The Meaning of Psalms 149:1 Explained

Psalms 149:1

KJV: Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.

YLT: Praise ye Jah! Sing ye to Jehovah a new song, His praise in an assembly of saints.

Darby: Hallelujah! Sing unto Jehovah a new song; sing his praise in the congregation of the godly.

ASV: Praise ye Jehovah. Sing unto Jehovah a new song, And his praise in the assembly of the saints.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Praise  ye the LORD.  Sing  unto the LORD  a new  song,  [and] his praise  in the congregation  of saints. 

What does Psalms 149:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 149:1-9 - 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 149

1  The prophet exhorts to praise God for his love to the church
5  And for that power which he has given to the church

What do the individual words in Psalms 149:1 mean?

Praise YAH Sing to Yahweh a song new [And] His praise in the assembly of saints
הַ֥לְלוּ יָ֨הּ ׀ שִׁ֣ירוּ לַֽ֭יהוָה שִׁ֣יר חָדָ֑שׁ תְּ֝הִלָּת֗וֹ בִּקְהַ֥ל חֲסִידִֽים

הַ֥לְלוּ  Praise 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: הָלַל 
Sense: to shine.
יָ֨הּ ׀  YAH 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָהּ  
Sense: Jah (Jehovah in the shortened form).
שִׁ֣ירוּ  Sing 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: שִׁיר  
Sense: to sing.
לַֽ֭יהוָה  to  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
שִׁ֣יר  a  song 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שִׁיר 
Sense: song.
חָדָ֑שׁ  new 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חָדָשׁ  
Sense: new, new thing, fresh.
תְּ֝הִלָּת֗וֹ  [And]  His  praise 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: תְּהִלָּה  
Sense: praise, song or hymn of praise.
בִּקְהַ֥ל  in  the  assembly 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קָהָל  
Sense: assembly, company, congregation, convocation.
חֲסִידִֽים  of  saints 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: חָסִיד  
Sense: faithful, kind, godly, holy one, saint, pious.