The Meaning of Psalms 148:11 Explained

Psalms 148:11

KJV: Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:

YLT: Kings of earth, and all peoples, Chiefs, and all judges of earth,

Darby: Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth;

ASV: Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Kings  of the earth,  and all people;  princes,  and all judges  of the earth: 

What does Psalms 148:11 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 148:11 mean?

Kings of the earth and all peoples Princes judges of the earth
מַלְכֵי־ אֶ֭רֶץ וְכָל־ לְאֻמִּ֑ים שָׂ֝רִ֗ים שֹׁ֥פְטֵי אָֽרֶץ

מַלְכֵי־  Kings 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
אֶ֭רֶץ  of  the  earth 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
וְכָל־  and  all 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
לְאֻמִּ֑ים  peoples 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: לְאֹם  
Sense: a people, nation.
שָׂ֝רִ֗ים  Princes 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: סָרַר 
Sense: prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain.
שֹׁ֥פְטֵי  judges 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: שָׁפַט  
Sense: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish.
אָֽרֶץ  of  the  earth 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.