Psalms 115:15

KJV

Ye [are] blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.

KJV (with Strong's)

Ye are blessed {H1288} of the LORD {H3068} which made {H6213} heaven {H8064} and earth {H776}.

Complete Jewish Bible

May you be blessed by ADONAI, the maker of heaven and earth.

Berean Standard Bible

May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

American Standard Version

Blessed are ye of Jehovah, Who made heaven and earth.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 115:15 stands as a profound declaration of divine favor, asserting that true and enduring blessing originates exclusively from the LORD, the sovereign Creator of the cosmos. This verse offers confident assurance to those who place their trust in God, powerfully contrasting His limitless power and benevolence with the utter impotence of man-made idols. It affirms that His people are the unique recipients of His comprehensive and unfailing blessing, a favor rooted deeply in His ultimate authority and creative mastery over all existence.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 115:15 serves as a climactic declaration within a significant section of the psalm (verses 9-18), which transitions from a polemic against the futility of idols (verses 4-8) to an earnest exhortation for Israel to place its unwavering trust in the LORD. The preceding verses issue repeated calls to various segments of God's people: "O Israel, trust in the LORD" ([Psalms 115:9](/psalms/115-9 "Psalm 115:9 - Trust in the LORD")), "O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD" ([Psalms 115:10](/psalms/115-10 "Psalm 115:10 - Trust in the LORD")), and "Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD" ([Psalms 115:11](/psalms/115-11 "Psalm 115:11 - Trust in the LORD")). This urgent call to trust is immediately followed by a comforting promise of divine remembrance and blessing: "The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us" ([Psalms 115:12](/psalms/115-12 "Psalm 115:12 - God Remembers and Blesses")). Therefore, verse 15 functions as the powerful culmination and affirmation of this promised blessing, precisely identifying the recipients ("Ye") and emphatically declaring the ultimate, omnipotent source of this favor, thereby reinforcing the psalmist's earlier appeals for unwavering trust.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Psalm 115 is an integral part of the Egyptian Hallel (Psalms 113-118), a collection of psalms traditionally sung during major Jewish festivals such as Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. This psalm deeply reflects Israel's historical and ongoing struggle against the pervasive polytheistic cultures that surrounded them. In an ancient world teeming with localized deities and countless man-made idols, the declaration that the LORD "made heaven and earth" ([Psalms 115:15](/psalms/115-15 "Psalm 115:15 - The Creator God")) was not merely a statement of fact but a radical, subversive assertion of His unique, universal, and transcendent sovereignty. Unlike the gods of the nations, which were often confined to specific regions, associated with particular natural phenomena, and meticulously crafted by human hands, Yahweh was presented as the self-existent, living Creator of all existence. This vital context underscores the exclusivity demanded by Israel's worship and highlights the profound theological distinction between the living God and lifeless idols, a distinction absolutely crucial for Israel's identity, faithfulness, and survival in a syncretistic environment.
* **Key Themes:** The paramount theme woven through Psalms 115:15 is the **sovereignty and absolute uniqueness of Yahweh** as the singular, ultimate source of all true and enduring blessing. This verse powerfully contrasts the inertness and impotence of idols, which "have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not" ([Psalms 115:5](/psalms/115-5 "Psalm 115:5 - The Futility of Idols")), with the active, dynamic, and life-giving power of the LORD. It profoundly emphasizes **divine agency**—that blessing is not something earned through human merit, conjured through ritual, or derived from earthly power, but is a gracious, unmerited gift flowing directly from God's benevolent will. Furthermore, the foundational phrase "which made heaven and earth" highlights God's **omnipotence and boundless creative power**, firmly establishing Him as the supreme authority over all things, thereby demonstrating His infinite capacity to bestow comprehensive well-being upon His people. This theme resonates profoundly throughout the entire Old Testament, from the foundational creation account in [Genesis 1](/genesis/1 "Genesis 1 - The Creation Account") to powerful prophetic declarations of God's unmatched power and singularity over all nations, such as those found in [Isaiah 44:6-8](/isaiah/44-6-8 "Isaiah 44:6-8 - God is the First and the Last"). The verse also subtly touches upon the theme of **covenant faithfulness**, as the promised blessing is specifically directed towards those who trust in the covenant-keeping God.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Blessed (Hebrew, _bârak'_):** This term, derived from the root `bârak`, signifies a state of being divinely endowed with favor, prosperity, and comprehensive well-being. It implies a profound gift or an empowerment that originates solely from a superior, benevolent source. When God blesses humanity, it refers to His active, benevolent action of bestowing life, fruitfulness, protection, spiritual flourishing, and all good things. It is not merely a wish or a hope, but a declarative statement of a divinely conferred status and an active manifestation of God's goodness.
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** This is the sacred Tetragrammaton, God's personal, covenantal name, often transliterated as "Yahweh" or rendered "Jehovah." It profoundly emphasizes God's self-existence, His eternal nature, His unwavering faithfulness, and His unique, intimate relationship with His covenant people, Israel. By employing this specific name, the psalmist underscores that the blessing emanates from the God who actively reveals Himself, consistently keeps His promises, and graciously enters into a profound, personal relationship with humanity, thereby distinguishing Him absolutely from any other purported deity.
* **Made (Hebrew, _ʻâsâh'_):** This verb, `ʻâsâh`, carries the broad meaning "to do," "to make," "to create," or "to accomplish." When applied to God, it powerfully highlights His active and sovereign role as the Creator, Architect, and Sustainer of the entire universe. It signifies His ultimate power, His supreme authority, and His unparalleled ability to bring all things into existence from nothing and to order them meticulously according to His divine will. The specific use of this word in conjunction with "heaven and earth" points directly to God's absolute and comprehensive sovereignty over every facet of creation, from the smallest particle to the grandest galaxy.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Ye [are] blessed":** This opening phrase constitutes a direct and emphatic declaration to the audience, identifying them as the privileged recipients of divine favor. The "Ye" specifically refers back to the groups exhorted to trust in the LORD in the preceding verses: "O Israel," "O house of Aaron," and "Ye that fear the LORD" ([Psalms 115:9-11](/psalms/115-9-11 "Psalm 115:9-11 - Call to Trust the LORD")). It signifies a profound state of being in which God's beneficence is actively and comprehensively at work in their lives, encompassing spiritual vitality, physical well-being, communal prosperity, and overall flourishing.
* **"of the LORD":** This crucial prepositional phrase immediately and unequivocally identifies the exclusive, singular source of the blessing. It emphatically underscores that this profound favor does not originate from human effort, earthly power, or the influence of any other deity or force, but solely from Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God. This reinforces the strong monotheistic thrust of the psalm and highlights the unique, exclusive relationship between the one true God and His chosen people, emphasizing His absolute sufficiency.
* **"which made heaven and earth":** This descriptive clause serves as a powerful and foundational qualifier for the LORD, providing the ultimate basis for His capacity to bless. It highlights His omnipotence, His absolute sovereignty, and His unparalleled ability to bestow comprehensive favor. By identifying Him as the Creator of the entire cosmos—from the highest heavens to the deepest parts of the earth (a **merism** for totality)—the psalmist profoundly underscores that the One who brought all existence into being is infinitely capable of providing for, sustaining, protecting, and comprehensively blessing His people. This divine attribute guarantees both the efficacy and the boundless scope of His blessing.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device employed in Psalms 115:15 is **Declaration** or **Affirmation**, as the verse confidently states an undeniable truth about God's people and His inherent nature. This bold declaration serves as a powerful and reassuring conclusion to the preceding exhortations to trust. Furthermore, the phrase "heaven and earth" masterfully utilizes **Merism**, a figure of speech where two contrasting or complementary parts are used to represent the whole. Here, "heaven and earth" collectively signify the entirety of the created universe, emphatically underscoring the LORD's absolute and comprehensive sovereignty as its unrivaled Maker. Implicitly, the verse also relies heavily on **Contrast**, building upon the psalm's earlier polemic against the lifeless, impotent, and man-made idols (Psalms 115:4-8). By declaring that true blessing emanates solely from the Creator of all, the psalmist powerfully highlights the stark and irreconcilable difference between the utterly impotent idols and the omnipotent, living, and actively benevolent God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 115:15 encapsulates profound and enduring theological truths concerning God's very nature and His benevolent relationship with humanity. It unequivocally underscores the absolute sovereignty of God as the Creator, affirming that all true, lasting, and comprehensive blessing flows solely from His divine will, power, and boundless grace. This stands in stark contrast to human attempts to secure blessing through self-reliance, the futility of idolatry, or reliance on finite and ultimately unreliable earthly resources. The verse profoundly emphasizes that God's creative act is not merely a historical event confined to the past but an ongoing, living testament to His infinite power to sustain, provide for, and empower His creation and His people. To be "blessed of the LORD" is to be in perfect alignment with the One who holds all creation in His hands, ensuring that His favor is not only comprehensive in scope but also eternally secure for all who place their trust in Him. This powerful declaration firmly grounds the hope and security of the faithful in the unchangeable character and limitless capacity of the Almighty God.

* [Genesis 1:1](/genesis/1-1 "Genesis 1:1 - God Creates Heaven and Earth")
* [Deuteronomy 28:12](/deuteronomy/28-12 "Deuteronomy 28:12 - The LORD will open the heavens for blessing")
* [James 1:17](/james/1-17 "James 1:17 - Every Good and Perfect Gift")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
In a world relentlessly pursuing security, prosperity, and happiness from myriad fleeting and ultimately unsatisfying sources—whether through the accumulation of wealth, the attainment of status, the pursuit of relationships, or the relentless drive for personal achievement—Psalms 115:15 offers a radical and transformative reorientation of our deepest desires and priorities. It serves as a powerful and timely reminder that ultimate, unfailing, and truly comprehensive blessing comes only from the LORD, the very One who brought the vast, intricate heavens and the complex, beautiful earth into being. This profound truth should inspire within us both deep humility and unwavering trust. When we truly recognize God as the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all that exists, our entire perspective shifts from anxious striving and self-sufficiency to joyful receiving and profound divine dependence. This verse calls us to wholeheartedly align our lives with His divine will, to humbly acknowledge His supreme authority over every aspect of our existence, and to place our complete confidence in His boundless capacity to provide for, protect, and prosper us in ways far beyond our imagination. It invites us to live each day in profound gratitude, knowing that every good and perfect gift in our lives is a direct manifestation of His benevolent and active hand, and to find our deepest, most enduring contentment not in what we possess or achieve, but in the immeasurable privilege of simply being "blessed of the LORD."

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does recognizing God as the "Maker of heaven and earth" profoundly impact your understanding of His infinite ability to bless you in every area of your life?**
* **In what specific areas of your life are you most tempted to seek blessing, security, or fulfillment from sources other than the LORD, and what might be the consequences of doing so?**
* **What concrete, practical steps can you commit to taking this week to cultivate a deeper, more consistent trust in God as the ultimate and exclusive source of all good things?**
* **How does the stark contrast between the living God and lifeless idols (as powerfully presented throughout Psalm 115) challenge you to identify and dismantle any potential "idols" of security, success, or self-reliance in your own life?**

### FAQ
**Who is "Ye" in this verse, and what does it mean to be "blessed of the LORD"?**

Answer: The "Ye" in Psalms 115:15 refers collectively to those who have placed their unwavering trust and confidence in the LORD, as explicitly identified in the preceding verses: "O Israel," "O house of Aaron," and "Ye that fear the LORD" ([Psalms 115:9-11](/psalms/115-9-11 "Psalm 115:9-11 - Call to Trust the LORD")). It broadly encompasses all who are in a covenant relationship with God and who hold Him in reverent awe and obedience. To be "blessed of the LORD" signifies receiving divine favor, comprehensive well-being, and genuine prosperity in a holistic and profound sense. This blessing is not narrowly limited to material gain but expansively includes spiritual flourishing, emotional peace, physical protection, relational harmony, and a deep alignment with God's benevolent and sovereign will. It implies a profound state of being divinely favored, sustained, and actively cared for by the omnipotent Creator of all things.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 115:15 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment, as well as its richest meaning, in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "LORD which made heaven and earth" is revealed in the New Testament as the triune God, with Christ Himself being the active and pre-existent agent of creation. As [John 1:3](/john/1-3 "John 1:3 - All Things Made Through Him") unequivocally declares, "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." Similarly, [Colossians 1:16](/colossians/1-16 "Colossians 1:16 - Christ, the Creator and Sustainer") powerfully affirms that "by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible... all things were created by him, and for him." Therefore, the comprehensive blessing proclaimed in Psalms 115:15 flows directly and eternally from the very One who is the Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer of all—Jesus Christ. In Him, believers are not merely blessed by a distant or abstract deity, but are spiritually blessed "with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" ([Ephesians 1:3](/ephesians/1-3 "Ephesians 1:3 - Blessed in Christ")). He is the ultimate source, mediator, and embodiment of God's favor, and through His perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection, we are brought into a new and eternal covenant relationship. In Christ, we are truly "blessed" as adopted children of the living God, co-heirs of eternal life, and recipients of His abundant and overflowing grace, as promised by Jesus Himself when He declared, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" ([John 10:10](/john/10-10 "John 10:10 - Abundant Life")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 134:3

The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.

Revelation 14:7

Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Genesis 1:1

¶ In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Genesis 14:19

And he blessed him, and said, Blessed [be] Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

Psalms 121:2

My help [cometh] from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

Psalms 96:5

For all the gods of the nations [are] idols: but the LORD made the heavens.

Acts 14:15

And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: