Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 145:3
Great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness [is] unsearchable.
3. There can be no worthier object of praise than Jehovah. The verse re-echoes Psa 48:1 a; Psa 96:4 a; Job 11:7 ff.; Isa 40:28.
greatly to be praised ] Better, exceeding worthy to be praised. In most editions of the Prayer Book this verse reads Great is the Lord, and marvellous, worthy to be praised. The comma after marvellous does not appear in the MS annexed as the authoritative copy to the Act of Uniformity of 1662, but was wrongly introduced into the earliest printed copies by the printers, who failed to see that marvellous was an adverb, as in Psa 31:23.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised – See Psa 96:4, note; Psa 18:3, note.
And his greatness is unsearchable – See Job 5:9, note; Job 9:10, note; Job 11:7-8, notes.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 145:3
His greatness is unsearchable.
The unsearchableness of God
God transcends all thoughts; notwithstanding this, men should search after His greatness.
I. Searching after His greatness is a righteous occupation.
1. It agrees with the profoundest instincts of the soul.
2. It is stimulated by the manifestations of nature.
3. It is encouraged by the declarations of the Bible.
4. It is aided by the revelations of Christ.
II. Searching after His greatness is a useful occupation.
1. There is no occupation so quickening to the soul. Feeling after God is an inspiration.
2. There is no occupation so humbling to the soul. The idea of the Infinite drives all vanities from the soul, and brings it down from the heights of pride into the deepest valley of humiliation.
3. There is no occupation so ennobling to the soul. The idea which brings us down into the valley of humiliation stimulates us to climb the heights of moral greatness.
III. Searching after His greatness is an endless Occupation. Canst thou, by searching, find out God?
1. All holy intelligences have ever been pursuing this work.
2. The endlessness of this pursuit agrees with–
(1)The inexhaustible powers of our nature.
(2) The strong instinct for mystery within us. (D. Thomas, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 3. His greatness is unsearchable.] Literally, To his mightinesses there is no investigation. All in God is unlimited and eternal.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
His greatness, in his being, majesty, and glory, and all perfections.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. (Compare Psa 18:3;Psa 48:1).
greatnessas displayedin His works.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Great [is] the Lord, and greatly to be praised,…. Christ is the great God as well as our Saviour; great in all the perfections of his nature, of great wisdom, power, faithfulness, holiness, grace, and goodness; great in his person as God-man, God manifest in the flesh; great in all his offices and relations he bears and stands in to his people; and great in all his works of creation, providence, and redemption, in which he is concerned; and upon all which accounts he is to be praised, and greatly to be praised, by his people, even to the utmost of their capacities, here and hereafter; see Ps 48:1;
and his greatness [is] unsearchable; the greatness of his nature, and the perfections of it, these are past finding out; and so are his ways and works, and the riches of his grace, Joh 11:7. The Targum is,
“and of his greatness there is no end.”
So the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3) Greatly to be praised.See Psa. 18:3 and comp. Psa. 48:1.
And his greatness.Literally, more expressive, and for his greatness no search. (Comp. Isa. 40:28; Job. 11:7.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
I do not think it necessary to enlarge upon the several perfections of Jehovah, which the prophet celebrates through this Psalm; for in this case I should amplify the subject to an extent very great indeed. And moreover the hymn itself so beautifully and plainly sets forth these perfections of our God, that I cannot but conclude the Holy Ghost intimates, from the manner and method in which they are spoken of, as if his gracious intention were, while the people are reading or singing them, to draw nigh with his sweet teachings, to make them life and spirit to the heart. Great God! cause both the Reader and the Writer to look up to thee for this mercy, and humbly to wait thy blessing upon It! I only detain the Reader to observe the different effects which the contemplation of these perfections of Jehovah are said to induce: If it be Jesus who is the speaker by the spirit of prophecy, he saith, that while one generation to another shall praise Jehovah’s works, I will speak of thy glorious honour. And then it is added, Men shall speak also. A sweet thought ariseth out of this distinction: if Jesus, as the great head of his church, makes known to his people his Father’s love, and mercy, and goodness; they shall then take up the wondrous theme, and from generation to generation proclaim it to their children. Even so, Lord, I would say, do thou bless thy church with thy divine teaching.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 145:3 Great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness [is] unsearchable.
Ver. 3. Great is the Lord ] See his greatness set forth by Moses, Deu 10:17 .
And greatly to be praised
And his greatness is unsearchable
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Great: Psa 48:1, Psa 96:4, Psa 147:5, Job 5:9, Job 9:10, Rev 15:3
and his greatness is unsearchable: Heb. and of his greatness there is no search, Psa 139:6, Job 5:9, Job 9:10, Job 11:7-9, Job 26:14, Isa 40:28, Rom 11:33
Reciprocal: Deu 3:24 – thy greatness Deu 32:3 – ascribe 2Sa 7:22 – Wherefore 2Ch 2:5 – great is our God Ezr 5:8 – the great God Job 36:26 – God Psa 29:2 – glory Psa 50:1 – mighty Psa 86:10 – For Psa 92:5 – O Lord Psa 95:3 – For Psa 104:1 – art very great Psa 106:2 – utter Psa 149:6 – mouth Psa 150:2 – according Jer 10:6 – thou Jer 32:18 – the Great Dan 2:45 – the great Luk 8:38 – saying Joh 10:29 – is greater
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
145:3 {b} Great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness [is] unsearchable.
(b) By this he declares that all power is subject to God, and that no worldly promotion should obscure God’s glory.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
David said parents would declare God’s great acts to their children. He himself would meditate on the Lord’s majesty and His wonderful works. People would retell His awesome deeds and would praise the Lord for His greatness, goodness, and righteousness.
"The text calls for a sacred fluency, and I would exhort you liberally to exercise it when you are speaking on the goodness of God." [Note: C. H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, 2:316.]