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Selected Verse: Psalms 149:6 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ps 149:6	Strong Concordance	Let the high [07319] praises of God [0410] be in their mouth [01627], and a twoedged [06374] sword [02719] in their hand [03027];
	King James	Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
high praises--or, "deeds." They shall go forth as religious warriors, as once religious laborers (Neh 4:17).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

high praises--or, "deeds." They shall go forth as religious warriors, as once religious laborers (Neh 4:17).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth - Margin, as in Hebrew, in their throat. Literally, "Praises of God in their throat; and a sword of two edges in their hand." That is, In the very work of executing the purposes of God on his enemies, there should be the feeling and the language of praise. Their hearts should be full of confidence in God; they should feel that they are engaged in his service; and while they defend themselves, or inflict punishment on the enemies of God, they should chant His praise. The idea is, that even in the work of war they might feel that they were engaged in the service of God, and that the passions usual in war should be subdued and kept under by the consciousness that they are mere instruments in the hand of God to accomplish His purposes. Perhaps the Hebrew word rendered "high praises" - רוממה rômemâh - may imply more than mere praise. It may embrace anything that is lofty and exalted, and may mean here that they would have the consciousness that they were engaged in high and lofty aims; that they were carrying out the great designs of God; that they were executing purposes more momentous than their own could be - even the eternal purposes of the Most High. This would give an importance, a dignity, an elevation to their conduct which could spring from no other source. And a two-edged sword in their hand - literally, a sword of edges; that is, a sword with an edge on both sides of the blade. Roman swords were often made in this manner. They were made for piercing as well as for striking. See the notes at Heb 4:12.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The glance is here directed to the future. The people of the present have again, in their God, attained to a lofty self-consciousness, the consciousness of their destiny, viz., to subjugate the whole world of nations to the God of Israel. In the presence of the re-exaltation which they have experienced their throat is full of words and songs exalting Jahve (רוממות, plural of רומם, or, according to another reading, רומם, Psa 56:1-13 :17), and as servants of this God, the rightful Lord of all the heathen (Psa 82:8), they hold in their hand a many-mouthed, i.e., many edged sword (vid., supra, p. 580), in order to take the field on behalf of the true religion, as the Maccabees actually did, not long after: ταῖς μὲν χερσὶν ἀγωνιζόμενοι ταῖς δὲ καρδίαις πρὸς τὸν Θεόν εὐχόμενοι (2 Macc. 15:27). The meaning of Psa 149:9 becomes a different one, according as we take this line as co-ordinate or subordinate to what goes before. Subordinated, it would imply the execution of a penal jurisdiction over those whom they carried away, and כּתוּב would refer to prescriptive facts such as are recorded in Num 31:8; Sa1 15:32. (Hitzig). But it would become the religious lyric poet least of all to entertain such an unconditional prospect of the execution of the conquered worldly rulers. There is just as little ground for thinking of the judgment of extermination pronounced upon the nations of Canaan, which was pronounced upon them for an especial reason. If Psa 149:9 is taken as co-ordinate, the "written judgment" (Recht) consists in the complete carrying out of the subjugation; and this is commended by the perfectly valid parallel, Isa 45:14. The poet, however, in connection with the expression "written," has neither this nor that passage of Scripture in his mind, but the testimony of the Law and of prophecy in general, that all kingdoms shall become God's and His Christ's. Subjugation (and certainly not without bloodshed) is the scriptural משׁפּט for the execution of which Jahve makes use of His own nation. Because the God who thus vindicates Himself is Israel's God, this subjugation of the world is הדר, splendour and glory, to all who are in love devoted to Him. The glorifying of Jahve is also the glorifying of Israel.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

The glance is here directed to the future. The people of the present have again, in their God, attained to a lofty self-consciousness, the consciousness of their destiny, viz., to subjugate the whole world of nations to the God of Israel. In the presence of the re-exaltation which they have experienced their throat is full of words and songs exalting Jahve (רוממות, plural of רומם, or, according to another reading, רומם, Psa 56:1-13 :17), and as servants of this God, the rightful Lord of all the heathen (Psa 82:8), they hold in their hand a many-mouthed, i.e., many edged sword (vid., supra, p. 580), in order to take the field on behalf of the true religion, as the Maccabees actually did, not long after: ταῖς μὲν χερσὶν ἀγωνιζόμενοι ταῖς δὲ καρδίαις πρὸς τὸν Θεόν εὐχόμενοι (2 Macc. 15:27). The meaning of Psa 149:9 becomes a different one, according as we take this line as co-ordinate or subordinate to what goes before. Subordinated, it would imply the execution of a penal jurisdiction over those whom they carried away, and כּתוּב would refer to prescriptive facts such as are recorded in Num 31:8; Sa1 15:32. (Hitzig). But it would become the religious lyric poet least of all to entertain such an unconditional prospect of the execution of the conquered worldly rulers. There is just as little ground for thinking of the judgment of extermination pronounced upon the nations of Canaan, which was pronounced upon them for an especial reason. If Psa 149:9 is taken as co-ordinate, the "written judgment" (Recht) consists in the complete carrying out of the subjugation; and this is commended by the perfectly valid parallel, Isa 45:14. The poet, however, in connection with the expression "written," has neither this nor that passage of Scripture in his mind, but the testimony of the Law and of prophecy in general, that all kingdoms shall become God's and His Christ's. Subjugation (and certainly not without bloodshed) is the scriptural משׁפּט for the execution of which Jahve makes use of His own nation. Because the God who thus vindicates Himself is Israel's God, this subjugation of the world is הדר, splendour and glory, to all who are in love devoted to Him. The glorifying of Jahve is also the glorifying of Israel.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Let the high praises of God - Let them sing songs the most sublime, with the loudest noise consistent with harmony. And a two-edged sword in their hand - Perhaps there is an allusion here to the manner in which the Jews were obliged to labor in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem: "Every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon," Neh 4:17. The two-edged sword, in Hebrew, is פיפיות pipiyoth, "mouth mouths."

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¹⁷ They which builded [01129] on the wall [02346], and they that bare [05375] burdens [05447], with those that laded [06006], every one with one [0259] of his hands [03027] wrought [06213] in the work [04399], and with the other [0259] hand held [02388] a weapon [07973].

¹² For [1063] the word [3056] of God [2316] is quick [2198], and [2532] powerful [1756], and [2532] sharper [5114] than [5228] any [3956] twoedged [1366] sword [3162], piercing [1338] even to [891] the dividing asunder [3311] of soul [5590] and [5037] [2532] spirit [4151], and [5037] [2532] of the joints [719] and [2532] marrow [3452], and [2532] is a discerner [2924] of the thoughts [1761] and [2532] intents [1771] of the heart [2588].

¹⁴ Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068], The labour [03018] of Egypt [04714], and merchandise [05505] of Ethiopia [03568] and of the Sabeans [05436], men [0582] of stature [04060], shall come over [05674] unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come [03212] after [0310] thee; in chains [02131] they shall come over [05674], and they shall fall down [07812] unto thee, they shall make supplication [06419] unto thee, saying, Surely God [0410] is in thee; and there is none else, there is no [0657] God [0430].

⁹ To execute [06213] upon them the judgment [04941] written [03789]: this honour [01926] have all his saints [02623]. Praise [01984] ye the LORD [03050].

³² Then said [0559] Samuel [08050], Bring ye hither [05066] to me Agag [090] the king [04428] of the Amalekites [06002]. And Agag [090] came [03212] unto him delicately [04574]. And Agag [090] said [0559], Surely [0403] the bitterness [04751] of death [04194] is past [05493].

⁸ And they slew [02026] the kings [04428] of Midian [04080], beside [05921] the rest of them that were slain [02491]; namely, Evi [0189], and Rekem [07552], and Zur [06698], and Hur [02354], and Reba [07254], five [02568] kings [04428] of Midian [04080]: Balaam [01109] also the son [01121] of Beor [01160] they slew [02026] with the sword [02719].

⁹ To execute [06213] upon them the judgment [04941] written [03789]: this honour [01926] have all his saints [02623]. Praise [01984] ye the LORD [03050].

⁸ Arise [06965], O God [0430], judge [08199] the earth [0776]: for thou shalt inherit [05157] all nations [01471].

¹ To the chief Musician [05329] upon Jonathelemrechokim [03128], Michtam [04387] of David [01732], when the Philistines [06430] took [0270] him in Gath [01661]. Be merciful [02603] unto me, O God [0430]: for man [0582] would swallow me up [07602]; he fighting [03898] daily [03117] oppresseth [03905] me.
² Mine enemies [08324] would daily [03117] swallow [07602] me up: for they be many [07227] that fight [03898] against me, O thou most High [04791].
³ What time [03117] I am afraid [03372], I will trust [0982] in thee.
⁴ In God [0430] I will praise [01984] his word [01697], in God [0430] I have put my trust [0982]; I will not fear [03372] what flesh [01320] can do [06213] unto me.
⁵ Every day [03117] they wrest [06087] my words [01697]: all their thoughts [04284] are against me for evil [07451].
⁶ They gather themselves together [01481], they hide [06845] [06845] themselves, they mark [08104] my steps [06119], when they wait [06960] for my soul [05315].
⁷ Shall they escape [06405] by iniquity [0205]? in thine anger [0639] cast down [03381] the people [05971], O God [0430].
⁸ Thou tellest [05608] my wanderings [05112]: put [07760] thou my tears [01832] into thy bottle [04997]: are they not in thy book [05612]?
⁹ When [03117] I cry [07121] unto thee, then shall mine enemies [0341] turn [07725] back [0268]: this I know [03045]; for God [0430] is for me.
¹⁰ In God [0430] will I praise [01984] his word [01697]: in the LORD [03068] will I praise [01984] his word [01697].
¹¹ In God [0430] have I put my trust [0982]: I will not be afraid [03372] what man [0120] can do [06213] unto me.
¹² Thy vows [05088] are upon me, O God [0430]: I will render [07999] praises [08426] unto thee.
¹³ For thou hast delivered [05337] my soul [05315] from death [04194]: wilt not thou deliver my feet [07272] from falling [01762], that I may walk [01980] before [06440] God [0430] in the light [0216] of the living [02416]?