The Meaning of Psalms 115:17 Explained

Psalms 115:17

KJV: The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.

YLT: The dead praise not Jah, Nor any going down to silence.

Darby: The dead praise not Jah, neither any that go down into silence;

ASV: The dead praise not Jehovah, Neither any that go down into silence;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The dead  praise  not the LORD,  neither any that go down  into silence. 

What does Psalms 115:17 Mean?

Study Notes

dead
.
there is no work
Ecclesiastes 9:10 is no more a divine revelation concerning the state of the dead than any other conclusion of "the Preacher" Ecclesiastes 1:1 is such a revelation. Reasoning from the standpoint of man "under the sun" the natural man can see no difference between a dead man and a dead lion. Ecclesiastes 9:4 . A living dog is better than either. No one would quote Ecclesiastes 9:2 as a divine revelation. These reasonings of man apart from divine revelation are set down by inspiration just as the words of Satan; Genesis 3:4 ; Job 2:4 ; Job 2:5 are so set down. But that life and consciousness continue between death and resurrection is directly affirmed in Scripture.; Isaiah 14:9-11 ; Matthew 22:32 ; Mark 9:43-48 ; Luke 16:19-31 ; John 11:26 ; 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 ; Philippians 1:21-23 ; Revelation 6:9-11 .
grave Heb. "Sheol," (See Scofield " Habakkuk 2:5 ") .

Context Summary

Psalm 115:1-18 - Powerless Idols Our Powerful God
Evidently this psalm was intended to be sung by various voices: Psalms 115:1-8 by the whole congregation in unison, while the sacrifice was being offered; Psalms 115:9-11, by a solo voice giving the first line of each couplet, the whole audience chanting the refrain; Psalms 115:12-15, by the priest as a benediction; Psalms 115:16-18, by the whole congregation, which now breaks into glad hallelujahs.
It was composed during the early days of the return from Babylon, when the small groups of settlers were surrounded by the jeers and scoffs of their enemies. This was their reply, as they brought out the scathing contrast between the idols of their neighbors and the majesty of Jehovah. We are reminded of Isaiah's description of an idol factory. The idols had outward semblance and no power. Jehovah had no outward semblance, but all power. Let us take to heart the threefold invitation to faith in Psalms 115:9-11, and reckon on God as our help in the battle and our shield against our foes. The smallest may get his blessing as well as the greatest, Psalms 115:13. We can never impose a strain on the resources of God, however great our demands. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 115

1  Because God is truly glorious
4  And idols are vanity
9  He exhorts to confidence in God
12  God is to be blessed for his blessing

What do the individual words in Psalms 115:17 mean?

Not the dead do praise YAH nor any who go down into silence
לֹ֣א הַ֭מֵּתִים יְהַֽלְלוּ־ יָ֑הּ וְ֝לֹ֗א כָּל־ יֹרְדֵ֥י דוּמָֽה

הַ֭מֵּתִים  the  dead 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
יְהַֽלְלוּ־  do  praise 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: הָלַל 
Sense: to shine.
יָ֑הּ  YAH 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָהּ  
Sense: Jah (Jehovah in the shortened form).
וְ֝לֹ֗א  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
כָּל־  any 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
יֹרְדֵ֥י  who  go  down 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
דוּמָֽה  into  silence 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: דּוּמָה  
Sense: silence.