Psalms 134 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
Psalm 134 KJV
1 Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord.
2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.
3 The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 134:2
Verse: הָרִימוּ יָדֵיכֶם אֶל-קֹדֶשׁ
Transliteration: Harimu yadeichem el-kodesh
English: “Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord!”
Focus Word: קֹדֶשׁ (Kodesh)
- Root: ק-ד-שׁ (Qof-Dalet-Shin)
- Meaning: “Holy,” “set apart,” “sacred.”
- Deeper Insight: Kodesh conveys divine sanctity, emphasizing reverence and sacred worship in God’s presence.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| בָּרְכוּ — barekhu | Verse 1 — “Bless the LORD…” | “To bless,” praise. | Barekhu (“to bless”) expresses praise acknowledging God’s greatness. It opens the Psalm with liturgical command. The verb shapes its call to worship. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| עֹמְדִים — omdim | Verse 1 — “…all you servants… who stand…” | “To stand,” attend. | Omdim (“to stand”) signifies priestly readiness in worship. It reflects constant devotion. The word underscores sacred service. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| לַיְלָה — laylah | Verse 1 — “…by night in the house of the LORD.” | “Night,” nighttime. | Laylah (“night”) symbolizes continual praise even in darkness. It marks ceaseless devotion. The term reinforces perpetual worship. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| שְׂאֽוּ־יְדֵכֶם — se’u yedekhem | Verse 2 — “Lift up your hands…” | “Lift,” raise upward. | Se’u Yedekhem (“lift your hands”) expresses supplication and praise through physical posture. It conveys reverence and surrender. The phrase highlights embodied worship. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| קֹדֶשׁ — kodesh | Verse 2 — “…in the sanctuary.” | “Holiness,” sacred place. | Kodesh (“holy place”) denotes sacred space set apart for God. It emphasizes divine presence. The term enriches liturgical imagery. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| בָּרֵךְ — barekh | Verse 3 — “The LORD who made heaven and earth bless you…” | “Bless,” bestow favor. | Barekh (“to bless”) conveys divine empowerment and goodness. It concludes the Psalm with reciprocal blessing. The word highlights God as giver of life. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary |
| עָשָׂה — asah | Verse 3 — “…who made heaven and earth…” | “To make,” create. | Asah (“to create”) affirms God as sovereign Creator. It grounds the blessing in divine power. The term reinforces His authority over all. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
| שָׁמַיִם — shamayim | Verse 3 — “Heaven…” | “Heavens,” sky, divine realm. | Shamayim (“heavens”) denotes the celestial sphere and dwelling of God. It symbolizes transcendence. The word magnifies divine majesty. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary |
| אֶרֶץ — eretz | Verse 3 — “…and earth.” | “Earth,” land. | Eretz (“earth”) represents the created world under divine rule. It complements “heaven” to express total sovereignty. The term grounds blessing in cosmic authority. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| יִבָרֶכְךָ — yivarechekha | Verse 3 — “…bless you out of Zion.” | “To bless,” extend favor. | Yivarechekha (“to bless”) expresses ongoing divine care extended from Zion. It affirms God’s personal involvement. The word concludes the Psalm with assurance. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 134 |
|---|---|---|
| Hugh Binning (University of Glasgow, 1627–1653) | Sermons on the Psalms | Binning encourages active participation in temple worship and blessing God through service. |
| William Lowth (University of Oxford, 1660–1732) | Commentary on the Psalms | The Psalm emphasizes that praise offered in God’s house brings mutual encouragement and blessing. |
| Johann Albrecht Bengel (University of Tübingen, 1687–1752) | Gnomon Novi Testamenti | Bengel highlights the joy of worshippers lifting hands in devotion and prayer. |
| Philip Doddridge (Northampton Academy, 1702–1751) | Family Expositor | Doddridge stresses that corporate praise reflects alignment with God’s will and covenant. |
| James Durham (St Andrews / Edinburgh, 1622–1658) | Commentary on the Psalms | Durham sees the Psalm as urging gratitude and commitment in sacred service. |
Prayer: Thank you King of glory for your goodness and mercy that You have caused to follow me all the days of my life. Thank You that You are The One who lifts up my horn and trains my hands to war. Thank you for the privilege of serving you in the sanctuary. Glorify Yourself, O God, in my life in Jesus' Name. Amen!
