Psalms 117:1 Meaning and Explanation
“O Praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The psalmist calls all nations and peoples to praise God.
The Context of Psalms 117:1
An exhortation to universal worship.
What Does Psalms 117:1 Mean?
This short psalm opens with an urgent call to praise—not to a single nation or chosen few, but to all nations and all peoples universally. The command "praise" appears twice in this verse, emphasizing the intensity and centrality of this act of worship. The parallelism reflects the poetic structure typical of Hebrew praise psalms, where ideas are repeated and reinforced for rhetorical impact.
The inclusivity of this call is remarkable: worship of the God of Israel is not confined to Israel but extended to the entire world. This reflects a vision where the boundaries of worship transcend ethnicity and geography, addressing the deepest human response—gratitude and adoration—as something all people can share and should embrace.
Psalms 117:1 in the Original Language
Praise (hallalu, הַלְלוּ) — the imperative form of the Hebrew halal, meaning to shine, to boast in, or to celebrate with exultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 117:1
What does Psalms 117:1 mean?
The psalmist calls all nations and peoples to praise God.
What is the context of Psalms 117:1?
An exhortation to universal worship.