The Meaning of Psalms 150:6 Explained

Psalms 150:6

KJV: Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

YLT: All that doth breathe doth praise Jah! Praise ye Jah!

Darby: Let everything that hath breath praise Jah. Hallelujah!

ASV: Let everything that hath breath praise Jehovah. Praise ye Jehovah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Let every thing that hath breath  praise  the LORD.  Praise  ye the LORD. 

What does Psalms 150:6 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Having dealt with the "where" and "how" of worship, the psalmist now specified the "who." "Everything that has breath" should praise Yahweh. In the light of the context, he was undoubtedly thinking of all kinds of people. This verse is a fitting conclusion to the Book of Psalm.
All people should praise God. This is the message of the book.

Context Summary

Psalms 150:1-6 - The Praise-Songs Of God's People
Israel was formed into a nation and delivered from Babylon, that her singers should lead the praises of mankind, and her teachers provide the metaphors and phrases for the world's religious nurture. "This people have I made for myself," said the Most High, "that they might show forth my praise." Is it not also our Christian duty to be joyful in our King? Our religious life has not enough ecstasy and gladness in it to attract the world, which is sad enough beneath its outward gaiety.
Psalms 150:1-6
A worthy close to the Psalter. Ten times the summons to praise rings out, and ten is the number of perfection. Think of the tears and groans, the questionings and perplexities, the feeble faith and disappointed aspiration, that have preceded! Now it all finishes thus! So life will finish! Our Misereres will be forgotten in the outbursting Jubilates . The first three books of the Psalter end with Amen and Amen, the firm expression of faith. The fourth book with Amen, Hallelujah, as though faith were beginning to be lost in glad realization. But here, at the end of all, there is one abounding and unhesitating Hallelujah!
For Review Questions, see the e-Sword Book Comments. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 150

1  An exhortation to praise God
3  With all kinds of instruments

What do the individual words in Psalms 150:6 mean?

Everything let that has breath praise YAH Praise YAH
כֹּ֣ל הַ֭נְּשָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּ֥ל יָ֗הּ הַֽלְלוּ־ יָֽהּ

כֹּ֣ל  Everything 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הַ֭נְּשָׁמָה  let  that  has  breath 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: נְשָׁמָה  
Sense: breath, spirit.
תְּהַלֵּ֥ל  praise 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: הָלַל 
Sense: to shine.
יָ֗הּ  YAH 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָהּ  
Sense: Jah (Jehovah in the shortened form).
הַֽלְלוּ־  Praise 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: הָלַל 
Sense: to shine.
יָֽהּ  YAH 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָהּ  
Sense: Jah (Jehovah in the shortened form).