Psalm 149:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!

NIV: Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King.

NASB: Israel shall be joyful in his Maker; The sons of Zion shall rejoice in their King.

CSB: Let Israel celebrate its Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.

NLT: O Israel, rejoice in your Maker. O people of Jerusalem, exult in your King.

KJV: Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

NKJV: Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

This verse expresses the joy which should accompany praise to God. The psalmist tells the people of Israel to celebrate their relationship to the Creator (Genesis 1:1). Zion is another name for the city of Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:7; 1 Kings 8:1), the capital of the nation of Israel. The name Israel was given to Jacob (Genesis 32:28) and is used to refer to the tribes descending from his sons (Genesis 35:23–26). God's intent was that Israel would see Him as their King (1 Samuel 8:6–7; 12:12).

Psalm 95:6 presents a similar encouragement, "Oh come, let us wor-ship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!" Psalm 139 recog-nizes the Lord as the Creator of human beings and cites this creative act as a reason to praise Him (Psalm 139:13–14). The Lord is also the King who reigns now and throughout eternity (Revelation 15:1–4).

Psalm 149:1–5 summons Israel to praise the Lord, their Creator and King. The praise should be joyful and include dancing and singing—even when resting in bed. The Lord takes special pleasure in His chosen people, especially those who remain humble and accept His salvation.

The psalmist calls on Israel to praise the Lord God who is their King. He celebrates the Lord's special concern for Israel and expects the people to respond with joy. The song also calls on Israel—the Old Testament nation—to live out God's commands to overcome the depraved nations of Canaan as they were instructed after the exodus (Deuteronomy 7:2; 9:5). This will fulfill prophecy and be a source of honor for those who obey God.

The English word "hallelujah" comes from the Hebrew expression halelu-yāh. This unique phrase only occurs biblically in the book of Psalms; many instances are in the last five entries (Psalms 146—150). Each of these last songs begins and ends with this phrase which literally means "praise the Lord!" The later verses call on the Old Testament people of Israel to fulfill their intended role as instruments of the Lord's vengeance on evil nations (Deuteronomy 7:2; 9:5; Ezekiel 25:14).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 4/15/2025 11:00:00 PM