Psalms 147:12

KJV

¶ Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.

KJV (with Strong's)

Praise {H7623} the LORD {H3068}, O Jerusalem {H3389}; praise {H1984} thy God {H430}, O Zion {H6726}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Glorify ADONAI, Yerushalayim! Praise your God, Tziyon!

Berean Standard Bible

Exalt the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion!

American Standard Version

Praise Jehovah, O Jerusalem; Praise thy God, O Zion.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 147:12 issues a potent, dual imperative to Jerusalem and Zion, calling them to praise the LORD, their God. This verse functions as a climactic summons within a psalm that exalts God's sovereign power over creation and His specific, benevolent care for His covenant people, particularly in their restoration. It profoundly underscores the joyful privilege and solemn duty of the community, represented by its spiritual and political heart, to respond to divine faithfulness with wholehearted adoration and a recognition of God's unique and intimate relationship with them.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 147 is a vibrant hymn of praise that begins with a general, enthusiastic call to worship God for His inherent goodness and pleasantness (Psalm 147:1). The psalmist then transitions to enumerate specific, compelling reasons for this praise, initially focusing on God's work in rebuilding Jerusalem and meticulously gathering the scattered outcasts of Israel (Psalm 147:2-3). The scope then broadens to God's omnipotence and omniscience, highlighting His ability to count and name the countless stars and His profound, unsearchable understanding (Psalm 147:4-5). This divine power is beautifully juxtaposed with His tender care for the humble and His decisive judgment against the wicked (Psalm 147:6). The psalm continues to extol God's providential provision for all creation, feeding the young ravens, and emphasizes His disinterest in human strength, instead delighting in those who fear Him and hope in His steadfast love (Psalm 147:7-11). Verse 12 thus serves as a direct, climactic response to these preceding declarations of God's majestic character and redemptive deeds, specifically calling upon the restored city to offer the praise that is uniquely due to its deliverer, sustainer, and covenant Lord. It sets the stage for further declarations of God's specific blessings upon the city in the subsequent verses (Psalm 147:13-20).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Many scholars widely agree that Psalm 147 was composed during the momentous post-exilic period, most likely after the return of the Jewish people from their Babylonian captivity (circa 538 BC and onwards). This historical backdrop imbues the psalm, and particularly the direct summons in verse 12, with profound significance. The arduous tasks of rebuilding Jerusalem's walls and restoring its shattered community were monumental undertakings, fraught with immense challenges and persistent opposition from surrounding peoples (e.g., as vividly recounted in [Nehemiah 4](/nehemiah/4 "Nehemiah 4 - Rebuilding the Walls of Jerusalem")). For the returned exiles, Jerusalem and Zion were far more than mere geographical locations; they were potent, living symbols of their national identity, their spiritual heritage, and the very place where God had chosen to establish His dwelling among His people (as seen in [1 Kings 8:29](/1_kings/8-29 "1 Kings 8:29 - God's Presence in the Temple")). The call to "Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion" would have resonated deeply within a people who had intimately experienced the desolation of their beloved city and the trauma of exile, now witnessing God's miraculous faithfulness in its restoration and the re-establishment of their sacred worship. The cultural context of ancient Israel profoundly emphasized communal worship as central to their national and spiritual life, with Jerusalem serving as the preeminent focal point for pilgrimage and religious festivals, making a collective and public call to praise particularly fitting and powerful.
* **Key Themes:** This verse encapsulates several major theological and narrative themes prevalent not only in Psalm 147 but throughout the broader Old Testament. Firstly, it embodies the foundational **Call to Praise**, an imperative that underscores praise not merely as an spontaneous emotional response but as a commanded duty, a proper recognition of God's inherent character, and a fitting response to His mighty actions. This theme is foundational throughout the Psalms, culminating in the grand summons of [Psalm 150](/psalms/150 "Psalm 150 - A Call to Praise the LORD"). Secondly, the verse highlights the profound **Identity and Significance of Jerusalem and Zion**. These terms are frequently used interchangeably in Scripture, representing both the physical capital city and the spiritual dwelling place of God among His people, thereby symbolizing the covenant community itself. The call is for the entire community, as the spiritual and political capital, to lead in worship, reflecting God's special and enduring relationship with His chosen people (as prophesied in [Isaiah 60:14](/isaiah/60-14 "Isaiah 60:14 - Zion, the City of the LORD")). Thirdly, the possessive phrase "thy God" powerfully emphasizes the **Covenantal Relationship** God has with Israel. It is a deeply personal, possessive declaration of God's unique commitment and unwavering faithfulness to His people, distinguishing Him from the idols of other nations and inviting a specific, devoted response of adoration (compare [Deuteronomy 26:17-19](/deuteronomy/26-17-19 "Deuteronomy 26:17-19 - The Covenant Relationship")). Finally, the verse implicitly points to **God's Faithfulness and Restoration**, as the preceding verses meticulously detail God's acts of rebuilding and gathering, providing the underlying and compelling reasons for this exuberant call to praise.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Praise (Hebrew, _shâbach'_):** A primitive root, _shâbach_ properly means "to address in a loud tone," implying a specific, loud, and triumphant declaration. Figuratively, it can also mean "to pacify," suggesting that such praise can quiet or still the soul in awe. In this context, it denotes a resounding, public acclamation of God's greatness, a powerful commendation of His character and deeds. It implies a joyful, unrestrained, and often vocal expression of worship, a declaration of triumph.
* **Praise (Hebrew, _hâlal'_):** This is another primitive root for "praise," famously the origin of the English word "Hallelujah." It means "to be clear" (originally of sound, but often of color), "to shine," and hence "to make a show," "to boast," or "to celebrate." It carries connotations of enthusiastic, even boisterous, commendation and glorying in God. When applied to God, it signifies a vibrant, celebratory declaration of His worthiness, often involving singing, shouting, or exultant boasting. The intentional use of two distinct words for "praise" in the same verse amplifies the intensity and multifaceted nature of the commanded worship, calling for both solemn acclamation and exuberant celebration.
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** Derived from the Hebrew verb "to be," _Yᵉhôvâh_ is the sacred, personal, covenantal name of God, often transliterated as Yahweh or Jehovah. It signifies God as the self-existent, eternal, and unchanging One. Its use here emphasizes God's unique identity as the covenant-keeping God of Israel, the One who has intimately revealed Himself to His people and consistently acted faithfully on their behalf. It is a name that profoundly evokes His sovereignty, power, and enduring presence, particularly in His redemptive relationship with His chosen people.
* **God (Hebrew, _ʼĕlôhîym'_):** This is the plural form of _ʼĕlôah_, typically used in the plural (especially with the article) to refer to the supreme God. While it can refer to gods in a general sense, or even magistrates, its primary use in the Old Testament, as here, is to denote the one true God. When combined with the possessive suffix "thy" (as in "thy God"), it emphasizes the intimate, personal, and covenantal relationship between God and His people, highlighting His role as their specific, devoted, and powerful deity, distinct from all others.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem;"**: This initial clause issues a direct, imperative command, addressing Jerusalem directly as a personified entity. The command "Praise" (H7623, _shâbach'_) implies a loud, triumphant acclamation, a public declaration of God's greatness. The recipient of this praise is "the LORD" (H3068, _Yᵉhôvâh'_), God's sacred personal covenant name, underscoring His unique and intimate relationship with Israel. "O Jerusalem" is a direct vocative, personifying the city and, by extension, its inhabitants. It signifies that the entire community, as the spiritual and political heart of Israel, is called to offer this worship, acknowledging God's mighty acts of restoration, preservation, and covenant faithfulness.
* **"praise thy God, O Zion."**: This second clause reiterates and intensifies the command, employing a different Hebrew word for "praise" (H1984, _hâlal'_), which suggests a more exuberant, celebratory, and even boastful form of worship. The object of this praise is "thy God" (H430, _ʼĕlôhîym'_ with a possessive suffix), emphasizing the intimate, personal, and covenantal bond between God and His people, highlighting His specific ownership and care for them. "O Zion" is a poetic synonym for Jerusalem, often referring specifically to the temple mount or the spiritual heart of the city, representing God's dwelling place. The parallelism powerfully reinforces the comprehensive nature of the call, encompassing both the physical city and its profound spiritual significance, urging a unified, devoted, and multifaceted response from the entire community.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 147:12 is rich in literary devices that significantly enhance its impact, urgency, and meaning. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically **Synonymous Parallelism**, where the second line reiterates and amplifies the meaning of the first line using different, yet related, words ("Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion"). This repetition serves to emphasize the profound importance, urgency, and comprehensive nature of the command to praise. The psalmist also powerfully employs **Personification**, directly addressing Jerusalem and Zion as if they are sentient beings capable of hearing, understanding, and responding to the divine command to praise. This imbues the city and its spiritual essence with a living quality, making the call to worship more immediate, personal, and compelling. The use of the **Imperative Mood** ("Praise!") establishes the tone as a direct, authoritative command, underscoring that praise is not merely an optional emotional response but a required and proper act of worship, a duty arising from God's character and deeds. Furthermore, **Synecdoche** is subtly at play, where "Jerusalem" and "Zion" represent not just the physical locations but the entire community, the people of Israel residing within them, signifying that the call to praise extends to every individual believer and the collective body of God's people.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 147:12, in its fervent call for Jerusalem and Zion to praise the LORD, resonates with the profound biblical truth that praise is the proper, commanded, and joyful response of God's people to His majestic character and His mighty acts of deliverance and sustenance. It powerfully highlights God's unique covenantal relationship with His chosen people, emphasizing His role as their personal "God" who actively intervenes in their history, providing protection, healing, restoration, and abundant provision. This communal call to worship underscores the corporate identity of believers and their shared responsibility to acknowledge God's absolute sovereignty and unwavering faithfulness. The psalm, likely composed in the post-exilic era, celebrates God's universal power over all creation and His particular, intimate care for Israel, framing praise as an utterly appropriate response to both His universal dominion and His specific, redemptive work on behalf of His people.

* [Psalm 150:6](/psalms/150-6 "Psalm 150:6 - Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!")
* [Isaiah 60:14](/isaiah/60-14 "Isaiah 60:14 - Zion, the City of the LORD")
* [Deuteronomy 26:17](/deuteronomy/26-17 "Deuteronomy 26:17 - You have declared the LORD to be your God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 147:12, though originally addressed to ancient Jerusalem and Zion, extends a timeless and profound invitation to believers today, serving as a powerful reminder that praise is not merely an emotional outburst but a deliberate act of worship, a commanded duty, and a joyful privilege. Just as the restored city was called to acknowledge God's faithfulness in rebuilding and protecting them after exile, we, as the spiritual "Zion" or the Church, are called to praise the LORD, our God, for His ongoing, transformative work in our individual lives and in the world. This verse encourages us to engage deeply in both personal and communal worship, recognizing that our individual praise contributes to the collective adoration of God's people, forming a unified chorus of thanksgiving. It challenges us to reflect deeply on the specific, tangible ways God has acted in our lives—healing, providing, protecting, guiding, forgiving—and to respond with heartfelt gratitude, exultant praise, and unwavering trust. Our praise, offered with intentionality and vibrancy, becomes a powerful testimony to His unchanging character, His intimate involvement in our lives, and His boundless love, transforming our perspective from one of self-focus to a profound and enduring God-focus.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific ways has God demonstrated His unwavering faithfulness in your life or in the life of your community that compels you to offer Him praise?**
* **How does understanding God as "thy God" (your personal, covenantal God) deepen your motivation, intimacy, and expression of praise?**
* **Considering the "loud tone" and "boasting" implied by the Hebrew words for praise, what practical steps can you take to make your praise, both individually and communally, more intentional, vibrant, and expressive?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of "Jerusalem" and "Zion" in this verse?**

"Jerusalem" and "Zion" are often used interchangeably in biblical poetry, as they are in this verse. "Jerusalem" refers to the literal capital city of Israel, the administrative and religious center. "Zion" originally referred to the fortress within Jerusalem that King David captured, which later became synonymous with the Temple Mount and, by extension, the entire city, particularly its spiritual significance as the dwelling place of God (as seen in [Psalm 9:11](/psalms/9-11 "Psalm 9:11 - Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion")). In Psalm 147:12, addressing both terms emphasizes a comprehensive call to praise: it encompasses the physical city, its inhabitants, and its profound spiritual identity as the chosen place where God's presence resides among His people. It signifies that the entire community, in all its aspects—physical, political, and spiritual—is called to worship.

**Why are two different Hebrew words for "praise" used in the same verse?**

The use of two distinct Hebrew words for "praise"—`shâbach` (H7623) and `hâlal` (H1984)—is a sophisticated poetic device known as synonymous parallelism, a common feature in the Psalms. It serves to amplify, enrich, and deepen the meaning of the command. `Shâbach` often implies a loud, triumphant acclamation, a public commendation, or a declaration of God's worth. `Hâlal`, from which the word "Hallelujah" derives, suggests a more exuberant, even boisterous, celebration or boasting in God. By employing both, the psalmist calls for a multifaceted and intense expression of worship—one that is both a solemn, public acknowledgment of God's greatness and a joyful, unreserved celebration of His faithfulness. It underscores that praise should be comprehensive, wholehearted, and expressed with both reverence and exultation.

**How does this verse relate to the broader message of Psalm 147?**

Psalm 147:12 acts as a climactic and personal response to the preceding declarations of God's character and mighty deeds throughout the psalm. The psalm opens with a general call to praise (Psalm 147:1) and then meticulously provides numerous compelling reasons for that praise: God's omnipotent power over creation (Psalm 147:4, 8-9), His compassionate healing and care for the brokenhearted and outcasts (Psalm 147:3), His specific acts of rebuilding Jerusalem and gathering the dispersed people of Israel (Psalm 147:2), and His profound delight in those who fear Him and hope in His steadfast love (Psalm 147:11). Verse 12, by specifically calling Jerusalem and Zion to praise, summarizes and personalizes this overarching call, urging the very recipients of God's specific blessings and covenantal care to respond in heartfelt gratitude and adoration. It sets the stage for the psalm's triumphant conclusion, which further details God's unique and exclusive blessings upon Israel (Psalm 147:13-20).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 147:12, with its imperative call for Jerusalem and Zion to praise the LORD, finds its ultimate fulfillment and expanded meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While ancient Jerusalem was the physical dwelling place of God among His people, the New Testament reveals that the true spiritual Zion is now the Church, the community of believers gathered from every nation, tribe, people, and language, who have "come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem" (see [Hebrews 12:22-24](/hebrews/12-22-24 "Hebrews 12:22-24 - You have come to Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem")). We, as believers, are the new Jerusalem, called to offer praise not merely for physical restoration, but for the profound spiritual redemption wrought by Jesus Christ. Our "God" is no longer just the covenant God of Israel in an exclusive sense, but the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has reconciled us to Himself through the perfect sacrifice of His Son (see [2 Corinthians 5:18-19](/2_corinthians/5-18-19 "2 Corinthians 5:18-19 - God reconciling the world to himself through Christ")). The call to "praise the LORD" becomes a call to praise the triune God, specifically acknowledging Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (see [John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")) and the King of kings who reigns from the heavenly Zion (see [Revelation 19:16](/revelation/19-16 "Revelation 19:16 - King of kings and Lord of lords")). Our praise is now offered in Spirit and truth, through Christ, who is our ultimate High Priest, enabling our direct access to God's throne of grace (see [John 4:23-24](/john/4-23-24 "John 4:23-24 - True worshipers will worship in Spirit and truth") and [Hebrews 4:14-16](/hebrews/4-14-16 "Hebrews 4:14-16 - Our Great High Priest")). Thus, the ancient summons to Jerusalem and Zion is transformed into a universal, eternal invitation for all who are in Christ to offer continuous, Spirit-empowered praise to their redeeming God.

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

Isaiah 12:6

Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great [is] the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

Isaiah 52:7

¶ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

Joel 2:23

Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first [month].

Psalms 146:10

The LORD shall reign for ever, [even] thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalms 149:2

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

Psalms 135:19

Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron:

Psalms 135:21

Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.