Participants and Places in Ps. 150:1

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Back to Psalm 150.

Exegetical issues for Psalm 150:

Introduction

The Hebrew text of Ps. 150:1 reads as follows:[1]

הַ֥לְלוּ יָ֨הּ ׀
הַֽלְלוּ־אֵ֥ל בְּקָדְשׁ֑וֹ
הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ בִּרְקִ֥יעַ עֻזּֽוֹ׃

The NIV is representative of most modern translations when it says, "Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens." In the NIV, as in most other modern translations, it is ambiguous whether the phrase "in his sanctuary" refers to the heavenly sanctuary or to the earthly sanctuary. Although most modern translations manage to avoid answering the question, the question remains crucial for exegesis. For example, if the phrase קָדְשׁוֹ in v. 1a refers to the earthly temple, then the whole psalm might be understood as a summons to praise which is directed at people gathered in the Jerusalem temple. If, however, the phrase קָדְשׁוֹ refers to the heavenly temple, then the whole psalm might be understood as a summons to praise which is directed at heavenly creatures gathered in the heavenly temple. Various combinations of these views are also possible. The point is that the interpretation of the phrase בְּקָדְשׁוֹ is crucial for understanding the psalm.

The argument maps below will explore three possible interpretations of בְּקָדְשׁוֹ ('in his holy place').[2]

  • Earthly temple, earthly worshippers. בְּקָדְשׁוֹ modifies the verb 'praise' and refers to the earthly temple.
  • Heavenly temple, heavenly worshippers. בְּקָדְשׁוֹ modifies the verb 'praise' and refers to the heavenly temple.
  • Heavenly temple, earthly worshippers. בְּקָדְשׁוֹ modifies the noun 'God' and refers to the heavenly temple.

Argument Maps

Earthly temple, earthly worshippers

Some scholars have argued that the 'holy place' in v. 1a is the earthly temple, the place where people have gathered to praise YHWH. Some who hold this view think that the following line (v. 1b, הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ בִּרְקִ֥יעַ עֻזּֽוֹ) also refers to worship in the earthly temple, though most think that, whereas v. 1a refers to earthly worship, v. 1b refers to heavenly worship. In either case, according to this view, the prepositional phrases בְּקָדְשׁוֹ and בִּרְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ modify the verbs, and the purpose of v. 1 is to specify where YHWH is to be praised. 


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[Earthly temple, earthly worshippers]: The 'holy place' in v. 1a is a reference to the earthly temple, where people have gathered to praise YHWH (cf. Baethgen 1904 :C:; Ehrlich 1905 :C:;  Kittel 1922 :C:; Gunkel 1926 :C:; Allen 2002 :C:; Zenger 2011). #dispreferred
 + <Musical instruments>: The call to praise with musical instruments, which the priests and Levites would have played, implies that the agents of praise are humans and that the place of praise is the earthly temple (cf. Ehrlich 1905 :C:). #dispreferred
  <_ <Movement from heaven to earth>: The psalmist summons the heavenly creatures to praise in vv. 1–2 before summoning the people to praise in vv. 3–5 (Mathys 2000 :A:).
  - <Instruments (v. 4)>: Dancing and drumming (v. 4) had no place in temple worship (Goldingay 2008 :C:).
 + <'Holy place' in other psalms>: In at least some other psalms, YHWH's 'holy place' probably refers to the earthly temple (cf. Zenger 2011 :C:). #dispreferred
  + ['Holy place' in other psalms]: יִשְׁלַֽח־עֶזְרְךָ֥ מִקֹּ֑דֶשׁ וּ֝מִצִּיּ֗וֹן יִסְעָדֶֽךָּ׃ (Ps. 20:3; cf. Pss. 63:3; 134:2). #dispreferred


Argument Mapn0Earthly temple, earthly worshippersThe 'holy place' in v. 1a is a reference to the earthly temple, where people have gathered to praise YHWH (cf. Baethgen 1904 🄲; Ehrlich 1905 🄲; Kittel 1922 🄲; Gunkel 1926 🄲; Allen 2002 🄲; Zenger 2011). n1'Holy place' in other psalmsיִשְׁלַֽח־עֶזְרְךָ֥ מִקֹּ֑דֶשׁ וּ֝מִצִּיּ֗וֹן יִסְעָדֶֽךָּ׃ (Ps. 20:3; cf. Pss. 63:3; 134:2). n5'Holy place' in other psalmsIn at least some other psalms, YHWH's 'holy place' probably refers to the earthly temple (cf. Zenger 2011 🄲). n1->n5n2Musical instrumentsThe call to praise with musical instruments, which the priests and Levites would have played, implies that the agents of praise are humans and that the place of praise is the earthly temple (cf. Ehrlich 1905 🄲). n2->n0n3Movement from heaven to earthThe psalmist summons the heavenly creatures to praise in vv. 1–2 before summoning the people to praise in vv. 3–5 (Mathys 2000 🄰).n3->n2n4Instruments (v. 4)Dancing and drumming (v. 4) had no place in temple worship (Goldingay 2008 🄲).n4->n2n5->n0


Heavenly temple, heavenly worshippers

Other scholars have argued that the 'holy place' in v. 1a refers to YHWH's heavenly temple and that v. 1 summons the heavenly world to worship YHWH. This view agrees with the previous view in the sense that the prepositional phrases in v. 1 modify the verbs and that the purpose of v. 1 is to specify where YHWH is to be praised. 


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[Heavenly temple, heavenly worshippers]: The 'holy place' in v. 1a is a reference to the heavenly temple, where heavenly creatures have gathered to praise YHWH (cf. Radak :C: הוא עולם המלאכים; Mathys 2000 :A:) #dispreferred
 + <Parallelism>: The phrase רְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ in the parallel line (Ps. 150:1b) refers to the heavenly dome/firmament (HALOT :L:), and parallel lines typically express a unified thought (cf. Duhm 1899:302 :C:; Dahood 1970:359 :C:; Goldingay 2008 :C:; Mathys 2000 :A:; on parallelism cf. Tsumura 2023). #dispreferred
  + <Synonymous parallelism in Ps. 150>: "The strict synonymous parallelism, not only of v. 2 which speaks of God, but also of the entire hymn, strongly urges the recognition of synonymous parallelism in vs. 1 as well" (Dahood 1970:359 :C:). #dispreferred
  <_ <'Earth'/'Heaven' parallel>: The first verse of the psalm calls for universal praise, both on earth (v. 1a) and in heaven (v. 1b) (cf. Hupfeld 1877 :C:; Kittel 1922 :C:; Gunkel 1926 :C:; Allen 2002 :C:; Zenger 2011 :C:).
   + <Ps. 148>: In a similar manner, Ps. 148 summons praise from heaven and from earth.
    + [Ps. 148:1a, 7a]: הַֽלְל֣וּ אֶת־יְ֭הוָה מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֑יִם... הַֽלְל֣וּ אֶת־יְ֭הוָה מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ 
   + <Purpose of the psalm>: The psalm "is especially concerned with bringing together the earthly (v. 1b) and heavenly (v. 1c) praise of YHWH and filling the whole cosmos with it" (Zenger 2011:658 :C:).


Argument Mapn0Heavenly temple, heavenly worshippersThe 'holy place' in v. 1a is a reference to the heavenly temple, where heavenly creatures have gathered to praise YHWH (cf. Radak 🄲 הוא עולם המלאכים; Mathys 2000 🄰) n1Ps. 148:1a, 7aהַֽלְל֣וּ אֶת־יְ֭הוָה מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֑יִם... הַֽלְל֣וּ אֶת־יְ֭הוָה מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ n5Ps. 148In a similar manner, Ps. 148 summons praise from heaven and from earth.n1->n5n2ParallelismThe phrase רְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ in the parallel line (Ps. 150:1b) refers to the heavenly dome/firmament (HALOT 🄻), and parallel lines typically express a unified thought (cf. Duhm 1899:302 🄲; Dahood 1970:359 🄲; Goldingay 2008 🄲; Mathys 2000 🄰; on parallelism cf. Tsumura 2023). n2->n0n3Synonymous parallelism in Ps. 150"The strict synonymous parallelism, not only of v. 2 which speaks of God, but also of the entire hymn, strongly urges the recognition of synonymous parallelism in vs. 1 as well" (Dahood 1970:359 🄲). n3->n2n4'Earth'/'Heaven' parallelThe first verse of the psalm calls for universal praise, both on earth (v. 1a) and in heaven (v. 1b) (cf. Hupfeld 1877 🄲; Kittel 1922 🄲; Gunkel 1926 🄲; Allen 2002 🄲; Zenger 2011 🄲).n4->n2n5->n4n6Purpose of the psalmThe psalm "is especially concerned with bringing together the earthly (v. 1b) and heavenly (v. 1c) praise of YHWH and filling the whole cosmos with it" (Zenger 2011:658 🄲).n6->n4


Heavenly temple, earthly worshippers (preferred)

Other scholars have argued that the prepositional phrases in v. 1 do not describe the location of the praise, but rather the location of the God who is praised: 'Praise God (who is) in his holy place; praise him (who is) in his mighty heavens.' According to this view, the 'holy place' in v. 1a refers to the heavenly temple, but this does not mean that the worshippers are heavenly. It is possible for v. 1a to refer to the heavenly temple and for the worshippers to be on earth. 


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[Heavenly temple, earthly worshippers]: The prepositional phrase 'in his holy place' modifies 'God', not the verb, and thus specifies YHWH's location rather than the location of those who praise YHWH (cf. Rabbi Judah, cited by Ibn Ezra :C: הללו אל שהוא בקדשו; Delitzsch 1894 :C:; Duhm 1899 :C:).
 - <Ps. 148>: In Ps. 148 the prepositional phrases modify the verbs of praising (cf. Gunkel 1926 :C:; Allen 2002 :C:). #dispreferred
  + [Ps. 148:1-2, 7]: הַֽלְל֣וּ אֶת־יְ֭הוָה מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֑יִם הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ בַּמְּרוֹמִֽים׃ הַֽלְל֥וּהוּ כָל־מַלְאָכָ֑יו הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ כָּל־צְבָאוֹ ... ׃הַֽלְל֣וּ אֶת־יְ֭הוָה מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ תַּ֝נִּינִ֗ים וְכָל־תְּהֹמֽוֹת׃ #dispreferred
   <_ <Different prepositions>: Ps. 148 uses a different preposition (מן) in v. 1a and v. 7.
 - <Prepositional phrases in Ps. 150>: All of the other ב prepositional phrases in Ps. 150 modify the verbs. #dispreferred
  + [Prepositional phrases in Ps. 150]: בִגְבוּרֹתָ֑יו...בְּתֵ֣קַע שׁוֹפָ֑ר...בְּנֵ֣בֶל וְכִנּֽוֹר...בְתֹ֣ף וּמָח֑וֹל...בְּמִנִּ֥ים וְעוּגָֽב...בְצִלְצְלֵי־שָׁ֑מַע...בְּֽצִלְצְלֵ֥י תְרוּעָֽה #dispreferred
   <_ <Variety in semantics>: The ב prepositions in Ps. 150 vary in other ways (i.e., semantics). For example, the ב in v. 2a is causal, while the ב's in vv. 3–5 are instrumental. The use of the same preposition with semantic/syntactic variety is actually a poetic feature of the psalm.
 + <'Holy place' in other psalms>: Other psalms describe YHWH as residing 'in his holy (heavenly) temple.'
  + [E.g., Ps. 11:4]: יְהוָ֤ה׀ בְּֽהֵ֘יכַ֤ל קָדְשׁ֗וֹ יְהוָה֮ בַּשָּׁמַ֪יִם כִּ֫סְא֥וֹ
 + <רָקִיעַ>: The parallel word רָקִיעַ in v. 1b is sometimes considered "as sanctuary of YHWH or base supporting the throne of YHWH" (DCH :L:). It would make sense, then, if this phrase were describing YHWH's location.
  + [רָקִיעַ as sanctuary]: Ezek 1:22, 23, 25, 26; 10:1; cf. 1QH 5:14; 4QBer-B 2:6; 4QInstr-D 69.2:9,15; 4QShirShabb-D 1.1:42,43; 4QShirShabb-F 6:4; 19:3; 20.2:8,9; 23.1:6,7; 4QDibHam-A 1.7:6; 11QShirShabb 4:5; 8:2,5; 10:5,8 (DCH :L:).
  - <אל/על vs ב>: Elsewhere, YHWH is said to be 'on' (אל/על) the רָקִיעַ, not 'in' (ב) it. #dispreferred
   + [Ezek. 10:1]: וָאֶרְאֶ֗ה וְהִנֵּ֤ה אֶל־הָרָקִ֨יעַ֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הַכְּרֻבִ֔ים כְּאֶ֣בֶן סַפִּ֔יר כְּמַרְאֵ֖ה דְּמ֣וּת כִּסֵּ֑א נִרְאָ֖ה עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ #dispreferred
   <_ <רָקִיעַ metonymic for 'heavens'>: רָקִיעַ here "stands for שׁמים, 'heavens' (cf. Gen 1:8), as the divine residence" (Allen 2002:403 :C:).
   <_ <רָקִיעַ as a 'slippery concept'>: "In early Jewish literature רָקִיעַ is a slippery concept, as shown, for example, by the Songs for Sabbath Sacrifice at Qumran, where the expression was used 'now as an expression for the heavens, now as describing part of the Temple's architecture, now as a terminus technicus for the crystal vault above the cherubim'" (Zenger 2011 :C:, citing Löhr 1991 :A:).
   <_ <ב preposition>: The preposition ב very often indicates spatial localization not only *in* but also *on* a surface (cf. BHRG §39.6), and sometimes ב in this sense can be interchangeable with על.
    + [בהר and על הר]: וַיִּזְבַּ֨ח יַעֲקֹ֥ב זֶ֨בַח֙ בָּהָ֔ר וַיִּקְרָ֥א לְאֶחָ֖יו לֶאֱכָל־לָ֑חֶם וַיֹּ֣אכְלוּ לֶ֔חֶם וַיָּלִ֖ינוּ בָּהָֽר׃ (Gen. 31:54); תַּֽעַבְדוּן֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים עַ֖ל הָהָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה (cf. Ex. 3:12; cf. Ezek. 11:23; 39:17; Zech. 14:4).
    + [בנהר and על נהר]: אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָאִ֖יתִי בִּֽנְהַר־כְּבָֽר (Ezek. 10:15); אֲשֶׁ֤ר רָאִ֙יתִי֙ עַל־נְהַר־כְּבָ֔ר (Ezek. 10:22)


Argument Mapn0Heavenly temple, earthly worshippersThe prepositional phrase 'in his holy place' modifies 'God', not the verb, and thus specifies YHWH's location rather than the location of those who praise YHWH (cf. Rabbi Judah, cited by Ibn Ezra 🄲 הללו אל שהוא בקדשו; Delitzsch 1894 🄲; Duhm 1899 🄲).n1Ps. 148:1-2, 7הַֽלְל֣וּ אֶת־יְ֭הוָה מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֑יִם הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ בַּמְּרוֹמִֽים׃ הַֽלְל֥וּהוּ כָל־מַלְאָכָ֑יו הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ כָּל־צְבָאוֹ ... ׃הַֽלְל֣וּ אֶת־יְ֭הוָה מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ תַּ֝נִּינִ֗ים וְכָל־תְּהֹמֽוֹת׃ n8Ps. 148In Ps. 148 the prepositional phrases modify the verbs of praising (cf. Gunkel 1926 🄲; Allen 2002 🄲). n1->n8n2Prepositional phrases in Ps. 150בִגְבוּרֹתָ֑יו...בְּתֵ֣קַע שׁוֹפָ֑ר...בְּנֵ֣בֶל וְכִנּֽוֹר...בְתֹ֣ף וּמָח֑וֹל...בְּמִנִּ֥ים וְעוּגָֽב...בְצִלְצְלֵי־שָׁ֑מַע...בְּֽצִלְצְלֵ֥י תְרוּעָֽה n10Prepositional phrases in Ps. 150All of the other ב prepositional phrases in Ps. 150 modify the verbs. n2->n10n3E.g., Ps. 11:4יְהוָ֤ה׀ בְּֽהֵ֘יכַ֤ל קָדְשׁ֗וֹ יְהוָה֮ בַּשָּׁמַ֪יִם כִּ֫סְא֥וֹn12'Holy place' in other psalmsOther psalms describe YHWH as residing 'in his holy (heavenly) temple.'n3->n12n4רָקִיעַ as sanctuaryEzek 1:22, 23, 25, 26; 10:1; cf. 1QH 5:14; 4QBer-B 2:6; 4QInstr-D 69.2:9,15; 4QShirShabb-D 1.1:42,43; 4QShirShabb-F 6:4; 19:3; 20.2:8,9; 23.1:6,7; 4QDibHam-A 1.7:6; 11QShirShabb 4:5; 8:2,5; 10:5,8 (DCH 🄻).n13רָקִיעַThe parallel word רָקִיעַ in v. 1b is sometimes considered "as sanctuary of YHWH or base supporting the throne of YHWH" (DCH 🄻). It would make sense, then, if this phrase were describing YHWH's location.n4->n13n5Ezek. 10:1וָאֶרְאֶ֗ה וְהִנֵּ֤ה אֶל־הָרָקִ֨יעַ֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הַכְּרֻבִ֔ים כְּאֶ֣בֶן סַפִּ֔יר כְּמַרְאֵ֖ה דְּמ֣וּת כִּסֵּ֑א נִרְאָ֖ה עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ n14אל/על vs בElsewhere, YHWH is said to be 'on' (אל/על) the רָקִיעַ, not 'in' (ב) it. n5->n14n6בהר and על הרוַיִּזְבַּ֨ח יַעֲקֹ֥ב זֶ֨בַח֙ בָּהָ֔ר וַיִּקְרָ֥א לְאֶחָ֖יו לֶאֱכָל־לָ֑חֶם וַיֹּ֣אכְלוּ לֶ֔חֶם וַיָּלִ֖ינוּ בָּהָֽר׃ (Gen. 31:54); תַּֽעַבְדוּן֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים עַ֖ל הָהָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה (cf. Ex. 3:12; cf. Ezek. 11:23; 39:17; Zech. 14:4).n17ב prepositionThe preposition ב very often indicates spatial localization not only in  but also on  a surface (cf. BHRG §39.6), and sometimes ב in this sense can be interchangeable with על.n6->n17n7בנהר and על נהראֲשֶׁ֥ר רָאִ֖יתִי בִּֽנְהַר־כְּבָֽר (Ezek. 10:15); אֲשֶׁ֤ר רָאִ֙יתִי֙ עַל־נְהַר־כְּבָ֔ר (Ezek. 10:22)n7->n17n8->n0n9Different prepositionsPs. 148 uses a different preposition (מן) in v. 1a and v. 7.n9->n1n10->n0n11Variety in semanticsThe ב prepositions in Ps. 150 vary in other ways (i.e., semantics). For example, the ב in v. 2a is causal, while the ב's in vv. 3–5 are instrumental. The use of the same preposition with semantic/syntactic variety is actually a poetic feature of the psalm.n11->n2n12->n0n13->n0n14->n13n15רָקִיעַ metonymic for 'heavens'רָקִיעַ here "stands for שׁמים, 'heavens' (cf. Gen 1:8), as the divine residence" (Allen 2002:403 🄲).n15->n14n16רָקִיעַ as a 'slippery concept'"In early Jewish literature רָקִיעַ is a slippery concept, as shown, for example, by the Songs for Sabbath Sacrifice at Qumran, where the expression was used 'now as an expression for the heavens, now as describing part of the Temple's architecture, now as a terminus technicus for the crystal vault above the cherubim'" (Zenger 2011 🄲, citing Löhr 1991 🄰).n16->n14n17->n14


Conclusion (C)

Psalm 150 seems to presuppose that the worshippers are human (see first argument map 'Earthly temple, earthly worshippers'), and yet the parallelism in v. 1 suggests that YHWH's 'holy place' is the heavenly temple (see second argument map 'Heavenly temple, heavenly worshippers'). The solution to reconciling these (apparently) competing arguments is to understand that the prepositional phrases in v. 1 do not describe the location of the worshippers but of the one who is worshipped: 'praise God [who is] in his holy place; praise him [who is] in his strong firmament.' The first verse, then, is not so much about where to praise but about whom to praise (i.e., the one who is enthroned in the heavens). As Calvin writes, "the Psalmist, in order to awaken men who grow languid in God’s praises, bids them lift their eyes towards the heavenly sanctuary. That the majesty of God may be duly reverenced, the Psalmist represents him as presiding on his throne in the heavens; and he enlarges upon the same truth in the second verse..."[3]

Research

Translations

Ancient

  • LXX: Αἰνεῖτε τὸν θεὸν ἐν τοῖς ἁγίοις αὐτοῦ, αἰνεῖτε αὐτὸν ἐν στερεώματι δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ[4]
    • "Praise God among his saints; praise him in the firmament of his power!"[5]
    • "Lobt Gott in seinem Heiligtum,[6] lobt ihn in der Feste seiner Macht."[7]
  • Aquila: ἐν ἡγιασμένῳ αὐτοῦ... ἐν στερεώματι κράτους αὐτοῦ[8]
  • Symmachus: ἐν τῷ ἁγίῳ αὐτοῦ... ὑμνεῖτε αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ στερεώματι τῷ ἀκαθαιρέτω αὐτοῦ[9]
  • Jerome iuxta Hebraeos: Laudate Deum in sancto eius, laudate eum in fortitudine potentiae eius[10]
  • Peshitta: ܫܒܚܘ ܠܡܪܝܐ ܒܩܘܕܫܗ܂ ܫܒܚܘܗܝ ܒܐܪܩܝܥܐ ܕܥܘܫܢܗ܂[11]
    • "Praise the Lord in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament."[12]
  • Targum: שבחו אלהא בבית מקדשיה שבחו יתיה ברקיעא דעושניה׃[13]
    • "Praise God in the house of his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament."[14]

Modern

Ambiguous

  • Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. (NIV)
  • Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! (ESV)
  • Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven! (NLT)
  • Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament! (NRSV)
  • Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the sky, His stronghold. (JPS85)
  • Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in the sky, which testifies to his strength![15] (NET)
  • Praise God in his holy place, praise him in the heavenly vault of his power (NJB)
  • O praise God in his holy place, praise him in the vault of heaven, the vault of his power (NEB)
  • Praise God in his holy place, praise him in the mighty vault of heaven (REB)
  • Praise God in his Temple! Praise his strength in heaven! (GNT)
  • Praise God in his temple. Praise him in heaven, his mighty fortress. (CEV)
  • Lobet Gott in seinem Heiligtum, lobet ihn in der Feste seiner Macht! (LUT)
  • Lobt Gott in seinem Heiligtum! Lobt ihn in der Feste seiner Macht! (EÜ)
  • Lobt Gott in seinem Heiligtum, lobt ihn in seiner mächtigen Feste! (EÜ)
  • Lobt Gott in seinem Heiligtum, lobt ihn in seiner starken Feste. (ZÜR)
  • Lobt Gott in seinem Heiligtum, lobt ihn im Himmelsgewölbe, das seine große Macht zeigt[16] (NGÜ)
  • Louez Deiu dans son sanctuaire; louez-le dans la fortresse de son firmament (TOB)
  • Louez Dieu dans son sanctuaire ! Louez-le dans la voûte céleste où se déploie sa puissance ![17] (NBS)
  • Louez Dieu dans son saint lieu ! Louez-le dans l'étendue céleste où (se déploie) sa puissance ! (NVS78P)
  • Louez Dieu ╵dans son sanctuaire ! Louez-le dans l’étendue céleste ╵où éclate sa puissance ! (BDS)
  • Louez Dieu dans son sanctuaire! Louez-le dans l’étendue céleste où éclate sa puissance! (S21)
  • Chantez la louange de Dieu dans son temple saint, chantez sa louange dans le ciel, au royaume de sa puissance ! (PDV2017)
  • Alaben a Dios en su santuario, alábenlo en su poderosa expansión del cielo. (NVI)
  • ¡Alaben a Dios en su santuario! ¡Alábenlo en su majestuosa bóveda celeste! (DHH94I)
  • Alabad a Dios en su santuario; alabadlo en la magnificencia de su firmamento. (RVR95)
  • ¡Alabad a Elohim en su santuario! ¡Alabadlo en la magnificencia de su firmamento! (BTX4)

Earthly worship

  • Acclamez Dieu dans son lieu saint, acclamez-le sous la puissante voûte des cieux ! (NFC)

God in heaven

  • Lobt Gott in seinem Heiligtum, lobt ihn, den Mächtigen im Himmel! (HFA)
  • Rühmt Gott in seinem Heiligtum! Lobt Gott, den Mächtigen im Himmel! (GNB)

Secondary Literature

Allen, Leslie. 1983. Psalms 101-150. Vol. 3. WBC 21. Waco: Word Books.
Baethgen, Friedrich. 1904. Die Psalmen. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht.
Calvin, John. Calvin on Psalms.
Delitzsch, Franz. 1894. Biblischer Kommentar über die Psalmen. Biblischer Kommentar über das Alte Testament. Leipzig: Dörffling und Franke.
Duhm, Bernhard. 1899. Die Psalmen. Mohr.
Ehrlich, Arnold B. 1905. Die Psalmen; Neu Uebersetzt und Erklaert. Berlin: Poppelauer.
Goldingay, John. 2008. Psalms: Psalms 90-150. Vol. 3. BCOT. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.
Gunkel, Hermann. 1926. Die Psalmen. 4th ed. Göttinger Handkommentar Zum Alten Testament 2. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.
Hossfeld, Frank-Lothar, and Erich Zenger. 2011. Psalms 3: A Commentary on Psalms 101-150. Edited by Klaus Baltzer. Translated by Linda M. Maloney. Hermeneia. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress.
Hupfeld, Hermann. 1877. Die Psalmen. Vol. 4. Gotha: F.A. Perthes.
Ibn Ezra. Ibn Ezra on Psalms.
Kittel, Rudolf. 1922. Die Psalmen. Leipzig: A. Deichertsche Verlagsbuchhandlung Dr. Werner Scholl.
Löhr, Hermut. 1991. “Thronversammlung Und Preisender Tempel: Beobachtungen Am Himmlischen Heiligtum Im Hebräerbrief Und in Den Sabbatopferliedern Aus Qumran.” In Königsherrschaft Gottes Und Himmlischer Kult: Im Judentum, Urchristentum Und in Der Hellenistischen Welt, edited by Martin Hengel and Anna Maria Schwemer. Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 55. Tübingen: J.C.B. Mohr.
Mathys, H. P. 2000. “Psalm CL.” Vetus Testamentum 50 (3): 329–44.
Radak. Radak on Psalms.
Tsumura, David Toshio. 2023. Vertical Grammar of Parallelism in Biblical Hebrew. Ancient Israel and Its Literature 47. Atlanta: SBL Press.

References

Choose a PsalmNavigate Psalm 19

150:1

  1. ↑ OSHB.
  2. ↑ In addition to the three views explored below, some scholars have argued that בְּקָדְשׁוֹ does not refer to YHWH's 'holy place' but to YHWH's 'holiness' and that v. 1 is a call to praise YHWH 'for his holiness' (e.g., Brodersen 2017:44–47). Because this view is not represented in any of the modern translations we consulted, however, it will not be discussed in the argument maps below.
  3. ↑ Calvin.
  4. ↑ Rahlfs 1931.
  5. ↑ NETS.
  6. ↑ Translation footnote: "in seinem Heiligtum: im Griech. Pl.; möglich wäre auch – wie in der ORTH.L. – unter seinen Heiligen; vgl. Ps 67,36 mit Fn."
  7. ↑ LXX.D.
  8. ↑ Field.
  9. ↑ Field.
  10. ↑ Weber-Gryson 5th edition.
  11. ↑ Variant: ܕܫܡܗ. CAL.
  12. ↑ Taylor 2020:617.
  13. ↑ CAL.
  14. ↑ Stec 2004:244.
  15. ↑ Translation footnote: 'Heb “the sky of his strength.”'
  16. ↑ Translations footnote: 'Oder: "in seinem gewaltigen Himmelsgewölbe". Wörtlich: "im Himmelsgewölbe seiner Macht".'
  17. ↑ Translation footnote: "litt. de sa puissance ; certains comprennent dans la forteresse (cf. 27.1+) de la voûte céleste (cf. 19.2 ; 29.9ss ; 148.1s ; Gn 1.6nss)."