The Meaning of Psalms 135:19 Explained

Psalms 135:19

KJV: Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron:

YLT: O house of Israel, bless ye Jehovah, O house of Aaron, bless ye Jehovah,

Darby: House of Israel, bless ye Jehovah; house of Aaron, bless ye Jehovah;

ASV: O house of Israel, bless ye Jehovah: O house of Aaron, bless ye Jehovah:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Bless  the LORD,  O house  of Israel:  bless  the LORD,  O house  of Aaron: 

What does Psalms 135:19 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 135:13-21 - Men Become Like The Gods They Serve
What a contrast between our God and idols! His mouth speaks words of grace; His eyes follow our every movement and watch our sleep; His ears are open to the faintest call. Let us who love and adore Him resemble Him, as the idolater resembles his stony idol.
The fourfold division of the chosen race deserves our thought, Psalms 135:19-21. Some belonged to the great commonwealth of Israel, some to the priestly family of Aaron, some to the meaner and humbler ranks of Levi, and some were proselytes who just feared the Lord; but none could be excused from the offering of praise. Whoever and whatever we may be, let us never fail to add our quota of adoration to that song which John tells us he heard arising from all in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, Revelation 5:13. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 135

1  An exhortation to praise God for his mercy
5  For his power
8  For his judgments
15  The vanity of idols
19  An exhortation to bless God

What do the individual words in Psalms 135:19 mean?

House of Israel Bless - Yahweh of Aaron Yahweh
בֵּ֣ית יִ֭שְׂרָאֵל בָּרֲכ֣וּ אֶת־ יְהוָ֑ה אַ֝הֲרֹ֗ן יְהוָֽה

בֵּ֣ית  House 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
יִ֭שְׂרָאֵל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
בָּרֲכ֣וּ  Bless 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: בָּרַךְ 
Sense: to bless, kneel.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יְהוָ֑ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אַ֝הֲרֹ֗ן  of  Aaron 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַהֲרֹון  
Sense: brother of Moses, a Levite and the first high priest.
יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.