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Psalms 113

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Call to Universal and Eternal Praise 1–3

1
Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. ​
2
Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.
3
From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised. ​

God's Incomparable Majesty and Transcendence 4–6

4
The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
5
Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, ​
6
Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! ​

God's Condescension and Care for the Poor 7–9

7
He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; ​
8
That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.
9
He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for Psalms 113

Verse 1

Praise ye the LORD — Halal, to shine, then to boast aloud in praise; it gives 'Hallelujah' (with Yah, the short form of the divine name). The call falls on 'servants of the LORD' (ebed), and opens the series of psalms that runs to Ps 118; Ps 135:1 begins almost identically.

Verse 3

From the rising of the sun — The same span, 'from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same', carries the promise that the LORD's 'name shall be great among the Gentiles' (Mal 1:11). Praise is owed in every place, not in Israel only (Ps 86:9).

Verse 5

who dwelleth on high — The question echoes 'Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods?' (Ex 15:11). Yashab, to sit or dwell, is enthroned residence; gabah is to be lofty. The verse sets up the turn of v.6: the one seated highest looks lowest.

Verse 6

humbleth himself to behold — Shaphel, to sink or bring low, here said of God himself: he stoops even to look at heaven and earth. 'Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly' (Ps 138:6); he dwells also with the 'contrite and humble spirit' (Isa 57:15).

Verse 7

raiseth up the poor out of the dust — Taken from Hannah's song: 'He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill' (1 Sam 2:8). Dal is the weak, thin poor; ebyon the destitute. Mary's song echoes it: 'exalted them of low degree' (Luke 1:52).

Verse 9

the barren woman — Aqar, barren, as Sarai (Gen 11:30); Hannah's song says 'the barren hath born seven' (1 Sam 2:5). To 'keep house' is yashab, the verb of 'dwelleth' in v.5: the LORD who sits on high gives her a settled place. Isa 54:1 bids the barren sing. The psalm ends as it began, 'Praise ye the LORD'.