Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 148:11
Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
11, 12. Last of all man, as the crown of creation (Gen 1:26), is summoned to join the chorus, without distinction of rank or age or sex.
all people ] Peoples, naturally coupled with kings.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Kings of the earth, and all people – This would embrace all, as all are included in the idea of the rulers and the ruled.
Princes, and all judges of the earth – Those of exalted rank; those high in authority. This is proper in itself considered, as they are people like other people; and proper as an example to the rest. None of any rank are exempt from the obligation to praise God; none are cut off from the privilege.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 11. Kings of the earth] As being representatives of the Most High; and all people-the nations governed by them. Princes, as governors of provinces, and all judges executing those laws that bind man to man, and regulate and preserve civil society; praise God, from whom ye have derived your power and influence: for by him kings reign. And let the people magnify God for civil and social institutions, and for the laws by which, under him, their lives and properties are preserved.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Kings of the earth; who, though you are called gods, and adored like gods by your subjects, yet are but men, and the creatures and subjects of this sovereign Lord, to whom you owe both your being, and all your power and dignity.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11, 12. Next all rationalbeings, from the highest in rank to little children.
princesor, militaryleaders.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Kings of the earth, and all people,…. The order of the creation is pretty much observed throughout the whole of this account; and as man was made last of all, so here he is called upon last to praise the Lord; and the chief among men are begun with, “the kings of the earth”, of the several nations of the earth divided into kingdoms, over which some are set as supreme: and these have reason to praise the Lord, who has raised them to such dignity, for promotion comes not by chance, but by the Lord, who sets up kings and puts them down at his pleasure; and also for those gifts bestowed upon them, qualifying them for government, for it is by him kings reign and princes decree justice; and likewise for the preservation of them, for it is he that gives salvation to kings, and continues them for usefulness, notwithstanding all plots and conspiracies against them, Ps 144:9; see Ps 75:6; “and all people”; their subjects, as they should submit unto them and pray for them, so should praise the Lord on their account, when they rule well, protect and defend them in their persons, property, and liberties, Pr 29:2;
princes, and all judges of the earth: the sons of kings, princes of the blood, heirs of the crown; or nobles, ministers of state, counsellors, and, all subordinate magistrates, who are in high places of honour, profit, and trust, and so should praise the Lord, by whom they are brought to such honour; and when they fill up their places, and discharge their trust aright, the people have reason to be thankful for them; and especially for the “judges of the earth”, when they are men fearing God and hating covetousness, and impartially minister justice and judgment; see Ps 2:10.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
11. Kings of the earth, etc. He now turns his address to men, with a respect to whom it was that he called for a declaration of God’s praises from creatures, both above and from beneath. As kings and princes are blinded by the dazzling influence of their station, so as to think the world was made for them, and to despise God in the pride of their hearts, he particularly calls them to this duty; and, by mentioning them first, he reproves their ingratitude in withholding their tribute of praise when they are under greater obligations than others. As all men originally stand upon a level as to condition, the higher persons have risen, and the nearer they have been brought to God, the more sacredly are they bound to proclaim his goodness. The more intolerable is the wickedness of kings and princes who claim exemption from the common rule, when they ought rather to inculcate it upon others and lead the way. He could have addressed his exhortation at once summarily to all men, as indeed he mentions peoples in general terms; but by thrice specifying princes he suggests that they are slow to discharge the duty, and need to be urged do it. Then follows a division according to age and sex, to show that all without exception are created for this end, and should unitedly devote their energies to it. As to old men, the more God has lengthened out their lives the more should they be exercised in singing his praises; but he joins young men with them, for though they have less experience from continued habit, it will be inexcusable if they do not acknowledge the great mercy of God in the vigor of their lives. In speaking of girls or virgins, the particle גם, gam, also, is not merely expletive, but added to make the words more emphatical, conveying the truth that even the young women who are not so liberally educated as the male sex, being considered as born for domestic offices, will omit their duty if they do not join with the rest of the Church in praising God. It follows that all from the least to the greatest are bound by this common rule.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(11) All people.And now the whole animate and inanimate universe having been summoned, man takes his place as leader of the choir; and here the poets language is couched so as to include all, all ranks and nations, of every age, and each sex.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11, 12. The human family is here called upon, as such, to praise God. They alone of all the creatures inhabiting the earth are endued with intelligence to trace all existence to its primal cause and ultimate ends. Man, as the high priest of nature, is to offer the incense of praise for all the inferior creatures of God. The earth, with all its irrational tribes, was made in anticipation of man, through whose appreciative reason alone the fullest praise of the visible earth and heavens ascends.
Kings people princes judges In looking upon universal human society, governments, nationalities, first strike the view. Officers of government represent God in their functions. It is fit they should lead the people in praise.
Young men maidens; old men children Families, with their varied grades of youth, age, and childhood appear next.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
In these verses, the sacred penman riseth to the higher order of beings upon the earth, the intelligent and rational parts of God’s creation; and, in the several degrees of kings and peasants, young and old, bond and free, demands the tribute of praise to Jehovah, as to the first, best, and greatest of all Beings.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 148:11 Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
Ver. 11. Kings of the earth ] These are doublybound to God (as Queen Elizabeth wrote to the French king); first, as they are men; and next, as they are so great men; but this is little considered. Tamerlane, having overcome Bajazet, asked him whether ever he had given God thanks for making him so great an emperor? who confessed ingenuously he never thought of it.
Princes, and all judges of the earth
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
people = peoples.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Kings: Psa 2:10-12, Psa 22:27-29, Psa 66:1-4, Psa 68:31, Psa 68:32, Psa 72:10, Psa 72:11, Psa 86:9, Psa 102:15, Psa 138:4, Psa 138:5, Pro 8:15, Pro 8:16, Isa 49:23, Isa 60:3, Rev 21:24
Reciprocal: Jdg 11:34 – his daughter Neh 12:43 – the wives also Psa 95:1 – Come Psa 112:1 – Praise ye the Lord Psa 117:1 – praise him Dan 9:12 – our judges Rev 19:5 – Praise
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 148:11-12. Kings of the earth, and all people After the whole creation hath been called upon to praise Jehovah, man, for whom the whole was made; man, the last and most perfect work of God; man, that hath been since redeemed by the blood of the Son of God incarnate, is exhorted to join and fill up the universal chorus of heaven and earth, as being connected with both worlds, that which now is, and that which is to come. Persons of every degree, of each sex, and of every age; kings, whose power God hath made an image of his own, and who are the suns of their respective systems; judges, and magistrates of all kinds, who derive their power, as the moon and planets do their light, from its original source; young men and maidens, in the flower of health, strength, and beauty; old men, who have accomplished their warfare, and are going out of life; children, who are just come into it, and see every thing new before them; all these have their several reasons for praising the Lord. Horne.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
148:11 {g} Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
(g) For the greater gifts that any has received and the more high that one is preferred, the more bound is he to praise God for the same: but neither high nor low condition or degree can be exempted from this duty.