The Meaning of Psalms 149:7 Explained

Psalms 149:7

KJV: To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;

YLT: To do vengeance among nations, Punishments among the peoples.

Darby: To execute vengeance against the nations, and punishment among the peoples;

ASV: To execute vengeance upon the nations, And punishments upon the peoples;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

To execute  vengeance  upon the heathen,  [and] punishments  upon the people; 

What does Psalms 149:7 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 149:7 mean?

to execute vengeance on the nations and punishments on the peoples
לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת נְ֭קָמָה בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם תּֽ֝וֹכֵחֹ֗ת בַּל־ אֻמִּֽים

לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת  to  execute 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
נְ֭קָמָה  vengeance 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נְקָמָה  
Sense: vengeance.
בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם  on  the  nations 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
תּֽ֝וֹכֵחֹ֗ת  and  punishments 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: תֹּוכֵחָה 
Sense: rebuke, correction, reproof, punishment, chastisement.
אֻמִּֽים  the  peoples 
Parse: Adverb
Root: לְאֹם  
Sense: a people, nation.