A psalm of praise opening with Hallelujah, calling Israel to sing a new song and praise Hashem with dance and music, and to execute the judgment written against the nations.
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
Hallelujah. Sing to Hashem a new song, And His praise in the assembly of the saints.
verse value 2590
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 36 letters. Notable word values: "praise·Hashem" (הַ֥לְלוּ־יָ֨הּ) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "song" (שִׁ֣יר, 3 letters) and the longest is "praise·Hashem" (הַ֥לְלוּ־יָ֨הּ, 6 letters). The root שיר appears 2 times in this verse. 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·Hashem" (root יהוה, 688x in Psalms); "praise·Hashem" (root הלל, 94x in Psalms); "sing" (root שיר, 68x in Psalms). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'new', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 3 words. Full calculation: הַ֥לְלוּ־יָ֨הּ [praise·Hashem] (86) + שִׁ֣ירוּ [sing] (516) + לַֽ֭יהֹוָה [to·Hashem] (56) + שִׁ֣יר [song] (510) + חָדָ֑שׁ [new] (312) + תְּ֝הִלָּת֗וֹ [His·praise] (841) + בִּקְהַ֥ל [in·the·assembly·of] (137) + חֲסִידִֽים [faithful] (132) = 2590.
Ibn Ezra
"Hallelujah" — because of this glory that Hashem has given to you alone, "sing to Him a new song."
Radak
"Hallelujah" — he says this directed toward Israel. "Sing to Hashem a new song" — meaning, they shall not be satisfied with these songs that are already written, but they shall compose a new song for Him. "His praise" — shall be spoken in the assembly of the pious, who are Israel.
Metzudat David
"His praise" — His praise shall be told in the assembly of the saints.
Malbim
"Sing to Hashem a new song" — after he mentioned the praise of the saints, that they are near to Hashem and that He walks in their midst, he says that they shall sing to Hashem a new song, "His praise in the assembly of the saints" — that the song shall be sung concerning the fact that they are a people near to Him, for this is the praise of the saints: that they are near to Hashem.
Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
verse value 1696
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 31 letters. The shortest word is "let·him·rejoice" (יִשְׂמַ֣ח, 4 letters) and the longest is "sons·of·Zion" (בְּנֵֽי־צִ֝יּ֗וֹן, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Psalms. Unique to this verse in Psalms (hapax): "in·his·Maker" (בְּעֹשָׂ֑יו), "sons·of·Zion" (בְּנֵֽי־צִ֝יּ֗וֹן), "in·their·King" (בְמַלְכָּֽם). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "in·his·Maker" (root עשה, 109x in Psalms); "in·their·King" (root מלך, 70x in Psalms); "sons·of·Zion" (root בן, 62x in Psalms). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·his·Maker', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: יִשְׂמַ֣ח [let·him·rejoice] (358) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל [Israel] (541) + בְּעֹשָׂ֑יו [in·his·Maker] (388) + בְּנֵֽי־צִ֝יּ֗וֹן [sons·of·Zion] (218) + יָגִ֥ילוּ [let·them·rejoice] (59) + בְמַלְכָּֽם [in·their·King] (132) = 1696.
Ibn Ezra
"Let Israel rejoice in his Makers" — [this is] plural in form, in the manner of "for your Husband is your Maker" (Isaiah 54:5), like the word "Elohim"; and I have already explained it in the portion of Bereishit (Genesis).
Radak
"Let Israel rejoice ... in his Maker" — the plural form is used as an expression of glory; and so too, "Where is God my Maker?"
Metzudat David
"In his Maker" — With the help of the One who made him great.
Metzudat Zion
"In his Maker" (בעושיו) — [meaning] in the One who raises and exalts us, as in "it is He that made us" (הוא עשנו) (above, Psalm 100). "Let them be joyful" (יגילו) — [meaning] let them rejoice.
Malbim
"Let... rejoice" — and then, at the time "that Israel rejoices in his Maker," meaning, that he shall rejoice in Hashem inasmuch as He made him into a people for Himself, as it is written, "It is He that made us, and we are His" — then "the children of Zion," who are the saints and those near to Hashem, "shall be joyful in their King." And it has been explained by me that there is a difference between joy [gil] and rejoicing [simchah]: gil denotes joy over something new, and the children of Zion shall continually experience a new gil, for their King walks in their midst, and they attain Him each time, level after level: "they go from strength to strength, every one of them appears before God in Zion."
Let them praise His name in the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.
verse value 1576
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 28 letters. Notable word values: "in·dance" (בְמָח֑וֹל) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "His·name" (שְׁמ֣וֹ, 3 letters) and the longest is "let·them·sing·to·Him" (יְזַמְּרוּ־לֽוֹ, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Psalms. Unique to this verse in Psalms (hapax): "in·dance" (בְמָח֑וֹל), "let·them·sing·to·Him" (יְזַמְּרוּ־לֽוֹ). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "His·name" (root שם, 119x in Psalms); "let·them·praise" (root הלל, 94x in Psalms); "let·them·sing·to·Him" (root זמר, 41x in Psalms). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·dance', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: יְהַלְל֣וּ [let·them·praise] (81) + שְׁמ֣וֹ [His·name] (346) + בְמָח֑וֹל [in·dance] (86) + בְּתֹ֥ף [with·timbrel] (482) + וְ֝כִנּ֗וֹר [and·lyre] (282) + יְזַמְּרוּ־לֽוֹ [let·them·sing·to·Him] (299) = 1576.
Ibn Ezra
"Let them praise" — for He has no desire in all the earth, but only in His people alone.
Radak
"Let them praise His name" — with the mouth and with musical instruments they shall praise His name.
Metzudat Zion
"With dance, with timbrel and harp" (במחול בתוף וכנור) — these are names of musical instruments.
Malbim
"Let them praise His name in the dance" — and at the time when they perform a dance and make music before the dance, "with timbrel and harp" (with which they were accustomed to make music at the time of the joy of the dance, as it is written, "and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances"), then "let them praise His name" at the time of the dance. (For the dance alludes to what is said, that in the future the Holy One, blessed be He, will be the head of the dance [rosh cholah] for the righteous — that He will be at the head of the circle-dance, and they will circle around the dance until they reach before Him, to be "a people near to Him.")
For Hashem takes pleasure in His people; He adorns the humble with salvation.
verse value 1335
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 29 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֣ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֣ה, 4 letters) and the longest is "for·takes·pleasure" (כִּֽי־רוֹצֶ֣ה, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Psalms. Unique to this verse in Psalms (hapax): "for·takes·pleasure" (כִּֽי־רוֹצֶ֣ה), "He·glorifies" (יְפָאֵ֥ר), "with·salvation" (בִּישׁוּעָֽה). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 688x in Psalms); "in·His·people" (root עם, 135x in Psalms); "with·salvation" (root ישועה, 44x in Psalms). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·His·people', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: כִּֽי־רוֹצֶ֣ה [for·takes·pleasure] (331) + יְהֹוָ֣ה [Hashem] (26) + בְּעַמּ֑וֹ [in·His·people] (118) + יְפָאֵ֥ר [He·glorifies] (291) + עֲ֝נָוִ֗ים [humble] (176) + בִּישׁוּעָֽה [with·salvation] (393) = 1335.
Radak
"For" — it is more fitting for them to give praise than for any other people, on account of the salvation with which He saved them, because He took pleasure in them above every [other] people, since they are more humble than every [other] people.
Metzudat David
"For [Hashem] takes pleasure" — Now it is seen by all that Hashem takes pleasure in His people, and He shall adorn the humble with salvation.
Metzudat Zion
"He adorns" (יפאר) — related to the words "glory" (פאר) and "beauty" (יופי).
Malbim
"For Hashem takes pleasure in His people" — that He shall take pleasure in the people as a whole; "and the humble," who are the righteous, "He adorns with salvation" — to the point that He Himself shall be to them a glory and an honor, as it is written, "and I will be a glory in her midst."
Let the saints exult in glory; Let them sing for joy upon their beds.
verse value 1513
Insights
Verse structure: 5 words, 30 letters. The shortest word is "let·them·exult" (יַעְלְז֣וּ, 5 letters) and the longest is "upon·their·beds" (עַל־מִשְׁכְּבוֹתָֽם, 9 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Psalms. Unique to this verse in Psalms (hapax): "upon·their·beds" (עַל־מִשְׁכְּבוֹתָֽם). 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "in·glory" (root כבוד, 52x in Psalms); "faithful" (root חסיד, 25x in Psalms); "let·them·sing·for·joy" (root רנן, 25x in Psalms). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·glory', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 2 words. Full calculation: יַעְלְז֣וּ [let·them·exult] (123) + חֲסִידִ֣ים [faithful] (132) + בְּכָב֑וֹד [in·glory] (34) + יְ֝רַנְּנ֗וּ [let·them·sing·for·joy] (316) + עַל־מִשְׁכְּבוֹתָֽם [upon·their·beds] (908) = 1513.
Ibn Ezra
"Let them exult" — in this glory, that they shall stand forever. And the meaning is: concerning their souls, or concerning the future to come. And the meaning of "let them sing for joy upon their beds" is when they are in solitude at night.
Radak
"Let [them] exult" — Israel, who are pious toward God, on account of their glory and their rest, which shall endure forever. "Their beds" — their resting place.
Metzudat David
"In glory" — On account of the glory that comes to Hashem. "Upon their beds" — Upon their resting place, for it is on the bed that a person rests; that is to say, they shall sing joyfully to Hashem when they are at rest in their land.
Metzudat Zion
"Let them exult" (יעלזו) — [meaning] let them rejoice.
Malbim
"Let... exult" — and "the saints shall exult" in this great "glory," and in the glory of Hashem that hovers over them, to the point that "they shall sing for joy upon their beds" — for even after the dance, when they lie down to rest, they shall continue to sing for joy from the abundance of their joy. And this alludes to the fact that even at the time of expiring and lying in the grave they shall sing for joy — for one whose soul cleaved to Hashem in life shall die the death of a [Divine] kiss, and shall cling to Him in song, joy, and great praise, as is known.
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand;
verse value 1882
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 28 letters. The shortest word is "God" (אֵ֭ל, 2 letters) and the longest is "the·high·praises·of" (רוֹמְמ֣וֹת, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Psalms. Unique to this verse in Psalms (hapax): "the·high·praises·of" (רוֹמְמ֣וֹת), "double-edged" (פִּיפִיּ֣וֹת), "in·their·hand" (בְּיָדָֽם). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "God" (root אל, 112x in Psalms); "in·their·hand" (root יד, 78x in Psalms); "and·sword" (root חרב, 21x in Psalms). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·their·throat', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: רוֹמְמ֣וֹת [the·high·praises·of] (692) + אֵ֭ל [God] (31) + בִּגְרוֹנָ֑ם [in·their·throat] (301) + וְחֶ֖רֶב [and·sword] (216) + פִּיפִיּ֣וֹת [double-edged] (586) + בְּיָדָֽם [in·their·hand] (56) = 1882.
Rashi
"Lofty praises of God in their throats" — and they will be for them a double-edged sword.
Ibn Ezra
"Exaltations" — Rabbi Moshe said: that they shall praise Hashem when they go into battle. And Rabbi Yeshuah said: "the exaltations of God are in their throat," just as "a two-edged sword is in their hand."
Radak
"The high praises of God" — when they go out to war against Gog and Magog, thus shall they exalt God for having brought them out of exile; prayer shall be in their mouths and a sword in their hand. And the meaning of "two-edged" (pifiyot) is: a sword with two edges, which kills from both sides. And he says "in their throat," because they shall cry out in their prayer.
Metzudat David
"The high praises of God are in their throat" — In their throat they shall recount the exaltation of God, and this shall be [like] a two-edged sword in their hand; that is to say, through this you shall prevail over the enemy, as if they held in their hand a sword with two edges, sharpened on both sides.
Metzudat Zion
"In their throat" (בגרונם) — [meaning] in their neck. "Two-edged" (פיפיות) — the sharpened edge of a sword is called a "mouth" (פה), as in "and it had two edges" (ולה שתי פיות) (Judges 3).
Malbim
(6-7) 'Exaltation' — 'in their throat' will be 'the exaltation of God,' and 'in their hand' will be 'a two-edged sword.' He explains that the two-edged sword will be in their hand 'to execute vengeance upon the nations,' while the exaltation of God in their throat is 'rebukes among the peoples' — for through the exaltation of God they will contend with the peoples and clarify for them the truth of the faith by showing them the exaltation of God and His mighty acts. It is always explained by us that 'peoples' (le'umim) designates nations that possess a religion, who will come to contend about the faith, whereas the 'nations' (goyim) will come to wage war, and vengeance will be wrought upon them with the two-edged sword.
To execute vengeance upon the nations, And chastisements upon the peoples;
verse value 2025
Insights
Verse structure: 5 words, 26 letters. Verse gematria: 2025 = 45². The shortest word is "vengeance" (נְ֭קָמָה, 4 letters) and the longest is "rebukes" (תּ֝וֹכֵח֗וֹת, 6 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Psalms. Unique to this verse in Psalms (hapax): "vengeance" (נְ֭קָמָה). 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·do" (root עשה, 109x in Psalms); "in·the·nations" (root גוי, 59x in Psalms). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·the·nations', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 2 words. Full calculation: לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת [to·do] (806) + נְ֭קָמָה [vengeance] (195) + בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם [in·the·nations] (61) + תּ֝וֹכֵח֗וֹת [rebukes] (840) + בַּלְאֻמִּֽים [in·the·peoples] (123) = 2025.
Ibn Ezra
"To execute" — the meaning is to bring them back to serve Hashem with a single shoulder [in unanimous consent]; and this [will be] in the days of the Messiah.
Radak
"Chastisements" — that they shall argue with their kings as to why this has come upon them.
Metzudat Zion
"Chastisements" (תוכחות) — an expression of the judgment of afflictions, as in "and he is chastened with pain" (והוכח במכאוב) (Job 33).
To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron;
verse value 1035
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 32 letters. The shortest word is "to·bind" (לֶאְסֹ֣ר, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·their·nobles" (וְ֝נִכְבְּדֵיהֶ֗ם, 8 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Psalms. Unique to this verse in Psalms (hapax): "with·chains" (בְּזִקִּ֑ים), "and·their·nobles" (וְ֝נִכְבְּדֵיהֶ֗ם), "with·fetters·of" (בְּכַבְלֵ֥י). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "their·kings" (root מלך, 70x in Psalms). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'with·chains', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: לֶאְסֹ֣ר [to·bind] (291) + מַלְכֵיהֶ֣ם [their·kings] (145) + בְּזִקִּ֑ים [with·chains] (159) + וְ֝נִכְבְּדֵיהֶ֗ם [and·their·nobles] (137) + בְּכַבְלֵ֥י [with·fetters·of] (64) + בַרְזֶֽל [iron] (239) = 1035.
Rashi
"with chains" — Heb. בזקים, chains.
Ibn Ezra
"To bind" — after he mentioned "to execute vengeance on the nations," he also mentions their kings, in the manner of: "and their kings led away."
Radak
"To bind" — they shall capture their kings and their nobles alive and bind them with fetters and with chains of iron.
Metzudat David
"And their nobles" — The honored ones among them.
Metzudat Zion
"To bind" (לאסור) — an expression of tying up for imprisonment. "With chains" (בזקים) — a kind of shackles and chains, as in "he being bound in chains" (והוא אסור בזקים) (Jeremiah 40:1). "With fetters" (בכבלי) — like chains.
Malbim
(8-9) 'To bind' — that they shall bind the kings of the seven nations of Canaan with fetters, 'to execute upon them the judgment' written in the Torah — 'He will give their kings into your hand, and you shall destroy their name' — and this should not appear to be cruelty, for 'it is glory to all His pious ones' who fulfilled it according to the command of Hashem, and did not follow the inquiry of human intellect and its judgments — like Saul, who had pity on Agag and on the best of the sheep and cattle.
To execute upon them the judgment written; He is the glory of all His saints. Hallelujah.
verse value 2195
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 37 letters. Notable word values: "praise·Hashem" (הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "in·them" (בָּהֶ֨ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "of·all·His·faithful" (לְכׇל־חֲסִידָ֗יו, 9 letters). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·do" (root עשה, 109x in Psalms); "praise·Hashem" (root הלל, 94x in Psalms); "in·them" (root הם, 69x in Psalms). Full calculation: לַעֲשׂ֤וֹת [to·do] (806) + בָּהֶ֨ם [in·them] (47) + מִשְׁפָּ֬ט [judgment] (429) + כָּת֗וּב [written] (428) + הָדָ֣ר [glory] (209) + ה֭וּא [He] (12) + לְכׇל־חֲסִידָ֗יו [of·all·His·faithful] (178) + הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ [praise·Hashem] (86) = 2195.
Rashi
"a written judgment" — (Ezek. 2:14) “And I shall lay My vengeance, etc.” If you ask [challenge] that Ezekiel was not yet born when David said this, [I will answer that] David prophesied about the end of the redemption, and when the end comes, the judgment will have been written for a long time.
Ibn Ezra
"To execute" — they shall execute against them the judgment that was written, for a later generation, so that this shall be a glory for all His pious ones.
Radak
"Glory" (hadar) — this is the judgment decreed against them, or that which is written in the Torah and in the Prophets. That day itself is "hadar" — may there be glory for all Israel, and over it, "Hallelujah."
Metzudat David
"The judgment written" — The judgment that is written; and even though in David's days it was not yet written, nevertheless he said "written," because in the days of the redemption it will already be written. "He is the glory" — This judgment shall be a glory for all His saints. "Hallelujah" — Therefore, praise Yah.
Ibn Ezra
Radak
Metzudat David
Malbim