Psalm-149
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Remember the following two
truth’s from our beloved Scriptures!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments
of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם (the
LORD your Eloleichem) which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
“This
is My Name FOREVER, and this is My Memorial to ALL Generations”. Shemot - Exodus 3:15. (JPS).
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben
Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Just before the study, I would like to commence with one more important quote from the book of Yahoshua - Joshua Ch 1:7-8. (JPS-1917).
“Be strong and
courageous. Be careful to obey the entire Torah My servant Moshe has given you; do
not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful
wherever you go. Do
not let this Book of the Torah depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and
night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be
prosperous and successful.”
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Tehillim - Psalm 149 is a short, fierce doxology that
pairs exuberant worship with a call to Divine justice; read as both liturgical
praise and an eschatological victory song, it invites ‘praise’, ‘martial
imagery’, and ‘hope’ for אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s (God’s) vindication. I’ll will provide a concise
introduction, key Hebrew words to watch, theological angles, and practical
study steps.
Introduction and context:
Psalm 149 closes the Psalter as part of the “final Hallel” (Psalms 146–150), each beginning and ending with “Praise יְהוָה - the LORD,” and it uniquely blends praise with militant imagery. The Psalm’s placement in the canon shapes how readers hear its mixture of worship and judgment: as both present praise and future vindication.
Below are the nine verses, first in Hebrew, followed by the translation, line by line.
הַלְלוּ-יָהּ
שִׁירוּ
לַיהוָה,
שִׁיר חָדָשׁ;
תְּהִלָּתוֹ,
בִּקְהַל
חֲסִידִים
1. HalleluYah.
Sing unto יְהוָה - the LORD a
new song, and His praise in the assembly of the saints.
יִשְׂמַח
יִשְׂרָאֵל
בְּעֹשָׂיו;
בְּנֵי-צִיּוֹן,
יָגִילוּ
בְמַלְכָּם
2. Let
Israel rejoice in his Maker; let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
יְהַלְלוּ
שְׁמוֹ
בְמָחוֹל;
בְּתֹף
וְכִנּוֹר,
יְזַמְּרוּ-לוֹ
3. Let them
praise His Name in the dance; let them sing praises unto Him with the timbrel
and harp.
כִּי-רוֹצֶה
יְהוָה
בְּעַמּוֹ;
יְפָאֵר
עֲנָוִים,
בִּישׁוּעָה
4. For יְהוָה
- the LORD taketh pleasure in His people; He adorneth the humble with salvation.
יַעְלְזוּ
חֲסִידִים
בְּכָבוֹד;
יְרַנְּנוּ,
עַל-מִשְׁכְּבוֹתָם
5. Let the saints
exult in glory; let them sing for joy upon their beds.
רוֹמְמוֹת
אֵל,
בִּגְרוֹנָם;
וְחֶרֶב
פִּיפִיּוֹת
בְּיָדָם
6. Let the
high praises of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim be in their mouth, and a two-edged
sword in their hand;
לַעֲשׂוֹת
נְקָמָה,
בַּגּוֹיִם;
תּוֹכֵחוֹת,
בַּלְאֻמִּים
7. To execute
vengeance upon the nations, and chastisements upon the peoples;
לֶאְסֹר
מַלְכֵיהֶם
בְּזִקִּים;
וְנִכְבְּדֵיהֶם,
בְּכַבְלֵי
בַרְזֶל
8. To bind
their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
לַעֲשׂוֹת
בָּהֶם,
מִשְׁפָּט
כָּתוּב-הָדָר
הוּא,
לְכָל-חֲסִידָיו
הַלְלוּ-יָהּ
9. To execute
upon them the judgment written; He is the glory of all His saints.
HalleluYah.
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Structure and flow:
Verses 1-4: Reveals communal praise and
joy, a call to
sing a new song,
rejoice in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s presence, and celebrate the
faithful honour.
Verses 5-6: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s delight and reward, the faithful are promised אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s pleasure and vindication.
Verses 7-9: warrior language and judgment, commands to execute justice with a
“two-edged sword,” often read as symbolic of Divine word.
Let us now look at a ‘verse by verse’
commentary:
Verse 1.
“Sing unto יְהוָה
- the LORD a new song”. And His praise in the congregation of the godly.
The psalm opens with an imperative praise and it must be fresh and communal.
“New song” signals renewed experience of אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim’s acts; the congregation is the proper arena for this praise,
emphasizing corporate identity.
Verse 2.
“Let Israel
rejoice in his Maker”;
“Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King”. The call
becomes more specific: Israel and Zion rejoice in the Creator King. The
language ties worship to identity אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim as Maker and King is the reason for communal joy.
Verse 3.
“Let them praise His Name
in the dance”; “Let them sing praises unto Him with timbrel and harp”. Worship is embodied: ‘dance’ and
‘musical instruments’ make praise visible and audible. The timbrel (a
percussion instrument) and harp (melodic string instrument) suggest both rhythm
and melody, is ‘full’, ‘exuberant celebration’.
Verse 4.
“For יְהוָה - the LORD taketh
pleasure in His people”; He will beautify the meek with salvation.
This verse gives theological grounding: אֱלֹהִים
delights in His people. The promise to “beautify the meek with salvation” links
divine favour to humility and frames salvation as both honour and
transformation.
Verse 5.
Let the godly exult in glory; Let them sing for joy
upon their beds.
Joy spills into private life (“upon their beds”), indicating that praise is not
confined to public ritual but permeates daily existence. The “godly” are
invited to exult in the honour bestows.
Verse 6.
“Let the
saints exult in glory”.
And a two edged sword in their hand; A
striking shift: praise on the lips is paired with a weapon in the hand. The
“two edged sword” is a metaphor for decisive ‘action’, ‘speech’ and deed
together’ to enact אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim’s will. The image suggests that worshiping identity equips the
community for confronting injustice.
Verse 7.
“To execute
vengeance upon the nations, and chastisements upon the peoples”; The psalmist envisions the community as an instrument of
divine justice against nations that oppose אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim’s order. This language reflects ancient covenantal expectations that אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim’s people, under divine mandate, participate in establishing justice.
Verse 8.
“To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron”; The imagery of binding rulers underscores the overthrow of
oppressive power. Chains and iron fetters symbolize the removal of corrupt
authority and the enforcement of righteous rule.
Verse 9.
To execute upon them the judgment written; this
honour have all His godly ones. Praise ye יְהוָה - the LORD. The psalm closes by linking action to Divine decree judgment “written”
implies legitimacy, and by affirming that such participation in אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim’s justice is the honour of the faithful. The final “Praise ye יְהוָה - the LORD” returns the reader to liturgical worship, framing the whole
sequence as praise that both celebrates and enacts אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim’s will!
Key Hebrew words and nuances:
“New song” (שִׁיר
חָדָשׁ),
signals renewal and covenantal refreshment; not merely novelty but renewed
covenant praise.
“Praise יְהוָה - the LORD”, HalleluYah
- (הַלְלוּ־יָהּ), framing refrain that bookends the
final psalms and marks liturgical closure.
“Two-edged sword” (חֶרֶב
שְׁנֵי־חַדִּים) imagery that can be read literally (ancient
warfare) or metaphorically
(אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim’s decisive word or judgment) depending on theological lens.
I pray that the above has released a great deal more information, regarding this amazing Tehillm - Psalm 149.
May you be
richly blessed!
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In
Conclusion, a Question to Deepen the Conversation:
Which part of the Tanakh study, or possibly a
particular line or statement within it has touched you the most? And
how do you feel about spending more time studying our beloved Tanakh? I pray
that you are doing well as a faithful Hebrew, and אֱלֹהִים - Elohim willing you are
upholding as many of our blessed Mitzvoth’s?
Dear reader, please remember
this, pray for peace and solitude in your life, and then work on keeping
as calm as possible and learn to improve your life, for אֱלֹהִים - בָּרוּךְ
אֱלֹהִים - Bless Elohim, He
is always there and ready to help and guide you!
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PLEASE NOTE: If you need any assistance, just ask, I will assist, and I can also send an email to you, with special items to help you with whatever you may need! Just email me and I will send it to your email. There will no follow up’s whatsoever, or any requests from me, unless you wish further information, (use the email that is located further down this page).
This site was
originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and
wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or
three times a day (if possible) and always seek אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim’s guidance! For interest, as you may have discovered, this site has
become more a teaching site, bringing our faith closer to its origins!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following, via a number of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi -
Malachi 3:7. MEC).
And Remember ...
Enjoy
your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה (the LORD your Eloheichem); walk in My statutes,
and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall
be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה – the LORD your Eloheichem”.
Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as
follows;
For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
He is the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace
of צְבָאוֹת-
יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and
please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as
well as the ‘מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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