Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.
Read it in contextA Hymn of Praise for God's Goodness to Zion and All Creation
Start reading at Psalms 147:1 (Psalms 147:1 to Psalms 147:20).
The entire Psalm 147 forms a unified hymn of praise, beginning and ending with 'Praise ye the LORD,' and consistently detailing reasons for worship.
147:1Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
147:2The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.
147:3He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
147:4He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.
147:5Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
147:6The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
147:7Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
147:8Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
147:9He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.
147:10He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
147:11The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
147:12Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.
147:13For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.
147:14He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.
147:15He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.
147:16He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.
147:17He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?
147:18He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
147:19He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
147:20He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Multiple writers contributed to Psalms, including David, Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and Moses; some psalms have no named attribution. The traditional Hebrew headings distinguish many of these contributions. Biblical references: Acts 2:25; Acts 4:25. book background
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Psalms 147:1–147:20): The community, including Jerusalem and Zion, is called to praise the LORD for His care and His word to Israel. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Israel's worshipping community, including individuals and assemblies using the psalms for prayer, praise, lament, and instruction. A particular psalm may speak directly to God, to the congregation, or to another group. Biblical references: Psalms 22:22; Psalms 78:1; Psalms 100:1. book background
What
What is the main event or theme? The main theme is a fervent call for Jerusalem and Zion to praise the LORD, based on His benevolent actions towards His people and His sovereign control over creation.
What is God revealing? God is revealing His worthiness of praise due to His active care for His chosen city and people, His power to protect and provide, and His unique covenant relationship with Israel, to whom He has shown His word, statutes, and judgments unlike any other nation. He is also revealing His infinite power and understanding through His control over nature and His ability to heal and gather His people. (Psalms 147:2-5, 147:13-14, 147:19-20)
What is the literary style? This psalm is a piece of Hebrew poetry, specifically a hymn of praise, characterized by its direct address, declarative statements about God's attributes and actions, and repeated calls to worship.
When
When was it written? The book of Psalms was collected over a long period, approximately from 1400 to 450 B.C. While the exact date for Psalm 147 is not specified, its themes of building up Jerusalem and strengthening gates (Psalms 147:2, 147:13) suggest a post-exilic context for some scholars, though the facts only provide the collection period for the book.
When does the event take place? The call to praise is a timeless command, and the events described (God's building, healing, and control over nature) represent God's continuous and historical actions.
Where
Where did it happen? The praise is directed to Jerusalem and Zion, indicating that the context is within Israel, specifically concerning its capital city.
Where was the author located? The book of Psalms was written in Israel.
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in A Hymn of Praise for God's Goodness to Zion and All Creation (Psalms 147:1 to Psalms 147:20).
Start reading at Psalms 147:1. The entire Psalm 147 forms a unified hymn of praise, beginning and ending with 'Praise ye the LORD,' and consistently detailing reasons for worship.
How
How does it fit the broader context? Psalm 147 is part of the final collection of Hallelujah Psalms (Psalms 146-150), all of which begin and end with 'Praise ye the LORD.' This psalm specifically focuses on God's greatness in creation and His particular, providential care for Israel, providing reasons for the universal call to praise found throughout the Psalter. stated in the text
How does it point to Christ? Christ is the ultimate embodiment of God's 'word' (John 1:1, 1:14), which 'runneth very swiftly' (Psalms 147:15) and has power over creation (Psalms 147:18). He is also the one who truly 'healeth the broken in heart' (Psalms 147:3, Luke 4:18) and gathers the outcasts (Psalms 147:2, Matthew 23:37, John 11:52). The peace and blessing promised to Jerusalem (Psalms 147:13-14) find their ultimate spiritual fulfillment in the Church, the spiritual Zion, and the New Jerusalem, where Christ reigns. interpretation
How do I apply it today? Believers today are called to praise God for His sovereign power over all creation and His specific, loving care for His people. We should trust in His ability to heal our brokenness, provide for our needs, and protect us, responding with heartfelt thanksgiving and worship. This psalm reminds us to recognize God's unique revelation to us through His Word and to live in grateful obedience. interpretation
Cited: Psalms 147:1, Psalms 147:2, Psalms 147:3, Psalms 147:4, Psalms 147:5, Psalms 147:12, Psalms 147:13, Psalms 147:14, Psalms 147:15, Psalms 147:18, Psalms 147:19, Psalms 147:20, John 1:1, John 1:14, Luke 4:18, Matthew 23:37, John 11:52, Psalms 135:19-21, Psalms 146:10, Psalms 149:2, Isaiah 12:6, Isaiah 52:7, Joel 2:23
Who wrote it, and how we know
David and others, including Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and MosesNamed in Scripture
What Scripture saysThe superscriptions name their writers: David most often, and also Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and Moses. The New Testament quotes psalms as David's words. Psalm 3:1Psalm 90:1Acts 2:25Acts 4:25
Early traditionJewish and Christian tradition preserves the superscriptions as ancient.
What is debatedSome scholars regard certain superscriptions as later additions. The collection was assembled over centuries.
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Psalms 147
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Psalms is a collection of prayers and songs with multiple attributed writers and many unspecified occasions. Read each psalm as a poetic unit and distinguish a speaker's lament, petition, vow, and praise. The five-book arrangement does not make all psalms one continuous speech. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement. A quoted heading uses the opening KJV words of that stanza; the speaker and the psalm as a whole still govern its meaning.
FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. The final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together…”
FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise
Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon…”
FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise
Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“He delighteth not in the strength of the horse:…”
FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise
Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O…”
FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise
Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word…”
FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise
Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
“He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and…”
FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. The final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Psalms
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Psalms is a collection of prayers and songs with multiple attributed writers and many unspecified occasions. Read each psalm as a poetic unit and distinguish a speaker's lament, petition, vow, and praise. The five-book arrangement does not make all psalms one continuous speech.
Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
Connection to the wholeThe second collection continues varied prayers and songs and closes with royal prayer and a doxology; its individual psalms retain distinct voices and occasions.
FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions
Connection to the wholeThis collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
Connection to the wholeThese psalms include reflection on human frailty, the LORD's kingship, worship, and Israel's history, and close with a doxology.
FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise
Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.