Psalms 148:12

Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:

Both young men {H970}, and maidens {H1330}; old men {H2205}, and children {H5288}:

young men and women alike, old men and children.

young men and maidens, old and young together.

Both young men and virgins; Old men and children:

Commentary

Psalms 148:12 is a powerful and inclusive call to worship, completing a sweeping invitation for all of creation to praise the Lord. Following the heavens, the earth, and all living creatures, this verse specifically names various human age groups, emphasizing that no one is excluded from the divine chorus of adoration.

Context

Psalm 148 is one of the "Hallelujah Psalms" (Psalms 146-150), characterized by their fervent and repeated calls to praise God. The psalm begins with an exhortation for the celestial realm – angels, sun, moon, and stars – to praise the Lord (Psalm 148:1-6). It then shifts to the earthly realm, summoning mountains, hills, trees, beasts, and creeping things to join in this universal worship (Psalm 148:7-10). Verse 12 serves as the culmination, bringing humanity into this grand assembly, ensuring that the praise is truly comprehensive and all-encompassing.

Key Themes

  • Universal Praise: The verse highlights that the call to praise God transcends all boundaries. It's not just for the devout or the wise, but for every human being, regardless of their stage in life.
  • Inclusivity: By explicitly listing "young men, and maidens; old men, and children," the psalmist underscores that God's glory is to be recognized and celebrated by all generations. No age group is too young, too old, or too insignificant to contribute to the worship of the Creator.
  • Holistic Worship: This verse reminds us that worship is a holistic activity involving the entire spectrum of human experience and development. From the innocence of childhood to the wisdom of old age, every season of life offers unique perspectives and capacities for praising God. This aligns with the broader biblical principle that everything that hath breath should praise the Lord.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew terms used are straightforward: bachurim (young men), betulot (maidens/virgins), zeqenim (old men/elders), and yeladim (children). There are no complex hidden meanings; the power lies simply in the comprehensive listing of these distinct yet united groups. The directness emphasizes the universal applicability of the command to praise.

Significance & Practical Application

Psalms 148:12 offers profound implications for individuals and communities today:

  • Intergenerational Worship: This verse encourages churches and families to foster environments where all ages can worship God together. It reminds us of the value of both the energy of youth and the wisdom of experience in collective praise.
  • Lifelong Spiritual Journey: It serves as a reminder that praise and devotion are not reserved for a particular phase of life but are meant to be a continuous, lifelong journey. It encourages parents to teach children early about God's greatness (Proverbs 22:6) and reminds the elderly that their praise remains vital and valuable.
  • Unity in Diversity: Despite differences in age, perspective, or life experience, all people are called to unite in the common purpose of glorifying God. This unity in praise reflects the harmonious diversity of God's creation.

Ultimately, Psalms 148:12 is a vibrant declaration that the praise of God is an endless song, sung by every voice, in every generation, reflecting His boundless glory from the youngest to the oldest.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Luke 19:37

    And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;

  • Titus 2:4

    That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

  • Titus 2:6

    Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

  • Psalms 8:2

    Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

  • Jeremiah 31:13

    Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.

  • Matthew 21:15

    And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,

  • Matthew 21:16

    And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
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