Psalm 134

"Reciprocal blessing"

Purpose: To summon YHWH's servants to bless YHWH and to invoke YHWH's blessing on his people

Content: People: "Bless YHWH, all servants of YHWH!"
Priests: "May YHWH bless (each one of) you, too!"

Message: In a covenant relationship, blessing is reciprocal.

Author: Anonymous

Videos

Poetic Features Video

Video forthcoming

Exegetical Issues Video

Video forthcoming

Overview

Translation

Click 'Expand' to the right to see our Close-but-Clear translation of Psalm 134.

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1. The song of the ascents.

Come on! Bless YHWH,

all servants of YHWH

–the ones who stand in the house of YHWH by night!

2. Lift up your hands toward the holy place,

and bless YHWH!

3. May YHWH bless you from Zion

–the maker of heaven and earth!

The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources.

For links to other translations of Psalm 134, click here.

Verse-by-Verse

Click the link to view all of Psalm 134 Verse-by-Verse, or click on an individual verse below.

• v. 1
• v. 2
• v. 3

Layer-by-Layer

Psalm Overview

• Grammar
• Semantics
• Story behind the Psalm
• Discourse
• Poetics

Exegetical Issues

• Who Are the "Servants of YHWH" in Ps 134:1? (Draft)
• The Function of הִנֵּ֤ה ׀ in Psalm 134:1 (Draft)
• The Meaning of קֹדֶשׁ in Ps 134:2 (Draft)