Psalms 147:8-18

8 Who ¹covers the heavens with clouds, Who ²provides rain for the earth, Who ³makes grass to grow on the mountains.

9 He ⁴gives to the beast its food, And to the ⁵young ravens which cry.

10 He does not delight in the strength of the ⁶horse; He ⁷does not take pleasure in the legs of a man.

11 The LORD ⁸favors those who fear Him, ⁹Those who wait for His lovingkindness.

12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!

13 For He has strengthened the ¹⁰bars of your gates; He has ¹¹blessed your sons within you.

14 He ¹²makes peace in your borders; He ¹³satisfies you with ¹⁴the finest of the wheat.

15 He sends forth His ¹⁵command to the earth; His ¹⁶word runs very swiftly.

16 He gives ¹⁷snow like wool; He scatters the ¹⁸frost like ashes.

17 He casts forth His ¹⁹ice as fragments; Who can stand before His ²⁰cold?

18 He ²¹sends forth His word and melts them; He ²²causes His wind to blow and the waters to flow.

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Psalms 147:8-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 147

This psalm is thought to be written by David, and according to Theodoret predicts the return of the Jews from Babylon, and the rebuilding of Jerusalem by Zerubbabel, which seems to be grounded on Ps 147:2; though the words there agree well enough with the times of David; hence the title in the Septuagint, Ethiopic, Arabic, and Syriac versions, and Apollinarius, is as the preceding; the Syriac adds,

``concerning Zerubbabel and Joshua the priest, and Ezra, who were solicitous and diligent in building Jerusalem.''

Aben Ezra and other Jewish writers think it foretells the future rebuilding of Jerusalem, and the restoration of the Jews from their present captivity, and refer it to the times of the Messiah; and so far it may be right, that it respects Christ and the praise of him, on account of his nature and works; and may take in the conversion of the Jews. It seems to be written by the same person, and on the same account, as the preceding psalm.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 22

1. Job 26:8
2. Job 5:10; Job 38:26; Psalms 104:13
3. Job 38:27; Psalms 104:14
4. Psalms 104:27, 28; Psalms 145:15
5. Job 38:41; Matthew 6:26
6. Psalms 33:17
7. 1 Samuel 16:7
8. Psalms 149:4
9. Psalms 33:18
10. Nehemiah 3:3; Nehemiah 7:3
11. Psalms 37:26
12. Psalms 29:11; Isaiah 54:13; Isaiah 60:17, 18
13. Psalms 132:15
14. Deuteronomy 32:14; Psalms 81:16
15. Job 37:12; Psalms 148:5
16. Psalms 104:4
17. Job 37:6; Psalms 148:8
18. Job 38:29
19. Job 37:10
20. Job 37:9
21. Psalms 33:9; Psalms 107:20; Psalms 147:15
22. Psalms 107:25

Footnotes 3

[a]. Lit "spring forth"
[b]. Lit "your borders peace"
[c]. Lit "fat"