Psalms 147:15-20

15 He sends forth His 1command to the earth; His 2word runs very swiftly.
16 He gives 3snow like wool; He scatters the 4frost like ashes.
17 He casts forth His 5ice as fragments; Who can stand before His 6cold?
18 He 7sends forth His word and melts them; He 8causes His wind to blow and the waters to flow.
19 He 9declares His words to Jacob, His 10statutes and His ordinances to Israel.
20 He 11has not dealt thus with any nation; And as for His ordinances, they have 12not known them. Praise the LORD!

Psalms 147:15-20 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.

Cross References 12

  • 1. Job 37:12; Psalms 148:5
  • 2. Psalms 104:4
  • 3. Job 37:6; Psalms 148:8
  • 4. Job 38:29
  • 5. Job 37:10
  • 6. Job 37:9
  • 7. Psalms 33:9; Psalms 107:20; Psalms 147:15
  • 8. Psalms 107:25
  • 9. Deuteronomy 33:3, 4
  • 10. Malachi 4:4
  • 11. Deut 4:7, 8, 32-34; Romans 3:1, 2
  • 12. Psalms 79:6; Jeremiah 10:25

Footnotes 2

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