Psalms 149:1–4
A psalm invites us to praise God with dancing, tambourine and lyre
Study it word by word1Praise Yah. Sing to YHWH a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
2Let Israel be glad in its Maker; let the sons of Zion rejoice in their King.
3Let them praise his name with dancing; with tambourine and lyre let them sing psalms to him.
4For YHWH takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.
In its context
…
5Let the faithful exult in glory; let them shout for joy on their beds.
6Let the exaltations of El be in their throat, and a two-edged sword in their hand,
Its words in the original
- הַלְלוּhallu· praise; boast
Praise, extol. "Hallelujah" comes from this verb. In other forms, boast; also act like a madman.
- יָהּyah· Yah
Yah: the short form of the name YHWH. It is the form found in "Hallelujah" ("praise Yah").
- שִׁירוּshiru· sing
Sing; singer.
- יהוָהyhva· YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
- שִׁירshir· song
Song, singing.
- חָדָשׁchadash· new
New.
- תְּהִלָּתtehilat· praise
Praise; deeds worthy of praise; a song of praise.
- קְהַלkehal· assembly
Assembly: a large group of people gathered; later, the people of Israel gathered before God.
- חֲסִידִיםchasidim· faithful one, godly
Faithful one: one who lives out loyal love toward God; also kind.
- יִשְׂמַחyismach· rejoice
Rejoice, be glad; make glad.
- יִשְׂרָאֵלyisrael· Israel
Israel, the new name Jacob received from God, explained as "you have striven with God" (Genesis 32:28); then the name of the people that came from him and, after the division, of the northern kingdom.
- עֹשָׂיosay· do, make
Do, make, in the widest sense: build, produce, carry out, keep (a command), prepare.
- בְּנֵיbene· son
Son. In the plural it can include sons and daughters, and also grandsons and descendants. "Son of..." also says what group someone belongs to ("sons of Israel" = Israelites).
- צִיּוֹןtsiyon· Zion
Zion: the fortified hill of Jerusalem that David took from the Jebusites; later the name is used for all Jerusalem and for the temple mount.
- יָגִילוּyagilu· rejoice
To rejoice: to be very glad, to leap for joy.
- מַלְכָּmalka· king
King: the ruler of a city, a people or a kingdom.
- שְׁמshem· name
Name. In the Bible a name says who someone is; so it also means fame, renown or reputation.
- מָחוֹלmachol· dance
Dance: the round dance with which joy is celebrated.
- תֹףtof· tambourine
Tambourine: a small hand drum.
- כִנּוֹרchinor· lyre
Lyre: a small stringed instrument.
- יְזַמְּרוּyezamru· sing praise, make music
Sing praise: sing or play a stringed instrument in praise. The word for "psalm" comes from it.
- רוֹצֶהrotse· accept, be pleased with
Receive with pleasure, accept; take delight in someone. Also pay off a debt.
- עַמּam· people
People: a human group joined by kinship, history and destiny. "My people", said by God, is Israel. Also the people as a crowd, or troops.
- יְפָאֵרyefaer· have the honor; glorify
Have the honor; "be pleased to" is a courtesy formula. In other passages, glorify, boast, or adorn.
- עֲנָוִיםanavim· humble, afflicted
Humble, afflicted: one who is low, by his condition or by his attitude; meek.
- ישׁוּעָהyshua· salvation
Salvation: the help with which God delivers from danger; also victory. The name "Jesus" (Yeshua) comes from the same root.