Chapter Overview
Summary
Psalm 113 (MT) / Psalm 112 (LXX) opens the EGYPTIAN HALLEL (Pss 113–118) — the six psalms sung at Passover, at all three pilgrimage festivals, and at Hanukkah. In the Passover seder, Pss 113–114 are sung before the meal and Pss 115–118 after. Jesus and the disciples 'sang a hymn' at the Last Supper (Matt 26:30, Mark 14:26) — almost certainly this Hallel. Psalm 113's content — 'he raises the poor from the dust … and gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children' (vv. 7–9) — directly prefigures Hannah's Song (1 Sam 2:8) and the Magnificat (Luke 1:52–53).
Notable Variants
113 opens the EGYPTIAN HALLEL (Pss 113–118) — the Passover psalm-cluster; 113:7–9 → 1 Sam 2:8 (Hannah's Song) / Luke 1:52–53 (Magnificat) reversal-theology; 113:3 'from the rising of the sun to its setting' → Malachi 1:11 universal-worship.
Structural Notes
MT Ps 113 = LXX Ps 112. 9 verses. Opens the Egyptian Hallel.
Praise the LORD! Praise, you servants of the LORD — praise the name of the LORD!
'Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD!' tracks MT. HALLELUJAH opening.
Let the name of the LORD be blessed from now until forever.
'Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore!' tracks MT.
From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised.
'From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised!' tracks MT. FROM-RISING-TO-SETTING OF THE SUN — universal-scope. Malachi 1:11 ('from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations') parallels. Matthew 8:11 ('many will come from east and west') extends eschatologically.
The LORD is exalted above all nations; His glory is above the heavens.
'The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens!' tracks MT.
Who is like the LORD our God, who is enthroned on high,
'Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high' tracks MT. INCOMPARABILITY formula.
who stoops down to look at the heavens and the earth!
'Who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?' tracks MT.
He raises the poor from the dust; He lifts the needy from the ash heap,
'He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap' tracks MT. // 1 Sam 2:8 (Hannah's Song). The 'lifts-from-dust' and 'lifts-from-ash-heap' Magnificat-reversal imagery.
to seat them with nobles, with the nobles of His people.
'To make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people' tracks MT.
He gives the childless woman a home, making her a joyful mother of children. Praise the LORD!
'He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD!' tracks MT. BARREN-WOMAN-BECOMES-MOTHER theology. Sarah (Gen 11:30), Rebekah (Gen 25:21), Rachel (Gen 29:31), Hannah (1 Sam 1:5), Elizabeth (Luke 1:7) — the biblical-pattern of divine-barrenness-reversed. Galatians 4:27 (citing Isa 54:1: 'rejoice, O barren one') extends Christologically.