Psalm 149:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!

NIV: Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp.

NASB: They shall praise His name with dancing; They shall sing praises to Him with tambourine and lyre.

CSB: Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and lyre.

NLT: Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp.

KJV: Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

NKJV: Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.

The psalmist continues (Psalm 149:1–2) to instruct the nation of Israel to praise the Lord. Here, this includes a call for dancing and music. The Lord's "name," in this case, means more than the sounds or letters used to identify Him. It represents His reputation, His nature, and His will (Deuteronomy 5:11; 18:22; Psalm 25:11; 96:8).

The Lord's people in the Old Testament era were accustomed to showing their enthusiasm by singing and dancing. For example, when David defeated the Philistines, the women poured out of Israel's cities to meet King Saul with singing and dancing (1 Samuel 18:6). They celebrated joyfully, playing tambourines and musical instruments. Second Samuel 6:14 portrays David as rejoicing and dancing with great energy when he brought the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom. Here, the psalmist also encourages Israelites to use musical instruments in their praise. The music was not to be random or chaotic, but melodic. The Lord wants worship and service to be "done decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40). Ephesians 5:19 exhorts believers to address one another "in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart."

Psalm 149:1–5 summons Israel to praise the Lord, their Creator and King. The praise should be joyful and include dancing and singing—even when resting in bed. The Lord takes special pleasure in His chosen people, especially those who remain humble and accept His salvation.

The psalmist calls on Israel to praise the Lord God who is their King. He celebrates the Lord's special concern for Israel and expects the people to respond with joy. The song also calls on Israel—the Old Testament nation—to live out God's commands to overcome the depraved nations of Canaan as they were instructed after the exodus (Deuteronomy 7:2; 9:5). This will fulfill prophecy and be a source of honor for those who obey God.

The English word "hallelujah" comes from the Hebrew expression halelu-yāh. This unique phrase only occurs biblically in the book of Psalms; many instances are in the last five entries (Psalms 146—150). Each of these last songs begins and ends with this phrase which literally means "praise the Lord!" The later verses call on the Old Testament people of Israel to fulfill their intended role as instruments of the Lord's vengeance on evil nations (Deuteronomy 7:2; 9:5; Ezekiel 25:14).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.