The Meaning of Psalms 149:4 Explained

Psalms 149:4

KJV: For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

YLT: For Jehovah is pleased with His people, He beautifieth the humble with salvation.

Darby: For Jehovah taketh pleasure in his people; he beautifieth the meek with salvation.

ASV: For Jehovah taketh pleasure in his people: He will beautify the meek with salvation.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For the LORD  taketh pleasure  in his people:  he will beautify  the meek  with salvation. 

What does Psalms 149:4 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!
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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 149:4 mean?

For takes pleasure Yahweh in His people He will beautify the humble with salvation
כִּֽי־ רוֹצֶ֣ה יְהוָ֣ה בְּעַמּ֑וֹ יְפָאֵ֥ר עֲ֝נָוִ֗ים בִּישׁוּעָֽה

רוֹצֶ֣ה  takes  pleasure 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: רָצָא 
Sense: to be pleased with, be favourable to, accept favourably.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בְּעַמּ֑וֹ  in  His  people 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
יְפָאֵ֥ר  He  will  beautify 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּאַר 
Sense: to glorify, beautify, adorn.
עֲ֝נָוִ֗ים  the  humble 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: עָנָו 
Sense: poor, humble, afflicted, meek.
בִּישׁוּעָֽה  with  salvation 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְשׁוּעָה  
Sense: salvation, deliverance.