Psalm 100
STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS
| NASB | NKJV | NRSV | TEV | NJB |
|
All Men Exhorted to Praise God MT Intro A Psalm for thanksgiving |
A Song of Praise for the Lord's Faithfulness to His People | Hymn Calling On All Nations to Praise the Lord | A Hymn of Praise | Invitation to Praise |
| 100:1-3 | 100:1-3 | 100:1-2 | 100:1-2 | 100:1-2 |
| 100:3 | 100:3 | 100:3 | ||
| 100:4-5 | 100:4-5 | 100:4 | 100:4 | 100:4 |
| 100:5 | 100:5 | 100:5 |
READING CYCLE THREE (see "Guide to Good Bible Reading")
FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.
1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Etc.
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS
A. This brief Psalm has seven imperatives directed at YHWH's people.
1. shout, Ps. 100:1 - BDB 929, KB 1206, Hiphil cf. Ps. 47:1; 95:1,2
2. serve, Ps. 100:2 - BDB 712, KB 773, Qal, cf. Exod. 3:12; 4:23; Deut. 6:13; 1 Sam. 7:3; 1 Chr. 28:9
3. come, Ps. 100:2 - BDB 97, KB 112, Qal
4. know (i.e., in the sense of "affirm in worship"), Ps. 100:3 - BDB 393, KB 390, Qal
5. enter, Ps. 100:4 - BDB 97, KB 112, Qal, cf. Ps. 96:8
6. give thanks, Ps. 100:4 - BDB 392, KB 389, Hiphil
7. bless, Ps. 100:4 - BDB 138, KB 159, Piel
B. The only verb (perfect) that is not an imperative is in Ps. 100:3b, which describes YHWH's election and deliverance of Israel (i.e., Gen. 12:1-3; 15:12-21).
1. He made us - Ps. 95:6; 119:73
2. Israel is His flock - Ps. 23:1; 74:1; 95:7; Isa. 40:11; Jer. 31:10; Ezek. 34:31 (also a Messianic reference, Ezek. 34:23; Micah 5:4; Zechariah 11; John 10:11,14-16)
C. There is no verbal in Ps. 100:5. A "to be" verb must be supplied. Psalm 3:b,c and 5 describe YHWH Himself and His redemptive activity.
D. Some scholars (i.e., UBS Handbook, NASB Study Bible) believe this Psalm is the concluding doxology of the "kingship Psalms" (i.e., Psalm 93; 95-99). The term "king" is not used, but Ps. 100:3b-c may be an allusion to it.
WORD AND PHRASE STUDY
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 100:1-3
1Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
2Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
3Know that the Lord Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
100:1 The Psalms regularly express a universal aspect of Israel's God. He is the one true God, creator, sustainer, redeemer (cf. Psalm 33; 47; 98).
The USB Handbook (p. 852) suggests that "all the earth" should be understood with each of the poetic lines in Ps. 100:2-4.
100:2 In light of YHWH as the one and only God (see SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM) they
1. serve Him with gladness, cf. Deut. 12:11-12; 28:47
2. come before Him with joyful singing, cf. Ps. 66:1; 81:1; 95:2
Both of these imperatives (also Ps. 100:4) refer to temple worship.
▣ "with joyful singing" This feminine noun (BDB 943) refers to a shout of joy (i.e. NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 1128) or "cry of joy," cf. Job 3:7; 20:5; Ps. 63:5.
100:3 "the Lord Himself is God" This is a recurrent theme of the uniqueness of YHWH (cf. Exod. 8:10; 9:14; Deut. 4:35,39; 1 Kgs. 18:39; Ps. 46:10).
▣ "It is He who made us" This refers to the call and promise (including the exodus, cf. Gen. 15:12-21) to Abraham and his descendants (see Contextual Insights, B).
NASB, NKJV,
NJB, LXX,
Peshitta"and not we ourselves"
NKJV, TEV,
JPSOA, REB,
Vulgate"and we are His"
The first option follows the MT (Kethiv). The second is a suggestion made by the Masoretic scholars who compiled the MT (Qere). The UBS Text Project (p. 373) gives the Qere a "B" rating (some doubt).
The problem is whether "and not" is a preposition, "His" or a conjunction and a negative. Both would sound exactly alike when read.
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 100:4-5
4Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
5For the Lord is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.
100:5 Notice how YHWH is characterized (see SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD).
1. good, cf. Ps. 106:1; 117:1; 118:1,29; Jer. 33:1,
2. merciful, see SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS (HESED)
3. everlasting, see Special Topic: Forever (‘olam)
4. faithful, see Special Topic: Believe, Trust, Faith and Faithfulness in the OT
5. to all through time
a. either Israel or
b. all humans who trust Him
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.
1. To whom is this Psalm addressed?
2. To what creative act is Ps. 100:3b referring?
3. List and define the main theological words in Ps. 100:5.