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 100:3b,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 has 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” |
| NRSV, 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.
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Lessons International