Psalms113
English Standard Version
1 the Lord! , O of the Lord, the of the Lord!
2 be the of the Lord this and !
3 the of the its , the of the Lord is to be !
4The Lord is , and his the !
5 is like the Lord our , who is on ,
6who far on the and the ?
7He the the and the the ,
8to make them , the of his .
9He the a , making her the of . the Lord!
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 113.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: An exhortation to praise God. (1-9).
vv1-9
God has praise from his own people. They have most reason to praise him; for those who attend him as his servants, know him best, and receive most of his favours, and it is easy, pleasant work to speak well of their Master. God's name ought to be praised in every place, from east to west. Within this wide space the Lord's name is to be praised; it ought to be so, though it is not. Ere long it will be, when all nations shall come and worship before him. God is exalted above all blessing and praise. We must therefore say, with holy admiration, Who is like unto the Lord our God? How condescending in him to behold the things in the earth! And what amazing condescension was it for the Son of God to come from heaven to earth, and take our nature upon him, that he might seek and save those that were lost! How vast his love in taking upon him the nature of man, to ransom guilty souls! God sometimes makes glorious his own wisdom and power, when, having some great work to do, he employs those least likely, and least thought of for it by themselves or others. The apostles were sent from fishing to be fishers of men. And this is God's constant method in his kingdom of grace. He takes men, by nature beggars, and even traitors, to be his favourites, his children, kings and priests unto him; and numbers them with the princes of his chosen people. He gives us all our comforts, which are generally the more welcome when long delayed, and no longer expected. Let us pray that those lands which are yet barren, may speedily become fruitful, and produce many converts to join in praising the Lord.
Key Words
הָלַל: to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make ashow, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate; also to stultify
עֶבֶד: a servant
שֵׁם: an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
בָרַךְ: to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason)
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
עַתָּה: at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive
מִזְרָח: sunrise, i.e. the east
שֶׁמֶשׁ: the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched battlement
עַד: as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
מָבוֹא: an entrance (the place or the act); specifically sunset or the west; also (adverb with preposition) towards
Cross References
Psalms 113Direct verbal parallel: raising the poor from the dust and lifting the needy from the dunghill.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Universal worship of God's name from the rising of the sun to its setting.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Hannah's song celebrates the barren giving birth, directly paralleling the theme of verse 9.
Supported by JFB
Identical call for the servants of the Lord to praise the name of the Lord.
Supported by John Calvin
Mary's Magnificat echoes God bringing down rulers and exalting the humble and hungry.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Prophetic typology using the barren woman to represent the restoration of the desolate church.
Supported by JFB
Expresses the paradox of the lofty Lord looking upon the lowly, matching verse 6.
Supported by John Calvin
The High and Lofty One who dwells in eternity also dwells with the humble.
Supported by John Calvin