Psalms 103:22
What does Psalms 103:22 mean?
A plain-English look at Psalms 103:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Psalms 103:22 means
This verse brings the grand crescendo of universal praise to its peak, exhorting "all ye his works, in all places of his dominion" to bless the Lord. This sweeping command includes every part of creation, visible and invisible, inanimate and animate, acknowledging God's hand in their existence and their obligation to praise Him. The psalm then concludes by circling back to its origin, with a final, echoing command to the psalmist's own soul to bless the Lord.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Bless Jehovah, all ye his works, In all places of his dominion: Bless Jehovah, O my soul.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Bless Jehovah, all ye his works, In all places of his dominion: Bless Jehovah, O my soul.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Give praise to the Lord, all his works, in all places under his rule: give praise to the Lord, O my soul.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Bless Jehovah, all ye His works, In all places of His dominion. Bless, O my soul, Jehovah!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The sun ariseth, and they are gathered together: and they shall lie down in their dens.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Bless Jehovah, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless Jehovah, O my soul!
Context
This verse culminates the universal call to worship that began with God's sovereignty in verse 19 and continued through verses 20 and 21 (angels and hosts). By inviting "all ye his works" to bless the Lord, it achieves a comprehensive scope, then powerfully returns to the psalmist's initial, personal command to his own soul, creating a symmetrical structure and reinforcing the deeply personal yet universally applicable theme of unending praise to God.
v.21Bless Jehovah, all ye his hosts, Ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
v.22This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 104:35
Let sinners be consumed out of the earth. And let the wicked be no more. Bless Jehovah, O my soul. Praise ye Jehovah.
- Psalms 104:1
Bless Jehovah, O my soul. O Jehovah my God, thou art very great; Thou art clothed with honor and majesty:
- Isaiah 42:10
Sing unto Jehovah a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth; ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein, the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.
- Isaiah 43:20
The beasts of the field shall honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen,
- Psalms 145:10
All thy works shall give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah; And thy saints shall bless thee.
- Isaiah 44:23
Sing, O ye heavens, for Jehovah hath done it; shout, ye lower parts of the earth; break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for Jehovah hath redeemed Jacob, and will glorify himself in Israel.
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