Psalms 134 · Verse 1

Psalms 134:1

A Song of degrees. Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord.
Psalms 134:1, King James Version

Psalms 134:1 in other translations

BSBA song of ascents. Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who serve by night in the house of the LORD!
WEBA Song of Ascents. Look! Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the LORD’s house!
ASVA Song of Ascents. Behold, bless ye Jehovah, all ye servants of Jehovah, That by night stand in the house of Jehovah.
YLTA Song of the Ascents. Lo, bless Jehovah, all servants of Jehovah, Who are standing in the house of Jehovah by night.
DARBYA Song of degrees. Behold, bless Jehovah, all ye servants of Jehovah, who by night stand in the house of Jehovah.
BBEGive praise to the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who take your places in the house of the Lord by night.
WebsterA Song of degrees. Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, who by night stand in the house of the LORD.

What does Psalms 134:1 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

An exhortation to praise God in his sanctuary, Psa 134:1-3. This is the last of the fifteen Psalms called Psalms of degrees. Who was the author is uncertain; it is attributed to David only by the Syriac; it is intimately connected with the two preceding Psalms, and is an exhortation to the priests and Levites who kept nightly watch in the temple, to the assiduous in praising the Lord. It seems to consist of two parts: 1. An exhortation, probably from the high priest, to those priests and Levites who kept watch in the temple by night, to spend their time profitably, and duly celebrate the praises of God, Psa 134:1, Psa 134:2. The second part, which is contained in the Psa 134:3, is the prayer of the priests and Levites for the high priest, who seems now to be going to his rest. Verse 1 Behold, bless ye the Lord - I believe הנה hinneh should be taken here in the sense of take heed! Be upon your guard; you serve a jealous God; provoke him not. Which by night stand - Who minister during the night.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
An exhortation to bless the Lord. --We must stir up ourselves to give glory to God, and encourage ourselves to hope for mercy and grace from him. It is an excellent plan to fill up all our spare minutes with pious meditations, and prayers and praises. No time would then be a burden, nor should we murder our hours by trifling conversation and vain amusements, or by carnal indulgences. We need desire no more to make us happy, than to be blessed of the Lord. We ought to beg spiritual blessings, not only for ourselves, but for others; not only, The Lord bless me, but, The Lord bless thee; thus testifying our belief that there is enough for others as well as for us, and showing our good will to others.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 134:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

הִנֵּ֤ה\׀hi.Nehhere!H2009
בָּרֲכ֣וּba.ra.KhublessH1288
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
יְ֭הוָהYah.wehYahwehH3068
כָּל\־kol-O allH3605
עַבְדֵ֣י'av.Dei[the] servants ofH5650
יְהוָ֑הYah.wehYahwehH3068
הָעֹמְדִ֥יםha.'o.me.Dimwho standH5975
בְּבֵית\־be.veit-in [the] house ofH1004
יְ֝הוָ֗הYah.wehYahwehH3068
בַּלֵּילֽוֹת\׃ba.lei.Lotin the nightsH3915

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 134:1

  • Psalms 120:1

    A Song of degrees. In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.

  • 1 Chronicles 9:33

    And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.

  • Psalms 135:1-2

    Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the name of the Lord; praise him, O ye servants of the Lord. Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God,

  • Revelation 19:5

    And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.

  • 2 Chronicles 29:11

    My sons, be not now negligent: for the Lord hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and burn incense.

  • Leviticus 8:35

    Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the Lord, that ye die not: for so I am commanded.

  • Psalms 122:1

    A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.

  • Psalms 135:19-21

    Bless the Lord, O house of Israel: bless the Lord, O house of Aaron: Bless the Lord, O house of Levi: ye that fear the Lord, bless the Lord. Blessed be the Lord out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord.

  • Luke 2:37

    And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

  • Psalms 121:1

    A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

  • Psalms 131:1

    A Song of degrees of David. Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.

  • Psalms 132:1

    A Song of degrees. Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 An exhortation to bless God.

A.M. 3468. B.C. 536. (Title.) A Song of degrees.
120:1; 121:1; 122:1; 123:1; 124:1; 125:1; 126:1; 127:1; 128:1; *titles
129:1; 130:1; 131:1; 132:1; 133:1; *titles
bless ye.
103:21; 135:1,2,19-21; 1Ch 23:30-32; Re 19:5
which by night.
130:6; Le 8:35; 1Ch 9:23,33; Lu 2:37; Re 7:15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 134:1

    A Song of degrees. Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord.

  • Psalms 134:2

    Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.

Read all of Psalms 134

Psalms 134:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Cántico gradual. MIRAD, bendecid á Jehová, vosotros todos los siervos de Jehová, los que en la casa de Jehová estáis por las noches.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Cantique des degrés. Voici, bénissez l’ Éternel, vous, tous les serviteurs de l’ Éternel, qui vous tenez durant les nuits dans la maison de l’ Éternel!
German
Elberfelder 1871		Siehe, preiset Jehova, alle ihr Knechte Jehovas, die ihr stehet im Hause Jehovas in den Nächten!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Alleluja. Laudate nomen Domini; laudate, servi, Dominum: