Bible Strands
Psalms 103:20
Bless the LORD, all His angels mighty in strength who carry out His word, who hearken to the voice of His command.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist issues a call to bless the Lord immediately following a declaration that Yahweh’s throne is established in heaven and His kingdom rules over all (Psalm 103:19). This directive initiates a threefold benediction that extends through verses 20 to 22, not verses 19 to 21.
The words — The Hebrew imperative בָּרֲכ֥וּ (barəkhû) commands the angels to bless, while גִּבֹּרֵי כֹ֭חַ (gibbôrê kôaḥ) identifies them as mighty in strength. The participles עֹשֵׂי (‘ōśê) and the infinitive לִ֝שְׁמֹ֗עַ (lišmōaʿ) describe their active execution and obedient listening to His command.
The thread — The text links angelic obedience to divine authority, echoing the call in Psalm 148:2 to praise Him with all His hosts and angels. Hebrews 1:14 later characterizes these same ministering spirits as those sent to serve those inheriting salvation.
Why it lands — The text commands the reader to join the angelic host in praising God, grounding that praise in His sovereign rule and the angels' faithful execution of His word. It asks the reader to recognize that worship is a universal duty extending across both heaven and earth.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
Cross-references
- Hebrews 1:14 Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
- Psalms 148:2 Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His heavenly hosts.
- Luke 1:19 “I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
- Matthew 26:53 Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
- 2 Kings 19:35 And that very night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies!
- Luke 2:13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:
- Psalms 78:25 Man ate the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance.
- Psalms 29:1 A Psalm of David. Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
- Joel 2:11 The LORD raises His voice in the presence of His army. Indeed, His camp is very large, for mighty are those who obey His command. For the Day of the LORD is great and very dreadful. Who can endure it?
- Matthew 6:10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.