The Meaning of Psalms 148:4 Explained

Psalms 148:4

KJV: Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.

YLT: Praise ye Him, heavens of heavens, And ye waters that are above the heavens.

Darby: Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that are above the heavens.

ASV: Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, And ye waters that are above the heavens.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Praise  him, ye heavens  of heavens,  and ye waters  that [be] above the heavens. 

What does Psalms 148:4 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 148:4 mean?

Praise Him you heavens of heavens and you waters - above the heavens
הַֽ֭לְלוּהוּ שְׁמֵ֣י הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וְ֝הַמַּ֗יִם אֲשֶׁ֤ר ׀ מֵעַ֬ל הַשָּׁמָֽיִם

הַֽ֭לְלוּהוּ  Praise  Him 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine plural, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַל 
Sense: to shine.
שְׁמֵ֣י  you  heavens 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם  of  heavens 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
וְ֝הַמַּ֗יִם  and  you  waters 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
אֲשֶׁ֤ר ׀  - 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
מֵעַ֬ל  above 
Parse: Preposition-m
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הַשָּׁמָֽיִם  the  heavens 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.