The Hebrew Psalter
Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights above.
— Psalm 148:1
A scholarly reference for the text, history, and interpretation of Psalm 148 — one of the great hymns of cosmic praise in the Hebrew Psalter.
Explore the Psalm
Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.
— Psalm 148:3–4
Manuscript Lineage
Key moments in the transmission of Psalm 148
c. 10th–6th c. BCE
Composition
Psalm 148 composed, likely in the post-exilic period; attributed to David in the Psalter heading
c. 10th–6th c. BCE
Composition
Psalm 148 composed, likely in the post-exilic period; attributed to David in the Psalter heading
c. 250–150 BCE
Septuagint (LXX)
Translated into Greek as part of the Alexandrian Jewish canon; numbered as Psalm 147 in the LXX
c. 250–150 BCE
Septuagint (LXX)
Translated into Greek as part of the Alexandrian Jewish canon; numbered as Psalm 147 in the LXX
c. 200 BCE
Dead Sea Scrolls
Fragments of Psalm 148 preserved among the Qumran manuscripts (11QPsa)
c. 200 BCE
Dead Sea Scrolls
Fragments of Psalm 148 preserved among the Qumran manuscripts (11QPsa)
c. 405 CE
Vulgate
Jerome's Latin translation establishes the text used throughout medieval Western Christianity
c. 405 CE
Vulgate
Jerome's Latin translation establishes the text used throughout medieval Western Christianity
1611
King James Version
The KJV rendering becomes the dominant English text for three centuries
1611
King James Version
The KJV rendering becomes the dominant English text for three centuries
20th–21st c.
Modern Translations
RSV, NIV, ESV, NRSV, and others bring fresh scholarship to the psalm's Hebrew text
20th–21st c.
Modern Translations
RSV, NIV, ESV, NRSV, and others bring fresh scholarship to the psalm's Hebrew text
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