Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 113:8
That he may set [him] with princes, [even] with the princes of his people.
8. ‘To dwell’ or ‘sit with princes’ is a figure for elevation to the highest rank and dignity [72] . So Job 36:7, “[God] withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings upon the throne he setteth them for ever, and they are exalted.” Cp. 2Sa 9:7.
[72] According to the Massoretic text the Chireq compaginis or binding vowel, which is characteristic of this Psalm ( Psa 113:5-7 ; Psa 113:9), is here attached to the infinitive. But it is almost certain that, with the LXX, ‘to set him,’ should be read for .
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
That he may set him with princes – May give him a rank – a position – with nobles and great people upon the earth. Many instances of this nature have occurred in the history of the world. Not a few of the nobles of England, including several of its lord chancellors, have been raised thus from very humble life; and in every nation God shows that he has power to give to those of humblest rank a name and place which no hereditary titles and honors can bestow: thus Shakespeare was the son of a glover and woolstapler. God has power to come into the humblest cottage of poverty, and to bring forth those who shall stand foremost in their generation as people of genius and power. Nothing is more absolute than the power which God thus holds over the nations of the earth, and it is meet that a Being who has this power, and who exercises it, should be praised and honored.
Even with the princes of his people – Among those who are selected to preside over the people whom he has chosen for himself. It is implied here that this would be a higher honor than to be exalted to power among a pagan people – a people ignorant of the true God. It is a higher honor to be counted worthy to rule a Christian nation than a pagan people; it is a higher honor to be a ruler in the church – over those whom God has redeemed for himself – than it is to administer a secular government.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 8. With the princes] nedebim, very properly translated by the Anglo-Saxon [A.S.], the aldermen, the most respectable of his people.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Set him with princes; in equal honour and power with them, as he did Joseph, David, and others.
The princes of his people; which in Gods account and in truth are far more honourable and happy that, the princes of heathen and barbarous nations, because their subjects are more noble, and they have Gods special presence and providence among them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
That he may set [him] with princes,…. As all the saints are by birth, being the sons of God, the King of kings; born of him, and not of the will of man; and are of a princely spirit, have a free spirit, and offer themselves and services willingly to the Lord; have the spirit of adoption, in opposition to a spirit of bondage; and, as princes, have power with God and prevail; and are also heirs of God, heirs of salvation, heirs of a kingdom, as princes be; now such as are raised by Christ and his grace from a low estate and condition are set among those princes here; they are brought to Zion, and have a place and a name in the house of God, better than that of sons and daughters; and become fellowcitizens with the saints; and they are set among princes hereafter in the kingdom of heaven.
Even with the princes of his people; the more eminent among the people of God, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, with whom they shall sit down in the kingdom of heaven; and with the prophets of the Old Testament, and the apostles of the New; and even with all the saints, who are made kings and priests unto God; see Ps 45:16.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Psa 113:8-9. That he may set him with princes There is a plain reference here to Hannah’s case and prayer. See 1Sa 2:8 and 2Sa 7:8-9. He maketh the barren, &c. may be rendered, according to the original, He settleth the barren in a family; i.e. “causeth her who was barren to have a large family, by making her a joyful mother, &c.”
REFLECTIONS.This psalm seems to refer to the times of the gospel, and to the great salvation accomplished by Jesus our Redeemer.
1. The Psalmist, with repeated earnestness, exhorts the servants of the Lord to the happy work of praise. In all ages redeeming love must be celebrated; and from the rising to the setting sun, whithersoever the tidings of gospel grace shall spread, the name of Jesus shall resound.
2. He suggests the matter of their songs.
(1.) The glory of the Lord Jesus, the great King of kings; to whose universal sway all nations of the earth must bow; and to whom in heaven angels, principalities, and powers are made subject; transcendently great, without an equal, and above all comparison; yea, exalted above all blessing and praise.
(2.) His condescension. He humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and earth; when he vouchsafes to accept the services of archangels, and with his care to preserve their beings, which he gave, vast is his condescension: yet more amazing is it, that he turns his eye on worms of earth, and sinful worms withal; upholds them in life, and with his bounteous hand supplies their wants: but most astonishing of all, that he should humble himself so far, as not only to behold us, but to take our nature, yea, humble himself for us to death, even the death of the cross. Lost in the stupendous thought, the soul bows down in silent admiration, and can only wonder and adore.
3. The dispensations of his providence and grace. [1.] The poor and needy he liberally supplies, raises them from their low estate, and exalts them to honour and dignity, from the dunghill to the throne: such outward changes God sometimes sovereignly works; but spiritually we see these things mere emphatically fulfilled in those who will be saved by grace; the poor in spirit, the needy, destitute of all righteousness and strength, lying on the dunghill of sin, and in the dust of spiritual death, by the almighty power of his Spirit he raises from their low estate, pardons and delivers them from guilt and sin, adopts them into his royal house as sons of God, clothes them with the princely robes of righteousness and salvation, and at last crowns these simple faithful believers with glory everlasting, and makes them reign with the princes of his people; with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the glorified saints, who are made kings and priests unto God. [2.] He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Sarah, Rachel, Hannah, proved this grace, and rejoiced in the precious gift: and this was in a beautiful sense more nobly fulfilled, when the Gentile world, which had long been barren, and brought forth little or no manifest fruit unto God, teemed with numerous converts, the joy of the church, and whose births were celebrated with the songs of earth and heaven. Well, therefore, in the view of these things, may the Psalmist repeat his exhortation, and we echo back the sound, Hallelujah.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 113:8 That he may set [him] with princes, [even] with the princes of his people.
Ver. 8. That he may set him with princes ] See 1Sa 2:8 , Hannah’s song, whereof this seemeth to be an abridgment.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
with princes . . . with the princes. Figure of speech Anadiplosis (App-6), for emphasis.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 45:16, Psa 68:13, Gen 41:41, Phi 2:8-11, Rev 5:9, Rev 5:10
Reciprocal: Gen 41:14 – sent 1Sa 2:8 – the poor 1Sa 16:19 – with the sheep 2Sa 7:9 – a great 1Ki 16:2 – I exalted thee 1Ch 17:8 – made thee 1Ch 29:12 – riches Est 2:17 – so that he set Job 34:24 – set Job 36:7 – with Psa 75:7 – he putteth Psa 78:71 – brought Psa 107:41 – setteth Pro 10:22 – it Ecc 4:14 – For out Isa 40:4 – valley Eze 21:26 – exalt Dan 2:21 – he removeth Dan 4:17 – the basest Mat 4:9 – I give Luk 1:48 – regarded Luk 6:20 – Blessed Luk 14:21 – the poor Act 7:35 – the same Jam 1:9 – in