Psalm 113: Edit history

Psalm 113 is a hymn of praise in Book Five of the Psalms (Psalms 107–150). Like Psalm 112 before it, it opens with Hallelujah. Jewish tradition groups Psalms 113–118 together as the "Hallel" (praise), and Psalm 113 is the first psalm of this group.

Structure

• Verses 1–3: The psalmist calls the servants of the LORD to praise his name. This praise is to continue from this time forth and for evermore, from the rising of the sun to its going down.
• Verses 4–6: The LORD is high above all nations and above the heavens. Yet the One enthroned on high humbles himself to behold the things in heaven and on earth.
• Verses 7–9: He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the dunghill, setting them among the princes (leaders) of his people. He makes the barren woman a joyful mother of children. The psalm closes with "Hallelujah."

Key Verses

• Psalm 113:3: "From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised." This verse affirms that praise extends over the whole earth.
• Psalm 113:5–6: "Who dwelleth on high, who humbleth himself" This is the heart of the psalm: God is exalted, yet he cares for the lowly.
• Psalm 113:7: "He raiseth up the poor out of the dust" This verse portrays a God who reverses the condition of the lowly.

People and Places

No people or places are named in the psalm.

• The servants of the LORD: the worshiping community called to praise.
• The poor and the needy: those whom God raises up.
• The barren woman: a childless woman, who in the ancient world endured great suffering and shame.

Points for Reflection

• In Judaism, the Hallel psalms have traditionally been recited at festivals such as Passover. A widely known interpretation identifies the hymn that Jesus and his disciples sang after the Last Supper in Matthew 26:30 with this Hallel.
• The wording of verses 7–8 is nearly identical to that of the song of Hannah in 1 Samuel 2:8. Some readers connect the woman of verse 9 with figures such as Sarah, Rachel, and Hannah, but the text does not refer to any specific individual.
• The theme of God exalting the lowly continues in the song of Mary in Luke 1. Some Christian interpreters connect God's "humbling himself" in verse 6 with the Incarnation.

In Korean Churches

In Korean churches, the gospel song "From the Rising of the Sun" (Hae tteuneun debuteo), based on the wording of verse 3, is widely sung in worship services and Sunday schools.