Psalm 150 1

Psalm 150:1 kjv

Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.

Psalm 150:1 nkjv

Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament!

Psalm 150:1 niv

Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.

Psalm 150:1 esv

Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens!

Psalm 150:1 nlt

Praise the LORD!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heaven!

Psalm 150 verses

Psalm 150 1 Meaning

Psalm 150:1 issues a profound, emphatic call to praise the Lord. It establishes that God is to be lauded universally, first within the sacred confines of His sanctuary—which points to His holiness and dwelling among His people or in His heavenly abode—and then extends that praise to the boundless expanse of the heavens, where His immense power and glory are visibly displayed through creation. This verse, serving as the powerful opening of the final Psalm, sets a cosmic scope for worship, urging all existence to honor God both in dedicated holy spaces and in the entirety of the created cosmos which reflects His might.

Psalm 150 1 Context

Psalm 150:1 introduces the climactic doxology of the entire book of Psalms. It is the first verse of the final Psalm, which functions as the grand conclusion, encapsulating the entire journey of human experience with God presented throughout the Psalter, culminating in a powerful, unambiguous call to praise. Historically, Psalms like this were integral to Israel's liturgical worship in the Temple. This Psalm serves to summarize the universal obligation and joyous purpose of praising the Lord, transitioning from laments and petitions often found earlier in the book, to an unbridled celebration of God's character and deeds. It implicitly broadens the concept of worship from a localized Temple act to a cosmic event.

Psalm 150 1 Word analysis

• Hallelujah (הַלְלוּיָהּ, hal-le-LU-yah): This is a composite word, derived from halal (הָלַל), meaning to praise, to shine, to boast, often implying enthusiastic or boisterous commendation, and Yah (יָהּ), a shortened form of Yahweh (YHWH), the personal covenant name of God. Its use as the opening and closing word of Psalm 150 underscores its centrality as the psalm's command and purpose, serving as an emphatic, joyful invitation for all to actively declare God's worth and glory. It's not merely an utterance but a call to active, joyful celebration.

• Praise God (הַלְלוּ אֵל, hal-le-LU ʾĒl): This reiterates the command to praise. El (אֵל) refers to God in His strength, majesty, and power as the Supreme Being and Creator. While Yah highlights His personal, covenantal nature, El emphasizes His omnipotence and transcendent authority. The immediate repetition ensures the object of praise is clear and multifaceted—both the personal covenant God and the mighty, sovereign Deity.

• in His sanctuary (בְּקָדְשׁוֹ, bəqodəshōw):

  • bə- (בְּ): The preposition "in," indicating location or sphere.
  • qodesh (קֹדֶשׁ): This noun means holiness, sacredness, or a holy place. Its usage carries dual significance. It can refer to the earthly Tabernacle or Jerusalem Temple (e.g., Exo 15:17), the consecrated place where God’s presence uniquely dwelled among His people. However, it also points to God’s heavenly dwelling, His inherently holy abode (e.g., Psa 20:2, Isa 63:15).
  • Significance: This phrase instructs praise to be given where God's inherent holiness and presence are manifest. It highlights the reverential, pure aspect of worship, often in a designated holy space. This contrasts with pagan practices, which often saw their deities confined or localized by human design; here, God's "sanctuary" extends to His divine nature and ultimate heavenly dwelling, implying His true omnipresent holiness.

• Praise Him (הַלְלוּהוּ, Hallelūhū): A simple, direct command reinforcing the continuous action of praise. The suffix -hu (הוּ) means "Him," clearly pointing back to the Lord/God.

• in His mighty expanse (בִּרְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ, birqīaʿ ʿuzzōw): This phrase expands the sphere of praise to the cosmic realm.

  • birqīaʿ (בִּרְקִיעַ): From raqiaʿ (רָקִיעַ), meaning expanse or firmament. As established in Gen 1, this refers to the vast, solid-seeming vault of the sky or heaven that God stretched out above the earth. It is the visible celestial dome where the sun, moon, and stars are set.
  • ʿuzzōw (עֻזּוֹ): From oz (עֹז), meaning strength, might, power, or dominion. The suffix -ōw denotes "His."
  • Significance: This broadens the context of praise beyond any single dwelling to the entire creation. The heavens, in their vastness, beauty, and intricate order, are a tangible testimony to God's immense strength and power. By commanding praise "in His mighty expanse," the psalmist declares that the universe itself is an arena where God's glorious power is vividly demonstrated and should thus inspire praise. This stands as a subtle but direct polemic against the worship of celestial bodies (sun, moon, stars), redirecting reverence back to the Creator of those very heavens.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Praise the Lord! Praise God": This immediate repetition and dual naming of God—using Yah (the personal, covenant name) and El (the mighty, universal name)—emphasizes the absolute, all-encompassing nature of the call to praise. It sets a resounding tone for the entire psalm, indicating that praise is paramount.
  • "in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty expanse": This pair juxtaposes two key realms where God is to be praised. The "sanctuary" represents God's intimate, holy dwelling, whether on earth (Temple) or in heaven. It signifies dedicated worship, reverence for His set-apart nature. The "mighty expanse" signifies the boundless cosmos, testifying to God's transcendent power and creativity. Together, these phrases depict praise emanating from sacred, concentrated spaces to the farthest reaches of God's dominion, illustrating that God's praise is both intimate and universal, focused on His holiness and manifested in His creation.

Psalm 150 1 Bonus section

• Psalm 150, concluding the Psalter, serves as a comprehensive doxology for the entire book, drawing together the themes of God's attributes and actions into a final command of unceasing praise. This opening verse is the initial call to that ultimate response.
• The placement of "Halleluyah" at both the beginning and end of Psalm 150, and indeed, concluding the last five Psalms (146-150), functions as an inclusio, powerfully framing these psalms as songs of pure praise and unifying the book in a magnificent outpouring of worship.
• The verse implies a "theology of praise" that spans both God's immanence (His presence in the sanctuary) and His transcendence (His power evident in the cosmos), illustrating that all aspects of His being call for adoration.

Psalm 150 1 Commentary

Psalm 150:1 launches the final, glorious crescendo of the entire Psalter with a double imperative to "Praise the Lord!" (Hallelujah), immediately followed by instructions on where this praise is to resound. The verse meticulously defines the dual spheres of this required praise: first, "in His sanctuary," referencing both the earthly holy place (like the Jerusalem Temple) where God uniquely revealed His presence among His people, and by extension, His majestic heavenly dwelling where He is perfectly holy. This emphasizes the sanctity and reverence appropriate for worship of a holy God. Secondly, the call extends to "His mighty expanse," referring to the heavens, the very firmament that declares His creative power and immense strength. This demonstrates that praise is not confined to sacred structures but encompasses the entirety of the created order, which magnificently proclaims God's greatness. Thus, this verse lays the foundation for all-encompassing worship—praise flowing from a heart in the holy presence of God and echoing through the cosmos that evidences His awesome power. For instance, whether we are in a place of dedicated worship, or looking up at the night sky filled with stars, both should elicit a profound "Praise the Lord!" for His holiness and His power.