Psalms 147 · Verse 4

Psalms 147:4

He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.
Psalms 147:4, King James Version

Psalms 147:4 in other translations

BSBHe determines the number of the stars; He calls them each by name.
WEBHe counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by their names.
ASVHe counteth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names.
YLTAppointing the number of the stars, To all them He giveth names.
DARBYHe counteth the number of the stars; he giveth names to them all.
BBEHe sees the number of the stars; he gives them all their names.
WebsterHe telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.

What does Psalms 147:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 147:4-5
4-5. God's power in nature (Is 40:26-28, and often) is presented as a pledge of His power to help His people. telleth ... stars--what no man can do (Ge 15:5).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 He telleth the number of the stars - He whose knowledge is so exact as to tell every star in heaven, can be under no difficulty to find out and collect all the scattered exiles of Israel.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 147:1-11

Praising God is work that is its own wages. It is comely; it becomes us as reasonable creatures, much more as people in covenant with God. He gathers outcast sinners by his grace, and will bring them into his holy habitation. To those whom God heals with the consolations of his Spirit, he speaks peace, assures them their sins are pardoned. And for this, let others praise him also. Man's knowledge is soon ended; but…

Read the full comment on Psalms 147:1-11 →

Psalms 147:4 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.

מוֹנֶ֣הmo.Neh[he is] countingH4487
מִ֭סְפָּרMis.por[the] numberH4557
לַכּוֹכָבִ֑יםla.ko.kha.Vimof the starsH3556
לְ֝כֻלָּ֗םle.khu.Lamto all of themH3605
שֵׁמ֥וֹתshe.MotnamesH8034
יִקְרָֽא\׃yik.Ra'he callsH7121

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

Cross references for Psalms 147:4

  • Isaiah 40:26

    Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.

  • Psalms 148:3

    Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.

  • Psalms 8:3

    When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

  • Genesis 15:5

    And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
He.
8:3; 148:3; Ge 15:5; Isa 40:26

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

Context

  • Psalms 147:3

    He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

  • Psalms 147:4

    He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.

  • Psalms 147:5

    Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

Read all of Psalms 147

Psalms 147:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El cuenta el número de las estrellas; á todas ellas llama por sus nombres.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Qui compte le nombre des étoiles: à elles toutes il donne des noms.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Der da zählt die Zahl der Sterne, sie alle nennt mit Namen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui emittit eloquium suum terræ: velociter currit sermo ejus.