth that all of God's creation, from the vast mountains to the productive fruit trees, inherently praises Him. This praise is not always a verbal declaration but rather an existential testament. The mountains, in their stoic grandeur and ancient presence, reflect His eternity and might. The hills, gentler but still vast, expand that witness to the pervasive nature of His dominion. Fruit trees, providing sustenance and new life, silently laud His abundant provision and creative design. And the mighty cedars, majestic and enduring, speak of His power, beauty, and steadfastness. In a world where nature was often deified, this verse clearly asserts that these magnificent elements are not gods but creations of the one true God, and their ultimate purpose is to testify to His glory, beckoning humanity to join in this universal worship. This is a call for a conscious recognition of God’s glory emanating from every part of His created order.