Psalms 147:3-20

3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

4 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.

5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

6 The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.

7 Sing to the LORD with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp.

8 He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.

9 He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.

10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;

11 the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

12 Extol the LORD, Jerusalem; praise your God, Zion.

13 He strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you.

14 He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.

15 He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.

16 He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.

17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast?

18 He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.

19 He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel.

20 He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws.^[a]Praise the LORD.

Psalms 147:3-20 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

• 1. S Psalms 34:18
• 2. S Numbers 12:13; S Job 5:18; Isaiah 1:6; Ezekiel 34:16
• 3. S Genesis 15:5; Isaiah 40:26
• 4. S Psalms 48:1
• 5. S Exodus 14:31
• 6. Psalms 145:3; Isaiah 40:28
• 7. S 2 Chronicles 33:23; Psalms 146:8-9
• 8. Psalms 37:9-10; Psalms 145:20
• 9. Psalms 30:4; Psalms 33:3
• 10. S Psalms 42:4
• 11. S Psalms 27:6
• 12. S Psalms 98:5
• 13. S Job 26:8
• 14. S Deuteronomy 11:14; S Deuteronomy 32:2; S 2 Samuel 1:21; S Job 5:10; Job 38:26
• 15. S Job 28:26; S Psalms 104:14
• 16. S Genesis 1:30; Psalms 104:27-28; S Matthew 6:26
• 17. S Genesis 8:7; Job 38:41
• 18. S 1 Samuel 16:7
• 19. S Job 39:11; Psalms 33:16-17
• 20. S Psalms 35:27
• 21. Psalms 33:18; Psalms 103:11
• 22. Psalms 119:43
• 23. Psalms 6:4
• 24. Psalms 48:1
• 25. S Deuteronomy 33:25
• 26. S Leviticus 25:21; Psalms 128:5; Psalms 134:3
• 27. S Leviticus 26:6; S 2 Samuel 7:10; S Isaiah 48:18; Isaiah 60:17-18
• 28. S Psalms 132:15
• 29. S Deuteronomy 32:14
• 30. Job 37:12; Psalms 33:9; Psalms 148:5
• 31. Isaiah 55:11
• 32. Psalms 148:8; Job 37:6
• 33. S Job 37:12; Job 38:29
• 34. Exodus 9:22-23; S Job 38:22; S Psalms 78:47
• 35. ver 15; Psalms 33:9; Psalms 107:20
• 36. S Psalms 50:3
• 37. S Exodus 20:1; Romans 3:2
• 38. Psalms 78:5
• 39. S Deuteronomy 33:4; Joshua 1:8; 2 Kings 22:8; Malachi 4:4; Romans 9:4
• 40. Dt 4:7-8,32-34
• 41. S Psalms 79:6
• 42. Psalms 33:2; Psalms 103:1

Footnotes

• [a]. Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint "nation; / he has not made his laws known to them"