Psalms 149:4-9

4 For the LORD 1takes pleasure in his people; he 2adorns the humble with salvation.
5 Let the godly exult in glory; let them 3sing for joy on their 4beds.
6 Let 5the high praises of God be in their throats and 6two-edged swords in their hands,
7 to execute vengeance on the nations and punishments on the peoples,
8 to bind their kings with 7chains and their nobles with fetters of iron,
9 to execute on them the judgment 8written! 9This is honor for all his godly ones. 10Praise the LORD!

Psalms 149:4-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 149

This psalm is thought by Calvin and others to have been written for the sake of the Jews that returned from the Babylonish captivity; and is a prediction of great and famous things done in the times of the Maccabees to Heathens and their princes, so Theodoret; the Syriac version entitles it,

``concerning the new temple;''

that is, the second temple, built by Zerubbabel, and the things done under that; but it rather seems to have been written by David in the beginning of his reign, when he obtained victories over the Philistines, Edomites, Moabites, Ammonites, and Syrians; and refers to the times of the Messiah, as Kimchi, R. Obadiah Gaon, and others think; not of the Jews' vainly expected Messiah, but of the true Messiah, who is come, and will come again, spiritually and personally; and there are many things in it applicable both to the first and latter part of his days.

Cross References 10

  • 1. Psalms 35:27; Psalms 147:11
  • 2. [Isaiah 61:3]
  • 3. See Job 35:10
  • 4. Psalms 4:4; Psalms 63:6; [Hosea 7:14]
  • 5. [Psalms 66:17]
  • 6. Hebrews 4:12; Revelation 1:16; Revelation 2:12; [Proverbs 5:4]
  • 7. [Job 36:8]
  • 8. Isaiah 65:6; [Job 13:26]
  • 9. [Psalms 148:14]
  • 10. [See Psalms 148:14 above]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.