NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 150:1-2 1Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty expanse.
2Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.
Psa 150:1-6 The only verb is “praise” (BDB 23:7 , B 24:8 ) used thirteen times.
1. twelve Piel imperatives (in Psalms 14:6-150 , thirty-three times)
2. one Piel imperfect used in a jussive sense (cf. Psa 150:6 a)
Notice the prepositions.
1. in a place
a. in His sanctuary
b. in His mighty expanse
2. because
a. His mighty deeds
b. His excellent greatness
3. with musical instruments (what type is not always clear)
a. trumpet (BDB 105:1 )
b. harp (BDB 49:0 , cf. 2Sa 6:5 )
c. lyre (BDB 61:4 , cf. 2Sa 6:5 )
d. timbrel (BDB 107:4 )
e. stringed instruments (BDB 57:7 I)
f. pipe (BDB 72:1 , NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 334)
g. cymbals (BDB 85:2 , cf. 2Sa 6:5 )
4. with dancing, Psa 150:4 5. with breath, Psa 150:6Psa 150:1 This verse may be a literary way of paralleling Psa 150:6 a.
The “sanctuary” (i.e., temple or on earth, cf. Psa 148:7-12 ; the LXX has “among His saints”) would denote earth and the “expanse” (the celestial realm, cf. Psa 148:1-4 ).
It is possible that both Psa 150:1 b and 1c refer to YHWH's (El in Psa 150:1 b) abode (cf. Psa 11:4 ).
Psa 150:2 “His mighty deeds” See notes on Psa 145:4-7 ; Psa 145:9 ; Psa 145:12 .
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 150:3-6 3Praise Him with trumpet sound;
Praise Him with harp and lyre.
4Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.
5Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with resounding cymbals.
6Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!
Psa 150:3 “trumpet” These are blown by priests. See SPECIAL TOPIC: HORNS USED BY ISRAEL <http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/special_topics/horns.html>.
▣ “harp and lyre” These were instruments used by the Levites in temple worship (cf. 1Ch 15:16 ; 2Ch 29:25 ; Neh 12:27 ).
Psa 150:6 a What a beautiful way to speak of animate creation (human and animal) praising the Creator (cf. Psa 103:19-22 ; Psa 145:21 ; Psa 148:7-12 .
