King James Version, Holy Bible
1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.
2 Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore.
3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised.
4 The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high,
6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!
More Psalms Chapter 113 (Old Testament)
7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
8 That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.
9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 113:1
Verse: הַלְלוּ יְהוָה, הַלְלוּ עַבְדּוֹ
Transliteration: Hallelu Adonai, hallelu avdo
English: “Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord!”
Focus Word: עָבַד (Avad)
- Root: ע-ב-ד (Ayin-Bet-Dalet)
- Meaning: “To serve,” “to work,” “to minister.”
- Deeper Insight: Avad conveys dedicated service and worship, highlighting the relationship of submission and honor toward God.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| הַלְלוּ־יָהּ — hallelu-Yah | Verse 1 — “Praise the LORD…” | “Praise Yah,” exalt Him. | Hallelu-Yah (“praise Yah”) calls worshipers to exalt God joyfully. It serves as an imperative invitation into praise. The phrase frames the Psalm’s celebration of God’s majesty. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| עַבְדֵי — avdei | Verse 1 — “…O servants of the LORD…” | “Servants,” worshipers. | Avdei (“servants”) designates those devoted to divine service. It highlights identity shaped by obedience. The term emphasizes privileged belonging to God. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| בָּרוּךְ — barukh | Verse 2 — “Blessed be the name of the LORD…” | “Blessed,” praised. | Barukh (“blessed”) means to speak good of God with reverence. It connects verbal praise with divine holiness. The word establishes God’s name as worthy of continual honor. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| מִמִּזְרָח — mimmizrach | Verse 3 — “From the rising of the sun…” | “East,” rising. | Mimmizrach (“east”) symbolizes universality of worship. It marks the global scope of praise due to God. The term stresses that His glory transcends boundaries. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| רוֹמ — rom | Verse 4 — “The LORD is high above all nations…” | “High,” exalted. | Rom (“high/exalted”) depicts God’s supreme elevation over all powers. It highlights incomparable majesty. The term reinforces transcendence. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| שָׁפֵל — shafel | Verse 6 — “…who humbles Himself to behold…” | “To humble,” stoop down. | Shafel (“to humble”) expresses God’s condescending grace. It stresses His voluntary lowering to observe creation. The verb reveals divine mercy. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| דַּל — dal | Verse 7 — “He raises the poor…” | “Poor,” needy. | Dal (“poor/needy”) indicates vulnerability and social marginalization. It emphasizes God’s concern for the lowly. The term supports themes of divine compassion. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| רָם — ram | Verse 7 — “He lifts the needy…” | “To lift,” raise. | Ram (“to lift”) denotes elevation from low condition to honor. It signals transformative grace. The verb highlights God’s reversal of human conditions. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| עֲקָרָה — ‘akarah | Verse 9 — “He grants the barren woman a home…” | “Barren woman,” infertile. | ‘Akarah (“barren”) represents hopelessness reversed by divine intervention. It symbolizes fruitfulness restored. The term presents God as giver of life. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| שִׂמְחָה — simchah | Verse 9 — “…a joyful mother of children.” | “Joy,” gladness. | Simchah (“joy”) reveals emotional fullness resulting from God’s blessing. It captures celebratory transformation. The word crowns the Psalm’s depiction of divine mercy. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 113 |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Scott (University of Edinburgh, 1747–1821) | Commentary on the Holy Bible | Scott emphasizes God’s majesty, exalting the lowly and showing care for the humble. |
| John Owen (University of Oxford, 1616–1683) | A Commentary on the Psalms | Owen portrays divine intervention as both glorious and compassionate. |
| George Buchanan (St Andrews / Paris, 1506–1582) | Commentaries on the Psalms | Buchanan notes that God’s exaltation demonstrates both power and mercy in governance. |
| Philip Doddridge (Northampton Academy, 1702–1751) | Family Expositor | The Psalm calls believers to celebrate God’s deeds and recognize His justice. |
| John Brown (Edinburgh, 1722–1787) | Self-Interpreting Bible | Brown highlights God’s attentive care for the marginalized as a model for human compassion. |
THE LIFTER OF MEN
Thought for the day: God has the power to make rich.
Message:
I have come to realize in all my life that nothing can be achieved without God. Humanly speaking, I have done many things in life that would have made me rich if riches were in man’s hand but nothing came out of it!
Every good thing I have gotten in life were things God gave me without stress. This makes me conclude that hard work is good but working without the favour of God adds up to zero.
See verse seven again 7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
Wow!
Success in life is what happens by favour.
Many hardworking people have died without anyone knowing them. Hard work is good, but hard work without favour pays little. Whatever a person wants to become in life is in the hand of God and that is why a person must not in his vision forget about God. Let God be the sole owner of your life and the determinant of what you do. See the bible verses:
Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. Psalm 127:1-2
Vain is the effort of a person without God’s blessing.
Vain is the struggle of man without His favour.
Don’t allow the devil to turn you against God ever.
See verse eight of the theme text “That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people."
9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord”
It is in His power to place ordinary men among princes. God is able to turn things around in a moment, so trust Him.
My Counsel
Ø Never live your life without the help of God.
Ø Don’t depend on what you do, ask God for help.
Declaration
Lord I believe that I cannot be lifted unless you lift me, let your favour be upon me and my home in Jesus' Name.
