Psalms 135:5

5 I know that the LORD is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods.

Psalms 135:5 in Other Translations

KJV
5 For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
ESV
5 For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
NLT
5 I know the greatness of the LORD — that our Lord is greater than any other god.
MSG
5 I too give witness to the greatness of God, our Lord, high above all other gods.
CSB
5 For I know that the Lord is great; our Lord is greater than all gods.

Psalms 135:5 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 135:5

For I know that the Lord [is] great
Jehovah the Father is great in his perfections; in his power, wisdom, faithfulness, grace, and goodness; and in his works of creation, providence, and grace: and so is Jehovah the Son, who seems chiefly designed, who is called "our Lord" or "Adon" in the next clause; he is great, having the same perfections his Father has; and doing the same works, besides the miracles he wrought here on earth, and the great work of our redemption: he is the great God and our Saviour, and a great Saviour he is; and indeed he is great in all his offices of Prophet, Priest, and King: and so is the blessed Spirit, who is equal to the Father and Son, and greater than he that is in the world. Now all this the psalmist could say from his own knowledge; he knew the Lord was great, from the consideration and meditation of his wondrous works; he knew the greatness of Christ, from the revelation made to him of his person, offices, and grace; he knew the greatness of the divine Spirit, from the inward experience of his upon his heart, as well as from his being divinely inspired by him; and because of this greatness of the Lord, as well as his goodness, he is to be praised; it is mentioned as a reason of it;

and [that] our Lord [is] above all gods;
the Lord our righteousness; Immanuel, God with us: our Lord, not only by right of creation, but of redemption; he is above all that the Heathens called gods, even the greatest of them; not the idols their hands made only, but the heavens and all the host of them, the sun, moon, and stars; his glory is above them, being the Maker of them, as God; and he is made higher than they, as man and Mediator: he is above civil magistrates, princes, and kings of the earth, called gods, ( Psalms 82:5 ) ; he is King of kings, and Lord of lords, he is higher than they; by him they reign, and to him they are accountable; and he is above the angels, sometimes called "Elohim", or gods, ( Psalms 8:5 ) ; he has a more excellent name and nature than they; he is the Creator of them, the object of their worship, to whom they minister, whose servants they are; and he is now exalted above them in the human nature, at the right hand of God; see ( Hebrews 1:4-14 ) .

Psalms 135:5 In-Context

3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.
4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob to be his own, Israel to be his treasured possession.
5 I know that the LORD is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods.
6 The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths.
7 He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth; he sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.

Cross References 2

  • 1. S Psalms 48:1; Psalms 145:3
  • 2. S Exodus 12:12; S 1 Chronicles 16:25; S Job 21:22; Psalms 97:9
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