Psalm 113:1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 113:1-9

In this psalm, I. We are extorted to give glory to God, to give him the glory due to his name. 1. The invitation is very pressing: praise you the Lord, and again and again, Praise him, praise him; blessed be his name, for it is to be praised, Ps. 113:1-3. This intimates, (1.) That it is a necessary and most excellent duty, greatly pleasing to God, and has a large room in religion. (2.) That it is a duty we should much abound in, in which we should be frequently employed and greatly enlarged.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 113:1

Praise ye the Lord ,.... Or, "hallelujah". This is the title of the psalm, as in the two preceding, and directs to the principal matter of it. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord ; meaning not the angels, nor all men, nor the priests and Levites only; but all the saints, who are a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God; who are servants, not of sin, nor of Satan, nor of men, but of God and Christ; and who serve the Lord willingly and cheerfully, with much pleasure and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 113:1

Praise, O ye servants - Probably an address to the Levites. The Anglo-Saxon has praise the Lord, ye knaves. Knapa or knave signified among our ancestors a servant; sometimes a male, a young man. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 113:1

Verse 1 1Praise, ye servants of Jehovah! This psalm contains abundant reasons for all men without exception to praise God. The faithful alone being endued with spiritual perception to recognize the hand of God, the prophet addresses them in particular. And if we consider how cold and callous men are in this religious exercise, we will not deem the repetition of the call to praise God superfluous. We all acknowledge that we are created to praise God’s name, while, at the same time, his glory is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 113:1

Praise ye the Lord (comp. Psalms 104:35 ; Psalms 105:45 ; Psalms 106:1 , Psalms 106:48 ; Psalms 111:1 ; Psalms 112:1 ). Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the Name of the Lord. By "ye servants of the Lord ," all faithful Israelites are certainly intended; but the phrase need not be absolutely limited to them (comp. Psalms 113:3 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 113:1

Servant-reasons for praise. "Praise, O ye servants of the Lord." This psalm is the first of the series called the "Hallel," which was sung in connection with the annual Jewish festivals, and especially at the Passover and Feast of Tabernacles. This and the following psalm were sung before the second cup. We need not think, however, that these psalms were composed for use at the feasts with which they were afterwards associated. Only Jewish minds could recognize any particular fitness for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 113:1-9

The composition falls into three stanzas of three verses each. In the first ( Psalms 113:1-3 ) the servants of the Lord are called upon to praise him. In the second ( Psalms 113:4-6 ) God is praised in the heavens, with respect to his glory there. In the third ( Psalms 113:7-9 ) he is eulogized in respect of his great doings upon the earth. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 113:1-9

Reasons for reverential praise. The force of the psalmist's summons in the opening verse is felt as we proceed through the psalm itself, and when we reach the end of it; for there are brought out— I. THE CONSTANCY OF GOD 'S GOODNESS . In no less than three verses (1-3) the Lord's Name is put for himself. This is significant of the Divine constancy. The name of the Lord is never dissociated from the same class of thoughts and deeds. It is so invariably connected with these... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 113:1

Praise ye the Lord - Margin, as in Hebrew, “Hallelujah.” See the notes at Psalms 106:1.Praise, O ye servants of the Lord - You who profess to serve and obey him; who acknowledge him as your God. In the original this is also the word “Hallelu,” הללוּ halelû.Praise the name of the Lord - Still the same word “Hallelu.” The name of the Lord is put here, as it is often, for the Lord himself. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 113:1-3

Psalms 113:1-3. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord Ye Levites, who are peculiarly devoted to this solemn work, and sometimes termed God’s servants, in a special sense, and all you faithful souls. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time, &c. Let not the work of praising God die with us, but let those that come after us praise him; yea, let him be praised through all the generations of time, and let us and all his saints praise him in eternity. From the rising of the sun, ... read more

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