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Selected Verse: Psalms 134:1 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Ps 134:1 |
Strong Concordance |
A Song [07892] of degrees [04609]. Behold, bless [01288] ye the LORD [03068], all ye servants [05650] of the LORD [03068], which by night [03915] stand [05975] in the house [01004] of the LORD [03068]. |
|
King James |
A Song of degrees. Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Behold - As if calling attention to the fact that they were there, or had come.
Bless ye the Lord - Praise Yahweh. Making known their desire that God should be praised, and calling on those who presided over the public worship of the sanctuary to engage now in that service as expressive of their feelings.
All ye servants of the Lord - The priests or ministers of religion, appointed especially to this service.
Which by night stand in the house of the Lord - There was a class of singers in the temple who devoted the night, or a part of the night, to praise; and it is possible that this service may have been, as it was subsequently in some of the monasteries, continued by succeeding choirs, during the entire night. Thus in Ch1 9:33, it is said, "And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free, for they were employed in that work day and night." This class is particularly addressed in this psalm, as if they were especially favored, or as if they especially possessed the ear of God in the silence of the night, and when the world slumbered around them. There is something favorable to devotion in the silence of the night; when the world sleeps; when we are alone with God; when it seems as if God would more particularly attend to our cry since the rest of the world is still, and does not (as it were) need his care. All this may be fancy; but the effect may be to make the mind more solemn, and better suited for devotion. |
Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
The Psalm begins, like its predecessor, with הנּה; there is directs attention to an attractive phenomenon, here to a duty which springs from the office. For that it is not the persons frequenting the Temple who are addressed is at once clear from the fact that the tarrying of these in the Temple through the night, when such a thing did actually occur (Luk 2:37), was only an exception. And then, however, from the fact that עמד is the customary word for the service of the priests and Levites, Deu 10:8; Deu 18:7; Ch1 23:30; Ch2 29:11 (cf. on Isa 61:10, and Psa 110:4), which is also continued in the night, Ch1 9:33. Even the Targum refers Psa 134:1 to the Temple-watch. In the second Temple the matter was arranged thus. After midnight the chief over the gate-keepers took the keys of the inner Temple and went with some of the priests through the little wicket of the Fire Gate (שׁער בית המוקד). In the inner court this patrol divided into two companies, each with a burning torch; one company turned west, the other east, and so they compassed the court to see whether everything was in readiness for the service of the dawning day. At the bakers' chamber, in which the Mincha of the high priest was baked (לשׁכת עשׂי הביתין), they met with the cry: All is well. In the meanwhile the rest of the priests also arose, bathed, and put on their garments. Then they went into the stone chamber (one half of which was the place of session of the Sanhedrim), where, under the superintendence of the chief over the drawing of the lots and of a judge, around whom stood all the priests in their robes of office, the functions of the priests in the service of the coming day were assigned to them by lot (Luk 1:9). Accordingly Tholuck, with Kster, regards Psa 134:1. and Psa 134:3 as the antiphon of the Temple-watch going off duty and those coming on. It might also be the call and counter-call with which the watchmen greeted one another when they met. But according to the general keeping of the Psalm, Psa 134:1. have rather to be regarded as a call to devotion and intercession, which the congregation addresses to the priests and Levites entrusted with the night-service in the Temple. It is an error to suppose that "in the nights" can be equivalent to "early and late." If the Psalter contains Morning Psalms (Psa 3:1-8, Psa 63:1-11) and Evening Psalms (Psa 4:1-8, Psa 141:1-10), why should it then not contain a vigil Psalm? On this very ground Venema's idea too, that בּלּילות is syncopated from בּהלּילות, "with Hallels, i.e., praises," is useless. Nor is there any reason for drawing ἐν ταῖς νυξίν, as the lxx does, to Psa 134:2,
(Note: The lxx adjusts the shortening of Psa 134:1 arising from this, by reading בחצרות בית אלהינו העמדים בבית ה after Psa 135:2.)
or, what would be more natural, to the בּרכוּ that opens the Psalm, since it is surely not strange that, so long as the sanctuary was standing, a portion of the servants of God who ministered in it had to remain up at night to guard it, and to see to it that nothing was wanting in the preparations for the early service. That this ministering watching should be combined with devotional praying is the purport of the admonition in Psa 134:2. Raising suppliant hands (ידכם, negligently written for ידיכם) towards the Most Holy Place (τὰ ἅγια), they are to bless Jahve. קדשׁ (according to B. Sota 39a, the accusative of definition: in holiness, i.e., after washing of hands), in view of Psa 28:2; Psa 5:8; Psa 138:2 (cf. רום in Hab 3:10), has to be regarded as the accusative of the direction. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
Servant - Peculiarly so called, priests and Levites. Night - Not only by day, but also by night, when their watch was more necessary. Stand - Serve or minister. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Behold, bless ye the Lord - I believe הנה hinneh should be taken here in the sense of take heed! Be upon your guard; you serve a jealous God; provoke him not.
Which by night stand - Who minister during the night. |
33 And these are the singers [07891], chief [07218] of the fathers [01] of the Levites [03881], who remaining in the chambers [03957] were free [06362] [06359]: for they were employed in that work [04399] day [03119] and night [03915].
10 The mountains [02022] saw [07200] thee, and they trembled [02342]: the overflowing [02230] of the water [04325] passed by [05674]: the deep [08415] uttered [05414] his voice [06963], and lifted up [05375] his hands [03027] on high [07315].
2 I will worship [07812] toward thy holy [06944] temple [01964], and praise [03034] thy name [08034] for thy lovingkindness [02617] and for thy truth [0571]: for thou hast magnified [01431] thy word [0565] above all thy name [08034].
8 Lead [05148] me, O LORD [03068], in thy righteousness [06666] because of mine enemies [08324]; make thy way [01870] straight [03474] before my face [06440].
2 Hear [08085] the voice [06963] of my supplications [08469], when I cry [07768] unto thee, when I lift up [05375] my hands [03027] toward thy holy [06944] oracle [01687].
2 Lift up [05375] your hands [03027] in the sanctuary [06944], and bless [01288] the LORD [03068].
2 Ye that stand [05975] in the house [01004] of the LORD [03068], in the courts [02691] of the house [01004] of our God [0430],
1 A Song [07892] of degrees [04609]. Behold, bless [01288] ye the LORD [03068], all ye servants [05650] of the LORD [03068], which by night [03915] stand [05975] in the house [01004] of the LORD [03068].
2 Lift up [05375] your hands [03027] in the sanctuary [06944], and bless [01288] the LORD [03068].
1 A Psalm [04210] of David [01732]. LORD [03068], I cry [07121] unto thee: make haste [02363] unto me; give ear [0238] unto my voice [06963], when I cry [07121] unto thee.
2 Let my prayer [08605] be set forth [03559] before [06440] thee as incense [07004]; and the lifting up [04864] of my hands [03709] as the evening [06153] sacrifice [04503].
3 Set [07896] a watch [08108], O LORD [03068], before my mouth [06310]; keep [05341] the door [01817] of my lips [08193].
4 Incline [05186] not my heart [03820] to any evil [07451] thing [01697], to practise [05953] wicked [07562] works [05949] with men [0376] that work [06466] iniquity [0205]: and let me not eat [03898] of their dainties [04516].
5 Let the righteous [06662] smite [01986] me; it shall be a kindness [02617]: and let him reprove [03198] me; it shall be an excellent [07218] oil [08081], which shall not break [05106] my head [07218]: for yet my prayer [08605] also shall be in their calamities [07451].
6 When their judges [08199] are overthrown [08058] in stony [05553] places [03027], they shall hear [08085] my words [0561]; for they are sweet [05276].
7 Our bones [06106] are scattered [06340] at the grave's [07585] mouth [06310], as when one cutteth [06398] and cleaveth [01234] wood upon the earth [0776].
8 But mine eyes [05869] are unto thee, O GOD [03069] the Lord [0136]: in thee is my trust [02620]; leave [06168] not my soul [05315] destitute [06168].
9 Keep [08104] me from the snares [03027] [06341] which they have laid [03369] for me, and the gins [04170] of the workers [06466] of iniquity [0205].
10 Let the wicked [07563] fall [05307] into their own nets [04364], whilst that I withal [03162] escape [05674].
1 To the chief Musician [05329] on Neginoth [05058], A Psalm [04210] of David [01732]. Hear [06030] me when I call [07121], O God [0430] of my righteousness [06664]: thou hast enlarged [07337] me when I was in distress [06862]; have mercy [02603] upon me, and hear [08085] my prayer [08605].
2 O ye sons [01121] of men [0376], how long [05704] will ye turn my glory [03519] into shame [03639]? how long will ye love [0157] vanity [07385], and seek [01245] after leasing [03577]? Selah [05542].
3 But know [03045] that the LORD [03068] hath set apart [06395] him that is godly [02623] for himself: the LORD [03068] will hear [08085] when I call [07121] unto him.
4 Stand in awe [07264], and sin [02398] not: commune [0559] with your own heart [03824] upon your bed [04904], and be still [01826]. Selah [05542].
5 Offer [02076] the sacrifices [02077] of righteousness [06664], and put your trust [0982] in the LORD [03068].
6 There be many [07227] that say [0559], Who will shew [07200] us any good [02896]? LORD [03068], lift thou up [05375] the light [0216] of thy countenance [06440] upon us.
7 Thou hast put [05414] gladness [08057] in my heart [03820], more than in the time [06256] that their corn [01715] and their wine [08492] increased [07231].
8 I will both [03162] lay me down [07901] in peace [07965], and sleep [03462]: for thou, LORD [03068], only [0910] makest me dwell [03427] in safety [0983].
1 A Psalm [04210] of David [01732], when he was in the wilderness [04057] of Judah [03063]. O God [0430], thou art my God [0410]; early will I seek [07836] thee: my soul [05315] thirsteth [06770] for thee, my flesh [01320] longeth [03642] for thee in a dry [06723] and thirsty [05889] land [0776], where no [01097] water [04325] is;
2 To see [07200] thy power [05797] and thy glory [03519], so as I have seen [02372] thee in the sanctuary [06944].
3 Because thy lovingkindness [02617] is better [02896] than life [02416], my lips [08193] shall praise [07623] thee.
4 Thus will I bless [01288] thee while I live [02416]: I will lift up [05375] my hands [03709] in thy name [08034].
5 My soul [05315] shall be satisfied [07646] as with marrow [02459] and fatness [01880]; and my mouth [06310] shall praise [01984] thee with joyful [07445] lips [08193]:
6 When I remember [02142] thee upon my bed [03326], and meditate [01897] on thee in the night watches [0821].
7 Because thou hast been my help [05833], therefore in the shadow [06738] of thy wings [03671] will I rejoice [07442].
8 My soul [05315] followeth hard [01692] after [0310] thee: thy right hand [03225] upholdeth [08551] me.
9 But those that seek [01245] my soul [05315], to destroy [07722] it, shall go [0935] into the lower parts [08482] of the earth [0776].
10 They shall fall [05064] by the sword [03027] [02719]: they shall be a portion [04521] for foxes [07776].
11 But the king [04428] shall rejoice [08055] in God [0430]; every one that sweareth [07650] by him shall glory [01984]: but the mouth [06310] of them that speak [01696] lies [08267] shall be stopped [05534].
1 A Psalm [04210] of David [01732], when he fled [01272] from [06440] Absalom [053] his son [01121]. LORD [03068], how are they increased [07231] that trouble [06862] me! many [07227] are they that rise up [06965] against me.
2 Many [07227] there be which say [0559] of my soul [05315], There is no help [03444] for him in God [0430]. Selah [05542].
3 But thou, O LORD [03068], art a shield [04043] for me; my glory [03519], and the lifter up [07311] of mine head [07218].
4 I cried [07121] unto the LORD [03068] with my voice [06963], and he heard [06030] me out of his holy [06944] hill [02022]. Selah [05542].
5 I laid me down [07901] and slept [03462]; I awaked [06974]; for the LORD [03068] sustained [05564] me.
6 I will not be afraid [03372] of ten thousands [07233] of people [05971], that have set [07896] themselves against me round about [05439].
7 Arise [06965], O LORD [03068]; save [03467] me, O my God [0430]: for thou hast smitten [05221] all mine enemies [0341] upon the cheek bone [03895]; thou hast broken [07665] the teeth [08127] of the ungodly [07563].
8 Salvation [03444] belongeth unto the LORD [03068]: thy blessing [01293] is upon thy people [05971]. Selah [05542].
1 A Song [07892] of degrees [04609]. Behold, bless [01288] ye the LORD [03068], all ye servants [05650] of the LORD [03068], which by night [03915] stand [05975] in the house [01004] of the LORD [03068].
3 The LORD [03068] that made [06213] heaven [08064] and earth [0776] bless [01288] thee out of Zion [06726].
1 A Song [07892] of degrees [04609]. Behold, bless [01288] ye the LORD [03068], all ye servants [05650] of the LORD [03068], which by night [03915] stand [05975] in the house [01004] of the LORD [03068].
9 According [2596] to the custom [1485] of the priest's office [2405], his lot [2975] was to burn incense [2370] when he went [1525] into [1519] the temple [3485] of the Lord [2962].
1 A Song [07892] of degrees [04609]. Behold, bless [01288] ye the LORD [03068], all ye servants [05650] of the LORD [03068], which by night [03915] stand [05975] in the house [01004] of the LORD [03068].
33 And these are the singers [07891], chief [07218] of the fathers [01] of the Levites [03881], who remaining in the chambers [03957] were free [06362] [06359]: for they were employed in that work [04399] day [03119] and night [03915].
4 The LORD [03068] hath sworn [07650], and will not repent [05162], Thou art a priest [03548] for ever [05769] after the order [01700] of Melchizedek [04442].
10 I will greatly [07797] rejoice [07797] in the LORD [03068], my soul [05315] shall be joyful [01523] in my God [0430]; for he hath clothed [03847] me with the garments [0899] of salvation [03468], he hath covered [03271] me with the robe [04598] of righteousness [06666], as a bridegroom [02860] decketh [03547] himself with ornaments [06287], and as a bride [03618] adorneth [05710] herself with her jewels [03627].
11 My sons [01121], be not now negligent [07952]: for the LORD [03068] hath chosen [0977] you to stand [05975] before [06440] him, to serve [08334] him, and that ye should minister [08334] unto him, and burn incense [06999].
30 And to stand [05975] every morning [01242] to thank [03034] and praise [01984] the LORD [03068], and likewise at even [06153];
7 Then he shall minister [08334] in the name [08034] of the LORD [03068] his God [0430], as all his brethren [0251] the Levites [03881] do, which stand [05975] there before [06440] the LORD [03068].
8 At that time [06256] the LORD [03068] separated [0914] the tribe [07626] of Levi [03878], to bear [05375] the ark [0727] of the covenant [01285] of the LORD [03068], to stand [05975] before [06440] the LORD [03068] to minister [08334] unto him, and to bless [01288] in his name [08034], unto this day [03117].
37 And [2532] she [3778] was a widow [5503] of about [5613] fourscore [3589] and four [5064] years [2094], which [3739] departed [868] not [3756] from [575] the temple [2411], but served [3000] God with fastings [3521] and [2532] prayers [1162] night [3571] and [2532] day [2250].