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PSALM 150

STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

NASB NKJV NRSV TEV NJB
A Psalm of Praise
  No MT Intro		 Let All Things Praise the Lord Doxology Marking the End of the Psalter Praise the Lord Final Chorus of Praise
150:1-2 150:1a 150:1-2 150:1a 150:1a
  150:1b-c   150:1b-2 150:1b-2
  150:2      
150:3-6 150:3-5 150:3-6 150:3-6b 150:3-6a
  150:6a      
  150:6b   150:6c 150:6b

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 150:1-2
 1Praise the Lord!
 Praise God in His sanctuary;
 Praise Him in His mighty expanse.
 2Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
 Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.

150:1-6 The only VERB in this Psalm is "praise" (BDB 237, KB 248) used thirteen times.

  1. twelve Piel IMPERATIVES (in Psalm 146-150, thirty-three times)
  2. one Piel IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense (cf. Ps. 150:6a)

Notice the PREPOSITIONS.

  1. in a place
    1. in His sanctuary
    2. in His mighty expanse (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE CIRCLE OF THE EARTH
  2. because
    1. His mighty deeds
    2. His excellent greatness
  3. with musical instruments (what type is not always clear)
    1. trumpet (BDB 1051, KB 1447)
    2. harp (BDB 490, KB 664 II, cf. 2 Sam. 6:5)
    3. lyre (BDB 614, KB 484, cf. 2 Sam. 6:5)
    4. timbrel (BDB 1074, KB 1771)
    5. stringed instruments (BDB 577 I, KB 597)
    6. pipe (BDB 721, KB 795, NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 334)
    7. cymbals (BDB 852, KB 1031, cf. 2 Sam. 6:5)
  4. with dancing, Ps. 150:4
  5. with breath, Ps. 150:6

150:1 This verse may be a literary way of paralleling Ps. 150:6a.

The "sanctuary" (i.e., temple or on earth, cf. Ps. 148:7-12; also note John H. Walton, The Lost World of Genesis 1: An Ancient Cosmology; the LXX has "among His saints") would denote earth and the "expanse" (the celestial realm, cf. Ps. 148:1-4).

It is possible that both Ps. 150:1b and 1c refer to YHWH's (El in Ps. 150:1b) abode (cf. Ps. 11:4).

150:2 "His mighty deeds" See notes on Ps. 145:4,5,6,7,9,12.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 150:3-6
 3Praise Him with trumpet sound;
 Praise Him with harp and lyre.
 4Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;
 Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.
 5Praise Him with loud cymbals;
 Praise Him with resounding cymbals.
 6Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
 Praise the Lord!

150:3 "trumpet" These are blown by priests. See SPECIAL TOPIC: HORNS USED BY ISRAEL.

▣ "harp and lyre" These were instruments used by the Levites in temple worship (cf. 1 Chr. 15:16; 2 Chr. 29:25; Neh. 12:27).

150:6a What a beautiful way to speak of animate creation (human and animal) praising the Creator (cf. Ps. 103:19-22; 145:21; 148:7-12.

 

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