Psalms 148:4

4 Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.

Psalms 148:4 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
English Standard Version (ESV)
4 Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
New Living Translation (NLT)
4 Praise him, skies above! Praise him, vapors high above the clouds!
The Message Bible (MSG)
4 Praise him, high heaven, praise him, heavenly rain clouds;
American Standard Version (ASV)
4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, And ye waters that are above the heavens.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
4 Praise him, you highest heaven and the water above the sky.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
4 Praise Him, highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
4 Praise him, you highest heavens. Praise him, you waters above the skies.

Psalms 148:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 148:4

Praise him, ye heaven of heavens
All the heavens, the airy and starry heavens; and the third heaven, the residence of God, angels and saints: these are made by the Lord, and declare the glory of his power, wisdom, and goodness, and show forth his handiwork, ( Psalms 19:1 ) . A voice was heard from heaven, praising Jehovah the Son, when on earth in our nature; a cloud of the lower heavens received him when he went from hence, and in the clouds thereof he will come again: the highest heavens opened to receive him, and will retain him until the restitution of all things; and from hence he will descend to judge the world in righteousness, ( Matthew 3:16 ) ( 17:5 ) ( Acts 1:9 ) ( 3:21 ) ( Revelation 1:7 ) ;

and ye waters that [be] above the heavens;
divided by the firmament from the waters below; and are no other than the thick clouds, in which the waters are bound up, and not rent, but at the pleasure of God, ( Genesis 1:7 ) ( Job 26:9 ) ; so Seneca F4 calls the clouds the celestial waters. And these give men occasion to praise the Lord, that those vast bodies of water that are over their heads are not let down in such large quantities upon them as would destroy them; and that are carried about from place to place, and let down and gentle showers, to water and refresh the earth, and make it fruitful, so that it brings forth food for man and beast. The Targum is,

``ye waters, that by the Word (of the Lord) hang above the heavens;''

in which is displayed the glory of amazing power, wisdom, and goodness. The most ancient Syrians and Arabians were thoroughly persuaded, that beyond the bounds of the visible heavens there was a great sea, without any limits; which some F5 suppose to be the waters here meant.


FOOTNOTES:

F4 Nat. Quaest. l. 3. c. 23.
F5 Vid. Steeb. Coelum Sephirot. Heb. c. 7. s. 3. p. 126, 127. and Gregory's Works, p. 110.

Psalms 148:4 In-Context

2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
3 Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars.
4 Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.
5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for at his command they were created,
6 and he established them for ever and ever— he issued a decree that will never pass away.

Cross References 2

  • 1. S Deuteronomy 10:14
  • 2. S Genesis 1:7; 1 Kings 8:27
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