Interpretation of the Psalms 150.1–150.4

Greek text: PG 80.English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0).

Show

Chapter 150

150.1PG 80 80:1993

᾿Αλληλούϊα, ἀλληλούϊα. Ἐπινίκιος καὶ οὗτος ὁ ὕμνος · προλέγει δὲ τὴν ἐσομένην πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις θεογνωσίαν.

᾿Allēlouïa, allēlouïa. Epinikios kai houtos ho hymnos ; prolegei de tēn esomenēn pasin anthrōpois theognōsian.

Alleluia, alleluia. This too is a victory hymn; and it foretells the knowledge of God that would come to all human beings.

Ps 150:1 (quotation, high confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: Psalm 150 title: a victory hymn foretelling the knowledge of God among all people.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR letters): ἀλληλούτα → ἀλληλούϊα.

Cite (SBL): Theodoret, Interp. Ps. 150.1 (PG 80 80:1993; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/150-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)

BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos-150-1) · Report an error

Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from the Greek as printed in Migne PG 80 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.

150.2PG 80 80:1993

« Αἰνεῖτε τὸν Θεὸν ἐν τοῖς ἁγίοις αὐτοῦ.» Ἱκανὴ γὰρ ἀφορμὴ εἰς ὑμνῳδίαν αὕτη. Εἰ γὰρ ἀπὸ φυτῶν, καὶ θηρίων, καὶ ἑρπετῶν, πρόφασιν εἰς εὐχαριστίαν λαβεῖν προσετάχθημεν, πολλῷ μᾶλλον εἰς τοὺς ἁγίους ἀφορᾶν, καὶ τὸν τούτων Θεὸν ἀνυμνεῖν δικαιότερον. Τίς γὰρ τὰ κατὰ τὸν μακάριον διδασκόμενος Παῦλον, ἢ τὸν θεσπέσιον Πέτρον, ἢ τὸν θειότατον Ἰωάννην, ἢ τοὺς ἄλλους ἀποστόλους, ἢ τοὺς νικηφόρους μάρτυρας, ἢ τοὺς ἄλλους ἁγίους, ἢ τοὺς νῦν τῆς ἀρετῆς ἀθλητὰς, οὐ κινεῖ τὴν γλῶτταν εἰς ὑμνῳδίαν τοῦ τοσαύτην τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τῶν ἀγαθῶν δωρησαμένου φοράν; « Αἰνεῖτε αὐτὸν ἐν στερεώματι δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ. » Ὁ δὲ Σύμμαχος οὕτως· Αἰνεῖτε αὐτὸν ἐν στερεώματι τῷ ἀκαθαιρέτῳ αὐτοῦ. Μόνος γὰρ στεῤῥὸν, καὶ ἀνώλεθρον, καὶ αἰώνιον ἔχει τὸ κράτος.

« Aineite ton Theon en tois hagiois autou.» Hikanē gar aphormē eis hymnǭdian hautē. Ei gar apo phytōn, kai thēriōn, kai herpetōn, prophasin eis eucharistian labein prosetachthēmen, pollǭ mallon eis tous hagious aphoran, kai ton toutōn Theon anymnein dikaioteron. Tis gar ta kata ton makarion didaskomenos Paulon, ē ton thespesion Petron, ē ton theiotaton Iōannēn, ē tous allous apostolous, ē tous nikēphorous martyras, ē tous allous hagious, ē tous nyn tēs aretēs athlētas, ou kinei tēn glōttan eis hymnǭdian tou tosautēn tois anthrōpois tōn agathōn dōrēsamenou phoran? « Aineite auton en stereōmati dynameōs autou. » Ho de Symmachos houtōs; Aineite auton en stereōmati tǭ akathairetǭ autou. Monos gar sterrhon, kai anōlethron, kai aiōnion echei to kratos.

"Praise God in his saints." For this is a sufficient occasion for hymnody. For if we have been commanded to take occasion for thanksgiving from plants, wild beasts, and creeping things, it is far more just to look at the saints and hymn their God. For who, learning about the blessed Paul, or the inspired Peter, or the most divine John, or the other apostles, or the victorious martyrs, or the other saints, or the present athletes of virtue, does not move his tongue to hymn the one who gave human beings so great an abundance of good things? "Praise him in the firmament of his power." Symmachus has: "Praise him in his indestructible firmament." For he alone has firm, indestructible, and eternal power.

Ps 150:1 (quotation, high confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: Psalm 150:1: the saints, from the apostles and martyrs to present ascetics, are the greatest reason to praise God; his power alone is firm and eternal.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR breathing; stray space and quotation mark (OCR)): Ἰκανὴ γὰρ → Ἱκανὴ γὰρ; αὕτη . » Εἰ γὰρ → αὕτη. Εἰ γὰρ.

Topics: Martyrdom

Cite (SBL): Theodoret, Interp. Ps. 150.2 (PG 80 80:1993; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/150-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)

BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos-150-2) · Report an error

Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from the Greek as printed in Migne PG 80 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.

150.3PG 80 80:1995

« Αἰνεῖτε αὐτὸν ἐπὶ ταῖς δυναστείαις αὐτοῦ. » ῎Αῤῥητα γὰρ τὰ διὰ τῶν ἁγίων αὐτοῦ διηνεκῶς κατορθούμενα. Αἰνεῖτε αὐτὸν κατὰ τὸ πλῆθος τῆς μεγαλωσύνης αὐτοῦ. Ἔοικε τοῦτο τοῖς ἤδη παρ' ἡμῶν ἑρμηνευομένοις "Ὅτι τῆς μεγαλωσύνης αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔστι πέρας. » Ἄπειρον γὰρ αὐτοῦ, φησὶ, τὸ μέγεθος, ἀμέτρητος ἡ δύναμις· διὰ πάντα τοίνυν αὐτὸν ὑμνοῦντες διατελέσατε.

« Aineite auton epi tais dynasteiais autou. » ᾿Arrhēta gar ta dia tōn hagiōn autou diēnekōs katorthoumena. Aineite auton kata to plēthos tēs megalōsynēs autou. Eoike touto tois ēdē par' hēmōn hermēneuomenois "Hoti tēs megalōsynēs autou ouk esti peras. » Apeiron gar autou, phēsi, to megethos, ametrētos hē dynamis; dia panta toinyn auton hymnountes diatelesate.

"Praise him for his mighty deeds." For the things continually achieved through his saints are ineffable. "Praise him according to the multitude of his greatness." This resembles what we have already interpreted: "Of his greatness there is no end." "His greatness is infinite," he says, "his power immeasurable; continue, then, hymning him for everything."

Ps 150:2 (quotation, high confidence) · Ps 145:3 (144:3 LXX) (quotation, high confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: Psalm 150:2: God's mighty deeds through his saints and his infinite greatness call for unceasing praise.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR accent and breathing; joined words (OCR); split word (OCR); stray letter (OCR)): διὰτῶν → διὰ τῶν; με γαλωσύνης → μεγαλωσύνης; οὐκ ἐ ἔστι → οὐκ ἔστι; "Απειρὸν → Ἄπειρον.

Cite (SBL): Theodoret, Interp. Ps. 150.3 (PG 80 80:1995; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/150-3). (abbreviation not yet checked)

BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos-150-3) · Report an error

Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from the Greek as printed in Migne PG 80 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.

150.4PG 80 80:1995

« Αἰνεῖτε αὐτὸν ἐν ἤχῳ σάλπιγγος. » Ἱερατικὸν ἦν τοῦτο τὸ ὄργανον· οἱ ἱερεῖς γὰρ ἐχρῶντο ταῖς σάλπιγξι, τῶν ἐν Σινᾷ ὄρει γενομένων σαλπίγγων ἀναμιμνήσκοντες. • Αἰνεῖτε αὐτὸν ἐν ψαλτηρίῳ καὶ κιθάρᾳ. Αἰνεῖτε αὐτὸν ἐν τυμπάνῳ καὶ χορῷ· αἰνεῖτε αὐτὸν ἐν χορδαῖς καὶ ὀργάνῳ. Αἰνεῖτε αὐτὸν ἐν κυμβάλοις εὐήχοις, αἰνεῖτε αὐτὸν ἐν κυμβάλοις ἀλαλαγμοῦ.» Τούτοις οἱ Λευῖται πάλαι τοῖς ὀργάνοις ἐχρῶντο ἐν τῷ θείῳ νεῷ τὸν Θεὸν ἀνυμνοῦντες· οὐκ ἐπειδὴ Θεὸς ἐτέρπετο τῇ τούτων ἠχῇ, ἀλλ᾽ ἐπειδὴ τῶν γιγνομένων τὸν σκοπὸν ἀπεδέχετο. Ὅτι γὰρ ᾠδαῖς καὶ κρούμασι τὸ Θεῖον οὐκ ἐπιτέρπεται, ἀκούομεν αὐτοῦ λέγοντος Ἰουδαίοις « ᾿Απόστησον ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ ἦχον ᾠδῶν σου, καὶ φωνῆς ὀργάνων σου οὐκ ἀκούσομαι. » Ταῦτα τοίνυν γίνεσθαι συνεχώρησε, τῆς τῶν εἰδώλων αὐτοὺς πλάνης ἀπαλλάξαι θελήσας. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ φιλοπαίγμονές τινες ἦσαν, καὶ φιλογέλωτες, ταῦτα δὲ ἅπαντα ἐν τοῖς εἰδώλων ἐπετελεῖτο ναοῖς, συνεχώρησε ταῦτα, διὰ τούτων αὐτοὺς ἐφελκόμενος, καὶ τῇ ἐλάττονι βλάβῃ κωλύων τὴν μείζονα, καὶ διὰ τῶν ἀτελῶν προπαιδεύων τὰ τέλεια. « Πᾶσα πνοὴ αἰνεσάτω τὸν Κύριον. » Οὐκ Ἰουδαῖοι μόνον, ἀλλὰ πάντες ἄνθρωποι. Οὐ γὰρ Ἰουδαίων Θεὸς μόνον, κατὰ τὸν θεῖον ᾿Απόστολον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐθνῶν. Ἐν μὲν οὖν τῷ ρ' καὶ μδ' ἔφη ψαλμῷ· « Εὐλογείτω πᾶσα σάρξ τὸ ὄνομα τὸ ἅγιον αὐτοῦ. › Ἐνταῦθα δὲ, « Πᾶσα πνοὴ αἰνεσάτω τὸν Κύριον. » Οὔτε δὲ ἐκεῖ μόνην τὴν σάρκα, οὔτε ἐνταῦθα μόνην ἐκάλεσε τὴν πνοήν· ἀλλὰ καὶ δι' ἐκείνου καὶ διὰ τούτου, καὶ σώματι καὶ ψυχῇ ὑμνεῖν παρακελεύεται τὸν τῶν ὅλων Θεόν. Ἀξιάγαστον δὲ τῆς ὅλης τῶν ψαλμῶν πραγματείας τὸ τέλος, καὶ τῷ σκοπῷ τῆς προφητείας συμβαίνον. Καὶ γὰρ ἡ προφητεία τοῖς ἔθνεσι κηρύττει τὴν σωτηρίαν, καὶ τῆς προφητείας τὸ τέλος τοὺς ταύτης τετυχηκότας ὑμνεῖν τὸν εὐεργέτην παρακελεύεται. Ἡμεῖς δὲ οὐ μόνον τῶν ῥημάτων ἀκούομεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐνταῦθα θεωροῦμεν τὰ πράγματα. Ἐν ἑκάστῃ γὰρ καὶ πόλει, καὶ κώμῃ, καὶ ἀγροῖς, καὶ ἐν ἐσχατιαῖς, καὶ ὄρεσι, καὶ βουνοῖς, καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀοικήτῳ καὶ παντελῶς ἐρήμῳ, ὁ τῶν ὅλων ὑμνεῖται Θεός. Ἐγὼ δὲ τοὺς ἐντυγχάνοντας τῇδε τῇ βίβλῳ παρακαλῶ, εἰ μὲν εὖ καὶ καλῶς ἑρμηνεύεσθαι δόξειε, τὴν ἐκ τούτων ὠφέλειαν καρπώσασθαι. Εἰ δὲ που τῶν κεκρυμμένων τοῦ Πνεύματος οὐκ ἐφικόμεθα μυστηρίων, μὴ σφόδρα ἡμῖν ἐπιμέμψασθαι. "Α γὰρ εὑρεῖν ἡδυνήθημεν ἀφθόνως ἅπασι προτεθείκαμεν, καὶ ἃ παρὰ τῶν Πατέρων ἐδιδάχθημεν, τοῖς μεθ' ἡμᾶς προσενεγκεῖν ἐσπουδάσαμεν. Καὶ τὸν μὲν πόνον ἡμεῖς ἡνεσχόμεθα, ἄπονον δὲ ἄλλοις ὠφέλειαν προσφέρομεν. Οὓς ἀξιῶ εὐχαῖς τὸν πόνον ἀμείψασθαι · ἵνα ταύταις ἐρειδόμενοι, προσθῶμεν τοῖς λόγοις τὰ ἔργα, καὶ τὸν ἐξ ἑκατέρων συγκείμενον μακαρισμὸν καρπωσώμεθα. « Ὁ γὰρ ποιήσας, φησί, καὶ διδάξας, μέγας κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν. » Ἧς γένοιτο πάντας ἡμᾶς ἐπιτυχεῖν, ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ Κυρίῳ ἡμῶν, μεθ' οὗ τῷ Πατρὶ δόξα πρέπει, σὺν τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Αμήν.

« Aineite auton en ēchǭ salpingos. » Hieratikon ēn touto to organon; hoi hiereis gar echrōnto tais salpinxi, tōn en Siną orei genomenōn salpingōn anamimnēskontes. • Aineite auton en psaltēriǭ kai kitharą. Aineite auton en tympanǭ kai chorǭ; aineite auton en chordais kai organǭ. Aineite auton en kymbalois euēchois, aineite auton en kymbalois alalagmou.» Toutois hoi Leuitai palai tois organois echrōnto en tǭ theiǭ neǭ ton Theon anymnountes; ouk epeidē Theos eterpeto tę̄ toutōn ēchę̄, all᾽ epeidē tōn gignomenōn ton skopon apedecheto. Hoti gar ǭdais kai kroumasi to Theion ouk epiterpetai, akouomen autou legontos Ioudaiois « ᾿Apostēson ap᾿ emou ēchon ǭdōn sou, kai phōnēs organōn sou ouk akousomai. » Tauta toinyn ginesthai synechōrēse, tēs tōn eidōlōn autous planēs apallaxai thelēsas. Epeidē gar philopaigmones tines ēsan, kai philogelōtes, tauta de hapanta en tois eidōlōn epeteleito naois, synechōrēse tauta, dia toutōn autous ephelkomenos, kai tę̄ elattoni blabę̄ kōlyōn tēn meizona, kai dia tōn atelōn propaideuōn ta teleia. « Pasa pnoē ainesatō ton Kyrion. » Ouk Ioudaioi monon, alla pantes anthrōpoi. Ou gar Ioudaiōn Theos monon, kata ton theion ᾿Apostolon, alla kai ethnōn. En men oun tǭ r' kai md' ephē psalmǭ; « Eulogeitō pasa sarx to onoma to hagion autou. › Entautha de, « Pasa pnoē ainesatō ton Kyrion. » Oute de ekei monēn tēn sarka, oute entautha monēn ekalese tēn pnoēn; alla kai di' ekeinou kai dia toutou, kai sōmati kai psychę̄ hymnein parakeleuetai ton tōn holōn Theon. Axiagaston de tēs holēs tōn psalmōn pragmateias to telos, kai tǭ skopǭ tēs prophēteias symbainon. Kai gar hē prophēteia tois ethnesi kēryttei tēn sōtērian, kai tēs prophēteias to telos tous tautēs tetychēkotas hymnein ton euergetēn parakeleuetai. Hēmeis de ou monon tōn rhēmatōn akouomen, alla kai entautha theōroumen ta pragmata. En hekastę̄ gar kai polei, kai kōmę̄, kai agrois, kai en eschatiais, kai oresi, kai bounois, kai en tę̄ aoikētǭ kai pantelōs erēmǭ, ho tōn holōn hymneitai Theos. Egō de tous entynchanontas tę̄de tę̄ biblǭ parakalō, ei men eu kai kalōs hermēneuesthai doxeie, tēn ek toutōn ōpheleian karpōsasthai. Ei de pou tōn kekrymmenōn tou Pneumatos ouk ephikometha mystēriōn, mē sphodra hēmin epimempsasthai. "A gar heurein hēdynēthēmen aphthonōs hapasi protetheikamen, kai ha para tōn Paterōn edidachthēmen, tois meth' hēmas prosenenkein espoudasamen. Kai ton men ponon hēmeis hēneschometha, aponon de allois ōpheleian prospheromen. Hous axiō euchais ton ponon ameipsasthai ; hina tautais ereidomenoi, prosthōmen tois logois ta erga, kai ton ex hekaterōn synkeimenon makarismon karpōsōmetha. « Ho gar poiēsas, phēsi, kai didaxas, megas klēthēsetai en tę̄ basileią tōn ouranōn. » Hēs genoito pantas hēmas epitychein, en Christǭ Iēsou tǭ Kyriǭ hēmōn, meth' hou tǭ Patri doxa prepei, syn tǭ hagiǭ Pneumati, eis tous aiōnas. Amēn.

"Praise him with the sound of the trumpet." This was a priestly instrument; for the priests used trumpets, recalling the trumpets that sounded on Mount Sinai. "Praise him with harp and lyre. Praise him with timbrel and dance; praise him with strings and pipe. Praise him with well-sounding cymbals; praise him with cymbals of shouting." With these instruments the Levites of old hymned God in the divine temple; not because God delighted in their sound, but because he accepted the aim of what was done. For that the divine does not delight in songs and the strumming of instruments we hear from his own words to the Jews: "Take away from me the sound of your songs, and I will not hear the voice of your instruments." He allowed these things to be done, then, wishing to free them from the error of idols. For since some of them loved play and laughter, and all these things were performed in the temples of idols, he allowed them, drawing them by these means, preventing the greater harm by the lesser, and training them beforehand in perfect things through imperfect ones. "Let every breath praise the Lord." Not the Jews only, but all human beings. For he is not God of the Jews only, according to the divine Apostle, but of the nations too. In the hundred and forty-fourth psalm he said, "Let all flesh bless his holy name"; but here, "Let every breath praise the Lord." Neither there did he call flesh alone, nor here breath alone; but through both he urges us to hymn the God of all with body and soul. Admirable is the end of the whole work of the psalms, and in agreement with the aim of the prophecy. For the prophecy proclaims salvation to the nations, and the end of the prophecy urges those who have obtained it to hymn their benefactor. And we not only hear the words but also see the facts here. For in every city and village, in fields and in remote places, on mountains and hills, and in the uninhabited and wholly deserted land, the God of all is hymned. I exhort those who read this book: if it seems to have been interpreted well and rightly, reap the benefit from it; but if anywhere we have not attained the hidden mysteries of the Spirit, do not blame us too severely. For what we were able to find we have set before all ungrudgingly, and what we were taught by the Fathers we have been eager to pass on to those after us. We endured the labor, and we offer others a benefit without labor. I ask them to repay the labor with prayers, so that, supported by them, we may add deeds to words and reap the blessing composed of both. "For whoever does and teaches," it says, "will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." May we all attain it, in Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom to the Father be glory, with the Holy Spirit, for ever. Amen.

Ps 150:3 (quotation, high confidence) · Ps 150:4 (quotation, high confidence) · Ps 150:5 (quotation, high confidence) · Ps 150:6 (quotation, high confidence) · Exod 19:16 (allusion, medium confidence) · Num 10:8 (allusion, medium confidence) · Amos 5:23 (quotation, high confidence) · Rom 3:29 (allusion, high confidence) · Ps 145:21 (144:21 LXX) (quotation, high confidence) · Matt 5:19 (quotation, high confidence)

Notes and citation

Summary: Psalm 150:3–6: God allowed instrumental worship to wean Israel from idols, not because he delights in music; 'every breath' calls all peoples to praise with body and soul, as is now seen everywhere. Theodoret closes the commentary asking his readers' indulgence and prayers.

  • Text displaced in the scan within this section is restored to its order; a marginal verse number is removed.
  • Theodoret's view that instrumental music in the temple was a concession to Israel's weakness is translated as written.

Notes on the original text

  • Digital text corrected (OCR breathing; OCR letters and stray mark; iota subscript (OCR); marginal verse number (OCR); split word (OCR); stray letter (OCR); stray mark (OCR); stray mark and split word (OCR); stray space (OCR); words displaced by the OCR (moved below); words displaced by the OCR, restored): ἐν ψαλτηρίῳ καὶ κιθάρᾳ. ιε', Αἰνεῖτε → ἐν ψαλτηρίῳ καὶ κιθάρᾳ. Αἰνεῖτε; εὐ( ήχοις → εὐήχοις; ἀλαλαγμοῦ.» Τούριον. » Οὐκ Ἰουδαῖοι μόνον, ἀλλὰ πάντες ἄνθρωποι. τοις οἱ Λευῖται → ἀλαλαγμοῦ.» Τούτοις οἱ Λευῖται; αἰνεσάτω τὸν ΚύΟὐ γὰρ → αἰνεσάτω τὸν Κύριον. » Οὐκ Ἰουδαῖοι μόνον, ἀλλὰ πάντες ἄνθρωποι. Οὐ γὰρ; ἐλάττονι βλάβη → ἐλάττονι βλάβῃ; τῷ ρ' καὶ μố ἔφη ψαλμῷ· : Εὐλογείτω → τῷ ρ' καὶ μδ' ἔφη ψαλμῷ· « Εὐλογείτω; › Ἑνταῦθα → › Ἐνταῦθα; δι' ἑκείνου → δι' ἐκείνου; Αξιάγαστον → Ἀξιάγαστον; προφητείας' τὸ τέλος → προφητείας τὸ τέλος; ἐνταῦθα · θεωροῦμεν → ἐνταῦθα θεωροῦμεν; παρα καλῶ → παρακαλῶ; προτεθείκαμεν , καὶ → προτεθείκαμεν, καὶ; ἁγίῳ ὁ Πνεύματι → ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι.

Cite (SBL): Theodoret, Interp. Ps. 150.4 (PG 80 80:1995; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/150-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)

BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos-150-4) · Report an error

Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from the Greek as printed in Migne PG 80 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.