Psalms 149:4-9

4 For the LORD 1takes pleasure in His people; He will 2beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.
5 Let the 3godly ones exult in glory; Let them 4sing for joy on their beds.
6 Let the 5high praises of God be in their mouth, And a 6two-edged 7sword in their hand,
7 To 8execute vengeance on the nations And punishment on the peoples,
8 To bind their kings 9with chains And their 10nobles with fetters of iron,
9 To 11execute on them the judgment written; This is an 12honor for all His godly ones. Praise 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 12

  • 1. Job 36:11; Psalms 16:11; Psalms 35:27; Psalms 147:11
  • 2. Psalms 132:16; Isaiah 61:3
  • 3. Psalms 132:16
  • 4. Job 35:10; Psalms 42:8
  • 5. Psalms 66:17
  • 6. Hebrews 4:12
  • 7. Nehemiah 4:17
  • 8. Ezekiel 25:17; Micah 5:15
  • 9. Job 36:8
  • 10. Nahum 3:10
  • 11. Deuteronomy 7:12; Ezekiel 28:26
  • 12. Psalms 112:9; Psalms 148:14

Footnotes 3

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