Psalms 148:14

KJV

He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; [even] of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.

KJV (with Strong's)

He also exalteth {H7311} the horn {H7161} of his people {H5971}, the praise {H8416} of all his saints {H2623}; even of the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}, a people {H5971} near {H7138} unto him. Praise {H1984} ye the LORD {H3050}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He has increased the power of his people, granted praise to all his faithful, to the descendants of Isra'el, a people close to him. Halleluyah!

Berean Standard Bible

He has raised up a horn for His people, the praise of all His saints, of Israel, a people near to Him. Hallelujah!

American Standard Version

And he hath lifted up the horn of his people, The praise of all his saints; Even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye Jehovah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 148:14 serves as the climactic conclusion to a universal symphony of praise, strategically shifting its focus from the entirety of creation to God's specially chosen people, Israel. It profoundly declares that the Lord has uniquely elevated their strength, dignity, and honor, establishing them as a people intimately connected to Him through covenant. This unique relationship positions them as the preeminent channel for the praise of all His saints, underscoring Israel's privileged status and their inherent responsibility to continually and fervently magnify God's glory.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 148 is a magnificent hymn of universal praise, meticulously structured as a grand, escalating call to worship. It commences by summoning the celestial realms—the heavens, sun, moon, stars, and angels—to offer adoration to the Lord (verses 1-6). The psalm then transitions to the terrestrial sphere, inviting all earthly elements, natural phenomena, and diverse living creatures, from deep-sea monsters to creeping things, to join this cosmic chorus (verses 7-10). Finally, it extends the invitation to all humanity, encompassing kings, princes, young men, and maidens (verses 11-12). Verse 13 functions as a pivotal summary, emphasizing God's unique name and supreme glory above all creation. Verse 14, the concluding statement, then acutely narrows the focus to Israel, identifying them as the specific beneficiaries of God's exalting power and the designated vehicle for His praise. This precise focus provides a fitting and deeply significant climax to the psalm's expansive declaration of divine majesty and universal worthiness of praise.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The imagery embedded in Psalms 148:14, particularly the phrase "exalteth the horn," is profoundly rooted in ancient Near Eastern culture. The "horn" was a pervasive and potent symbol of strength, power, dignity, victory, and often, royal authority or military might. To "exalt the horn" signified a divine act of restoring or increasing one's power and honor, frequently implying vindication in the face of adversaries or a bestowed empowerment. The designation of Israel as "a people near unto him" speaks directly to their unparalleled covenant relationship, uniquely established at Mount Sinai, which set them apart from all other nations. This intimate proximity implied not only extraordinary privilege but also profound responsibility—to live in accordance with God's divine laws and to serve as a living witness to His character and faithfulness among the nations. The psalm likely reflects a post-exilic context or a period of national restoration, where the people of Israel, having endured hardship and dispersion, were powerfully reminded of God's unwavering faithfulness in upholding their dignity, purpose, and special status.

* **Key Themes:** This concluding verse powerfully encapsulates several foundational themes prevalent throughout the Psalms and the broader Old Testament narrative. The theme of **Divine Exaltation and Empowerment** is central, portraying God as the sovereign agent who lifts up and strengthens His people, bestowing upon them honor and victory. This resonates deeply with promises of restoration and vindication found in prophetic literature, such as when Hannah declares, "[My horn is exalted in the LORD](/1_samuel/2-1 "1 Samuel 2:1 - Hannah's Prayer of Exaltation")". The verse also highlights **Israel's Unique Covenant Relationship**, emphasizing their cherished status as "a people near unto him," chosen by God out of all the nations to be His treasured possession, as explicitly articulated in [Deuteronomy 7:6](/deuteronomy/7-6 "Deuteronomy 7:6 - God Chooses Israel"). This intimate proximity is a source of both unparalleled privilege and weighty responsibility. Furthermore, the verse underscores the **Purpose of Praise**, revealing that God's acts of exalting and drawing His people near are ultimately purposed for eliciting profound and continuous praise. Their strength and privileged position are not for self-glory but to serve as a living testimony to God's faithfulness, power, and goodness, culminating in the resounding command, "Praise ye the LORD," which frames the entire psalm and echoes the divine intention for His people to "[proclaim my praise](/isaiah/43-21 "Isaiah 43:21 - A People Formed for Praise")".

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **exalteth (Hebrew, _rûwm'_):** From H7311, a primitive root meaning "to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively)." In this context, it signifies God's active, deliberate, and powerful role in elevating His people, granting them prominence, dignity, and strength. It implies a divine act of promotion, restoration, or vindication, often in contrast to a previous state of lowliness, oppression, or obscurity. This is not self-exaltation, but a divine bestowal of honor.
* **horn (Hebrew, _qeren'_):** From H7161, meaning "a horn (as projecting); by implication, a flask, cornet; by resemblance, an elephant's tooth (i.e. ivory), a corner (of the altar), a peak (of a mountain), a ray (of light); figuratively, power." As a powerful **metaphor**, the horn represents strength, power, dignity, and victory. When God "exalts the horn" of His people, it means He increases their power, honor, and influence, often implying triumph over their adversaries and a restoration of their national prestige and vitality. This imagery is frequently used in biblical poetry to denote divine empowerment and sovereign blessing.
* **saints (Hebrew, _châçîyd'_):** From H2623, meaning "properly, kind, i.e. (religiously) pious (a saint); godly (man), good, holy (one), merciful, saint, (un-) godly." Derived from the Hebrew word _chesed_ (steadfast love, covenant loyalty), _châçîyd_ refers to those who are "kind," "pious," "godly," or "loyal" to God. These are individuals who demonstrate faithfulness, devotion, and covenant obedience, and who are, in turn, recipients of God's steadfast love and covenant blessings. They are the "holy ones" or "devout ones," set apart for God's purposes, characterized by their reciprocal loyalty to His covenant.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He also exalteth the horn of his people,"**: This opening clause declares God's sovereign and active intervention in raising the status, power, and dignity of His chosen nation. The "horn" serves as a potent symbol of their strength, honor, and capacity for victory. God is the ultimate source of their empowerment and vindication, lifting them from potential obscurity, weakness, or oppression to a position of honor and influential standing among the nations.
* **"the praise of all his saints;"**: This phrase identifies the profound purpose and ultimate outcome of God's divine exaltation. The "saints" (or _chasidim_) are the loyal, godly, and covenant-keeping ones among His people. Their very existence, their restored strength, and their privileged position become a living testament, a visible manifestation, and a continuous source of praise directed back to God. They are uniquely positioned and morally obligated to offer Him honor and adoration for His mighty acts on their behalf.
* **"[even] of the children of Israel, a people near unto him."**: This clause serves to clarify and specify the identity of "his people" and "his saints" as the "children of Israel." The subsequent phrase, "a people near unto him," profoundly emphasizes their unique, intimate, and exclusive covenantal relationship with God. Unlike any other nation, Israel was divinely chosen, called, and brought into a special, unparalleled proximity with the Divine, receiving His law, His promises, and His direct presence, which further underscores their unparalleled reason and responsibility for fervent praise.
* **"Praise ye the LORD."**: This concluding imperative serves as the ultimate call to action, summarizing and culminating the entire psalm's overarching theme. It is a direct, emphatic command addressed to the exalted people of Israel, and by extension, to all who recognize and benefit from God's mighty acts. It is an exhortation to offer fervent, continuous, and wholehearted praise to Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God, whose character and deeds are worthy of all laudation.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 148:14 powerfully employs several significant literary devices, contributing to its profound impact. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, vividly expressed in the phrase "exalteth the horn." The "horn" is not a literal anatomical feature but a rich symbolic representation of strength, power, dignity, and victory, frequently associated with the authority of a king or the collective might of a nation. God's action of "exalting" this horn signifies His divine empowerment, vindication, and restoration of His people's standing. There is also clear **Parallelism** at play, where "his people" is clarified and reinforced by the appositional phrase "the children of Israel," and "the praise of all his saints" is intrinsically linked to this specific, chosen nation, creating a reinforcing poetic rhythm. The psalm as a whole is a quintessential example of **Hymnody**, a song of praise, and this final verse functions as a climactic summary, providing the ultimate, specific reason for the universal praise that precedes it. The direct command, "Praise ye the LORD," also functions as an **Imperative**, a direct and forceful call to action, reinforcing the psalm's overarching purpose and the central theme of worship.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 148:14 stands as a profound theological statement, affirming God's active, sovereign involvement in the history and destiny of His chosen people. It highlights the unique, intimate covenant relationship between Yahweh and Israel, underscoring that their exaltation and privileged proximity to God are not for their own self-aggrandizement but are fundamentally purposed to facilitate and amplify His praise. This verse teaches that divine favor, empowerment, and special status are ultimately granted for the sake of worship, transforming the beneficiaries into living conduits of God's renown and glory. It powerfully reaffirms God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises, demonstrating His commitment to uphold, dignify, and restore those He has called into covenant with Himself, ultimately leading to a resounding declaration of His supremacy, goodness, and worthiness of all laudation from His redeemed people.

* [Deuteronomy 7:6](/deuteronomy/7-6 "Deuteronomy 7:6 - God Chooses Israel")
* [1 Samuel 2:1](/1_samuel/2-1 "1 Samuel 2:1 - Hannah's Prayer of Exaltation")
* [Isaiah 43:21](/isaiah/43-21 "Isaiah 43:21 - A People Formed for Praise")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
For believers today, Psalms 148:14 offers profound insights into our identity, purpose, and the nature of God's work in our lives. As those grafted into the spiritual lineage of Abraham through faith in Christ, we are now truly "a people near unto him" by grace, experiencing God's exaltation not primarily in worldly power, but in spiritual strength, divine dignity, and the profound privilege of His indwelling presence. Our lives, marked by deliverance from the dominion of sin, adoption into His eternal family, and empowerment by His Holy Spirit, are intended to be a continuous offering of praise. This verse calls us to recognize that every blessing, every moment of divine vindication, every instance of spiritual empowerment, and indeed, every aspect of our identity as God's beloved children are ultimately given so that we might reflect His glory back to Him. Our praise is not merely an emotional response or an optional activity, but a theological imperative, a fitting and necessary acknowledgment of His boundless goodness, sovereign power, and redemptive love. It is our highest calling to live lives that consistently declare His worth.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific ways has God "exalted your horn" or spiritually strengthened you in your life, and how has that empowerment led to genuine praise?**
* **How does understanding yourself as "a people near unto him" through Christ impact your daily walk, your sense of purpose, and your intimacy with God?**
* **What practical and intentional steps can you take to ensure your life, like that of God's saints, becomes a more consistent and intentional "praise to the LORD"?**

### FAQ
**What does "exalteth the horn of his people" mean for believers today?**

Answer: For believers today, "exalteth the horn of his people" signifies God's ongoing work of spiritual empowerment, vindication, and restoration in our lives. While ancient Israel's "horn" often referred to national strength, military victory, and political prominence, for the church, it points to spiritual authority, dignity in Christ, and triumph over sin, spiritual adversaries, and the forces of darkness. Through Christ, we are given strength to overcome temptation, a new identity as God's beloved children, and the privilege of being His representatives in the world. It means God lifts us up from despair, equips us for His service, and restores our honor, enabling us to live lives that reflect His glory and demonstrate His power, as seen in passages like [Ephesians 1:19-20](/ephesians/1-19 "Ephesians 1:19-20 - God's Incomparably Great Power for Us"), which speaks of the "immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe."

**Who are "his saints" or "children of Israel" in a contemporary Christian context?**

Answer: In a contemporary Christian context, "his saints" refers to all those who have been set apart by God through faith in Jesus Christ, demonstrating loyal love and faithfulness to Him. While "children of Israel" originally referred to the physical descendants of Jacob, the New Testament reveals that through Christ, the promises made to Israel are extended to all believers, regardless of ethnic origin. Believers are considered spiritual Israel, "Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" ([Galatians 3:29](/galatians/3-29 "Galatians 3:29 - Heirs According to the Promise")). Therefore, "his saints" and "children of Israel" in a broader theological sense encompass the entire body of Christ, the church, who are now "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" ([1 Peter 2:9](/1_peter/2-9 "1 Peter 2:9 - A Chosen Race, a Royal Priesthood")).

**Why is Israel singled out for praise in this psalm that calls all creation to praise God?**

Answer: Israel is singled out because they represent the pinnacle of God's redemptive work among humanity and are the unique recipients of His covenant promises and intimate presence. While all creation testifies to God's general revelation—His power and glory evident in the natural world—Israel received His special revelation—His law, His prophets, His direct communication, and His specific intervention in their history. Their experience of God's exaltation and their status as "a people near unto him" gave them a unique, profound, and specific reason to praise Him that differed from the general praise offered by the rest of creation. They were chosen to be a light to the nations, a living testimony to God's character and faithfulness, and thus their praise was meant to be a distinct and powerful witness to the world, as stated in [Isaiah 43:21](/isaiah/43-21 "Isaiah 43:21 - A People Formed for Praise"): "The people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise."

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 148:14 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. He is the true "horn of salvation" whom God has raised up for His people, as prophesied by Zechariah in [Luke 1:69](/luke/1-69 "Luke 1:69 - The Horn of Salvation"). Through His perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection, Christ perfectly exalted God's name and fully accomplished the redemption that empowers and dignifies His people. Furthermore, it is through Christ that all believers, both Jew and Gentile, become "a people near unto him." The formidable barrier of sin that separated humanity from a holy God has been decisively broken down by the precious blood of Jesus, bringing those who were once far off "near by the blood of Christ" ([Ephesians 2:13](/ephesians/2-13 "Ephesians 2:13 - Made Near by the Blood of Christ")). The church, as the spiritual Israel, is now comprised of "his saints," a royal priesthood and a holy nation, called to offer spiritual sacrifices of praise through Him ([1 Peter 2:9](/1_peter/2-9 "1 Peter 2:9 - A Chosen Race, a Royal Priesthood")). Thus, the exaltation, the intimate proximity to God, and the continuous praise described in Psalm 148:14 are not merely historical ideals but are fully realized and made possible in the person and finished work of Jesus, who enables His redeemed people to live lives of continuous praise to the Lord, to the eternal glory of God the Father ([Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9 "Philippians 2:9-11 - Every Knee Shall Bow")).

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 75:10

All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; [but] the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

Ephesians 2:17

And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

Deuteronomy 4:7

For what nation [is there so] great, who [hath] God [so] nigh unto them, as the LORD our God [is] in all [things that] we call upon him [for]?

1 Samuel 2:1

¶ And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.

1 Peter 2:9

But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Deuteronomy 10:21

He [is] thy praise, and he [is] thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.

Psalms 112:9

He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.