The Meaning of Psalms 148:5 Explained

Psalms 148:5

KJV: Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.

YLT: They do praise the name of Jehovah, For He commanded, and they were created.

Darby: Let them praise the name of Jehovah, for he it is that commanded, and they were created:

ASV: Let them praise the name of Jehovah; For he commanded, and they were created.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Let them praise  the name  of the LORD:  for he commanded,  and they were created. 

What does Psalms 148:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 148:1-14 - Creation's Song Of Praise
The "Benedicite" in the Book of Common Prayer is based on this psalm. The sacred minstrel is not content that he or his people should have a monopoly of praise. He calls to nature, with her myriad voices, to take up the strain. It is interesting to turn these words from the imperative to the indicative mood, for already the heights and depths around us are vocal. The sun leads the chorus, and the moon plays upon her silver harp. The stars "quire to the young-eyed cherubim." The deeps praise for depths of love, the mountains for its height, the fruit trees for its sweetness, while the great forest monarchs, their branches swaying in the wind, "clap their hands." Surely the children of God should awake from their lethargy! Can we be redeemed and dumb? Saved and silent? Delivered and made "near," and no word of gratitude? Let us, as we read this psalm, remember also that there is a praise note for the fire of tribulation and the hail of abusive scorn. The saints have long ago praised God in the fires. The stormy wind or adversity, no less than the zephyrs of prosperity, fulfills His purpose and deserves our trust. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 148

1  The psalmist exhorts the celestial
7  The terrestrial
11  And the rational creatures to praise God

What do the individual words in Psalms 148:5 mean?

Let them praise - the name of Yahweh for He commanded and they were created
יְֽ֭הַֽלְלוּ אֶת־ שֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֑ה כִּ֤י ה֭וּא צִוָּ֣ה וְנִבְרָֽאוּ

יְֽ֭הַֽלְלוּ  Let  them  praise 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: הָלַל 
Sense: to shine.
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.
שֵׁ֣ם  the  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
יְהוָ֑ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
צִוָּ֣ה  commanded 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
וְנִבְרָֽאוּ  and  they  were  created 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: בָּרָא 
Sense: to create, shape, form.