Psalm 149, Dancing with Swords

We close out the psalter with five hymns of praise. Each begins and ends with hal·lū-YAH ("Hallelujah!") The last verse of the last psalm praised God for raising up the people of Israel, a people close to His heart.  This psalm elaborates on that theme.

Psalm 149:1, A new song

Praise the LORD.

Sing to the LORD a new song, 

his praise in the assembly of the saints.

Like a number of other psalms (see 33:3, 96:1, 98:1), call us to praise YHWH with a new song, emphasizing creative praise.

Psalm 149:2-3, Rejoice and dance

Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; 

let the people of Zion be glad in their King.

 Let them praise his name with dancing 

and make music to him with tambourine and harp.

Praising God includes dancing and singing to him with music, including tambourine, harp and dancing.

Psalm 149:4-5, He crowns the humble

For the LORD takes delight in his people; 

he crowns the humble with salvation.

 Let the saints rejoice in this honor 

and sing for joy on their beds.

YHWH watches over His people and gives salvation to the "humble", those who lean on Him, who rejoice in Him and sing for joy even on their beds (mishkab, מִשְׁכָּב, "couches", translates Alter.)

Psalm 149:6-9, Enemy defeated

May the praise of God be in their mouths 

and a double-edged sword in their hands,

 to inflict vengeance on the nations 

and punishment on the peoples,

 to bind their kings with fetters,

 their nobles with shackles of iron,

 to carry out the sentence written against them. 

This is the glory of all his saints. 

Praise the LORD.

The people of God are to praise God with their mouths while holding double-edged swords. The military images here are strong, with "vengeance" and "punishment" on opposing kingdoms, placing enemy kings in irons. Israel, the people of God, will be victorious against the nations around them.

First published December 5, 2025; updated December 5, 2025