The Meaning of Psalms 134:2 Explained

Psalms 134:2

KJV: Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.

YLT: Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless ye Jehovah.

Darby: Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless Jehovah.

ASV: Lift up your hands to the sanctuary, And bless ye Jehovah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Lift up  your hands  [in] the sanctuary,  and bless  the LORD. 

What does Psalms 134:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 134:1-3 - Unity Is Of God
The word Behold suggests that some special manifestation of unity was taking place under the psalmist's eyes, perhaps in connection with some great religious festival; or David may have composed it to celebrate the healing of the breach after the death of Ishbosheth. We must not only be one in God's purpose, but must be willing to dwell together, that is, to manifest our unity in outward action. For the precious oil see Exodus 30:20-38 and 1 John 2:27. Our Lord was anointed with the Holy Spirit, and we may share in His Pentecost, Luke 3:21-22; Acts 2:33.
Psalms 134:1-3. The last of the "Songs of Degrees." It may have been addressed to the priests who came on duty after the offering of the evening sacrifice. There was evidently a band of choristers and others who were on duty while Jerusalem slept. The psalm ends with the reciprocal blessing of the watchers on the retreating crowds; commending them, during the hours of darkness, to the care of the Lord of heaven and earth. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 134

1  An exhortation to bless God

What do the individual words in Psalms 134:2 mean?

Lift up your hands [in] the sanctuary and bless - Yahweh
שְׂאֽוּ־ יְדֵכֶ֥ם קֹ֑דֶשׁ וּ֝בָרֲכוּ אֶת־ יְהוָֽה

שְׂאֽוּ־  Lift  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
יְדֵכֶ֥ם  your  hands 
Parse: Noun, fdc, second person masculine plural
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
קֹ֑דֶשׁ  [in]  the  sanctuary 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.
וּ֝בָרֲכוּ  and  bless 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: בָּרַךְ 
Sense: to bless, kneel.
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.
יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.