Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.

PSALMS 149:5KJV
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Psalms 149:5 (KJV)

What does Psalms 149:5 mean?

Psalms 149:5 calls for God’s faithful people to celebrate with joy and honor, even in private moments, encouraging them to sing out loud while resting on their beds. The verse highlights a deep, personal gladness that continues beyond public worship, reaching into the quiet places of daily life.

The psalm is likely written for a group of worshipers in ancient Israel, urging them to rejoice not only in gatherings but also in their own homes. The verse suggests that the joy and glory given by God are so real and lasting that they overflow into every part of life, even when people are alone or at rest.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 149:5

  • The word for "saints" is חָסִידִים (chasidim), meaning those who are faithful, loyal, or devoted to God. This highlights that the verse is directed at people who are committed to living by God’s ways.
  • "Joyful" comes from יַעַלְזוּ (ya‘alzu), which means to exult or rejoice greatly. This is a strong word for joy, suggesting an exuberant, heartfelt celebration.
  • "Glory" is כָּבוֹד (kavod), often meaning honor, splendor, or weightiness. Here, it points to the honor or dignity that God gives to His people, not just a feeling but a real status.
  • "Aloud" is יְרַנְּנוּ (yerannenu), meaning to shout for joy or sing out. This word emphasizes making the joy public, not just quiet or inward.
  • "Beds" is מִשְׁכָּבוֹתָם (mishkevotam), which simply means their beds or places of rest. The use of this word shows that the call to rejoice extends even to private, restful moments.

Why Psalms 149:5 matters

  • Psalms 149:5 clarifies that worship and joy are not limited to public gatherings or formal settings; they can and should fill even the most private spaces of life.
  • The verse emphasizes the dignity and honor God gives to His faithful people, suggesting that their joy is rooted in their relationship with Him, not just their circumstances.
  • This verse connects to the larger theme of Psalms 149, which celebrates God’s victories and the special role of His people, showing that their response should be continuous praise and gladness.

Where else these words appear

“joyful” Hebrew H5937 · used in 16 verses

  • 2 Samuel 1:20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
  • Psalms 96:12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
  • Jeremiah 15:17 I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.

“saints” Hebrew H2623 · used in 32 verses

  • Deuteronomy 33:8 And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;
  • Psalms 32:6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
  • Psalms 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

“beds” Hebrew H4904 · used in 44 verses

  • Genesis 49:4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.
  • Judges 21:11 And this is the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.
  • Job 33:19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

“aloud” Hebrew H7442 · used in 52 verses

  • Leviticus 9:24 And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
  • Psalms 81:1 To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
  • Isaiah 24:14 They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from the sea.