Psalms 148:3
Psalms 148:3 in Multiple Translations
Praise Him, O sun and moon; praise Him, all you shining stars.
Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
Praise ye him, sun and moon: Praise him, all ye stars of light.
Give praise to him, you sun and moon: give praise to him, all you stars of light.
Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you shining stars!
Prayse ye him, sunne and moone: prayse ye him all bright starres.
Praise ye Him, sun and moon, Praise ye Him, all stars of light.
Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
Praise ye him, O sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars and light.
Sun and moon, you also praise him! You shining stars, you praise him!
Berean Amplified Bible — Psalms 148:3
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Psalms 148:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
הַֽ֭לְלוּ/הוּ
שֶׁ֣מֶשׁ
וְ/יָרֵ֑חַ
הַ֝לְל֗וּ/הוּ
כָּל
כּ֥וֹכְבֵי
אֽוֹר
הַֽ֭לְלוּ/הוּ
hâlal
H1984
to shine
V-Piel-Impv-2mp | Suff
שֶׁ֣מֶשׁ
shemesh
H8121
sun
N-cs
וְ/יָרֵ֑חַ
yârêach
H3394
moon
Conj | N-ms
הַ֝לְל֗וּ/הוּ
hâlal
H1984
to shine
V-Piel-Impv-2mp | Suff
כָּל
kôl
H3605
all
N-ms
כּ֥וֹכְבֵי
kôwkâb
H3556
star
N-mp
אֽוֹר
ʼôwr
H216
light
N-cs
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Psalms 148:3
הַֽ֭לְלוּ/הוּ
hâlal
H1984
"to shine"
V-Piel-Impv-2mp | Suff
To be foolish means to act wildly or make a show, like the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:29. It can also mean to celebrate or boast, as in Psalm 38:5.
Definition: 1) to shine 1a) (Qal) to shine (fig. of God's favour) 1b) (Hiphil) to flash forth light
Usage: Occurs in 140 OT verses. KJV: (make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool(-ish, -ly), glory, give (light), be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, (sing, be worthy of) praise, rage, renowned, shine. See also: Genesis 12:15; Psalms 113:1; Psalms 5:6.
שֶׁ֣מֶשׁ
shemesh
H8121
"sun"
N-cs
The sun, or shemesh, represents not just the celestial body, but also east or west direction, and even objects that shine like battlements. It is often used to describe the rising or setting of the sun.
Definition: 1) sun 1a) sun 1b) sunrise, sun-rising, east, sun-setting, west (of direction) 1c) sun (as object of illicit worship) 1d) openly, publicly (in other phrases) 1e) pinnacles, battlements, shields (as glittering or shining)
Usage: Occurs in 127 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] east side(-ward), sun (rising), [phrase] west(-ward), window. See also H1053 (בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ). See also: Genesis 15:12; Psalms 104:19; Psalms 19:5.
וְ/יָרֵ֑חַ
yârêach
H3394
"moon"
Conj | N-ms
This word refers to the moon, the natural satellite of the earth. It is used in the Bible to describe the moon and its phases.
Definition: moon
Usage: Occurs in 26 OT verses. KJV: moon. Yrechow. See H3405 (יְרִיחוֹ). See also: Genesis 37:9; Psalms 121:6; Psalms 8:4.
הַ֝לְל֗וּ/הוּ
hâlal
H1984
"to shine"
V-Piel-Impv-2mp | Suff
To be foolish means to act wildly or make a show, like the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:29. It can also mean to celebrate or boast, as in Psalm 38:5.
Definition: 1) to shine 1a) (Qal) to shine (fig. of God's favour) 1b) (Hiphil) to flash forth light
Usage: Occurs in 140 OT verses. KJV: (make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool(-ish, -ly), glory, give (light), be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, (sing, be worthy of) praise, rage, renowned, shine. See also: Genesis 12:15; Psalms 113:1; Psalms 5:6.
כָּל
kôl
H3605
"all"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
כּ֥וֹכְבֵי
kôwkâb
H3556
"star"
N-mp
A star is a round or shining celestial body, and can also symbolize a prince or leader. It is used figuratively in the Bible to describe the Messiah or God's omniscience.
Definition: 1) star 1a) of Messiah, brothers, youth, numerous progeny, personification, God's omniscience (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 37 OT verses. KJV: star(-gazer). See also: Genesis 1:16; Job 25:5; Psalms 8:4.
אֽוֹר
ʼôwr
H216
"light"
N-cs
Light, including natural light from the sun or stars, and also spiritual light from God. It can refer to happiness, prosperity, or understanding. In the Bible, God is often described as the source of light and life.
Definition: 1) light 1a) light of day 1b) light of heavenly luminaries (moon, sun, stars) 1c) day-break, dawn, morning light 1d) daylight 1e) lightning 1f) light of lamp 1g) light of life 1h) light of prosperity 1i) light of instruction 1j) light of face (fig.) 1k) Jehovah as Israel's light
Usage: Occurs in 110 OT verses. KJV: bright, clear, [phrase] day, light (-ning), morning, sun. See also: Genesis 1:3; Psalms 78:14; Psalms 4:7.
Study Notes — Psalms 148:3
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Psalms 148:3 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Psalms 148:3
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 148:3
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 148:3
- Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 148:3
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 148:3
- Cambridge Bible on Psalms 148:3
- Barnes' Notes on Psalms 148:3
- Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 148:3
- Sermons on Psalms 148:3
Context — Praise the LORD from the Heavens
1Hallelujah! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise Him in the highest places.
2Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His heavenly hosts.
3Praise Him, O sun and moon; praise Him, all you shining stars.
4Praise Him, O highest heavens, and you waters above the skies. 5Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He gave the command and they were created.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 19:1–6 | The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. Without speech or language, without a sound to be heard, their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun. Like a bridegroom emerging from his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course, it rises at one end of the heavens and runs its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth. |
| 2 | Psalms 8:1–3 | O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens. From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise on account of Your adversaries, to silence the enemy and avenger. When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place— |
| 3 | Psalms 136:7–9 | He made the great lights— His loving devotion endures forever. the sun to rule the day, His loving devotion endures forever. the moon and stars to govern the night. His loving devotion endures forever. |
| 4 | Psalms 89:36–37 | his offspring shall endure forever, and his throne before Me like the sun, like the moon, established forever, a faithful witness in the sky.” Selah |
| 5 | Genesis 1:14–16 | And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to distinguish between the day and the night, and let them be signs to mark the seasons and days and years. And let them serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to shine upon the earth.” And it was so. God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. And He made the stars as well. |
| 6 | Deuteronomy 4:19 | When you look to the heavens and see the sun and moon and stars—all the host of heaven—do not be enticed to bow down and worship what the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. |
| 7 | Genesis 8:22 | As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall never cease.” |
| 8 | Jeremiah 33:20 | “This is what the LORD says: If you can break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night, so that day and night cease to occupy their appointed time, |
Psalms 148:3 Summary
This verse is saying that even the sun, moon, and stars are called to praise God, because they reflect His glory and majesty. Just like the sun shines brightly in the sky, we can shine brightly for God by living a life that honors Him (Matthew 5:16). The sun, moon, and stars are all under God's command and care, and they obey Him perfectly (Jeremiah 31:35). We can learn from their example and strive to obey God's commands in our own lives, trusting in His love and care for us (Psalm 23:4).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for the sun, moon, and stars to praise God?
This verse is not suggesting that these celestial bodies have the ability to praise God in the same way that humans do, but rather that they reflect God's glory and majesty, as stated in Psalm 19:1, which says, 'The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.'
How can we, as believers, apply this verse to our lives?
We can apply this verse by recognizing that all of creation, including the sun, moon, and stars, are under God's command and care, as stated in Jeremiah 31:35, which says, 'This is what the LORD says: “He who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the LORD Almighty is his name”.'
Is this verse suggesting that the sun, moon, and stars are alive or have consciousness?
No, this verse is not suggesting that the sun, moon, and stars are alive or have consciousness, but rather that they are part of God's creation and reflect His glory, as stated in Isaiah 40:26, which says, 'Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name.'
How does this verse relate to the rest of Psalm 148?
This verse is part of a larger psalm that is calling all of creation to praise God, from the highest heavens to the lowest depths, as stated in Psalm 148:1-5, which says, 'Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise Him in the highest places... Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He gave the command and they were created.'
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that you can reflect God's glory and majesty in your life, just like the sun, moon, and stars do?
- How can you, as a believer, join in with the rest of creation in praising God?
- What are some things that you can learn from the way that the sun, moon, and stars obey God's commands?
- How can you apply the truth that God is the Creator of all things, including the sun, moon, and stars, to your daily life?
Gill's Exposition on Psalms 148:3
Praise ye him, sun and moon,.... The sun praises the Lord, the Creator of it, by doing the work constantly it is appointed to do; to rule by day, and give light and heat to the earth, and the
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 148:3
Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Psalms 148:3
Sun and moon; you which are adored by the blind heathens for gods, you are but his creatures, and therefore were obliged, if you were capable, to worship and praise him for your glorious light and powerful influences.
Trapp's Commentary on Psalms 148:3
Psalms 148:3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.Ver. 3. Praise ye him, sun and moon] These do, after a sort, declare the glory of God, Psalms 19:1-2 Habakkuk 3:3; not with mind and affection, as if they were understanding creatures (as Plato held, In Epimenide), but by their light influences, admirable motions, and obedience, whereby quasi mutis vocibus, by a dumb kind of eloquence, saith Nazianzen, they give praise to God, and bid check to us for our dulness and disorders. Praise him, all ye stars of light] A light, then, they have of their own (besides what they borrow of the sun), which they withhold at God’ s appointment, Isaiah 13:10, and influences they have which cannot be restrained or resisted, Job 38:31-32.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Psalms 148:3
Verse 3. Praise ye him, sun and moon] The meaning of this address and all others to inanimate nature, is this: Every work of God's hand partakes so much of his perfections, that it requires only to be studied and known, in order to show forth the manifold wisdom, power, and goodness of the Creator. Stars of light] The brightest and most luminous stars: probably the planets may be especially intended.
Cambridge Bible on Psalms 148:3
3. all ye stars of light] So the Heb. text. P.B.V. stars and light follows the LXX (Vulg.).
Barnes' Notes on Psalms 148:3
Praise ye him, sun and moon - The most conspicuous and glorious objects in the heavens, as apparent to the eyes of people. Praise him, all ye stars of light - A poetical expression to denote bright or shining stars.
Whedon's Commentary on Psalms 148:3
3. Having spoken of the highest heaven, with its celestial dignitaries, the author descends to the region of the visible heavens.
Sermons on Psalms 148:3
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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His Sun by Horatius Bonar | Horatius Bonar emphasizes the divine ownership of creation, particularly focusing on the sun as God's property. He explains that God not only created the sun but also sustains it, |
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(The Glory of God) in Motivation by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of preaching about God's glory rather than focusing on principles and rules. He criticizes the tendency of pastors to manipula |
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Attributes of God (Series 1): God's Goodness by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that all the attributes of God are different aspects of one God in three persons. He encourages the listeners to think right and align their |
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(Hebrews - Part 25): The Holy of Holies by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the speaker expresses his commitment to preaching about God and the Holy Trinity. He emphasizes that God reveals Himself through nature and the scriptures, using va |
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(Hebrews - Part 7): Inspiration and Revelation by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the question posed by King David in Psalm 8:4, "What is man that you are mindful of him?" He acknowledges that when we look at the vastness o |
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(Mount Vernon) the Creation in Genesis by Keith Daniel | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the greatness and sovereignty of God, using the creation of the sun and moon as an example. He quotes verses from Genesis, John, and Romans |
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Attributes of God (Series 2): Introduction by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of understanding the character of God. He mentions a previous series of sermons on the attributes of God that had a profound |