Bible Strands
Psalms 148:11
kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist issues a structured summons to all creation to praise the Lord, moving from fauna to human society. This verse specifically addresses earthly political and social authorities at the midpoint of that crescendo.
The words — מַלְכֵי־ (mal.khei-) = kings of and אֶ֭רֶץ ('E.retz) = earth. These terms anchor the verse’s focus on sovereign human power operating within the created order.
The thread — The pairing of nations and earthly rulers recurs in Isaiah 60:3, Psalms 102:15, and Revelation 21:24 as a consistent biblical pattern for global submission to divine authority.
Why it lands — The text explicitly lists kings, peoples, princes, and rulers as subjects of a praise summons, placing them alongside animals and generations. It requires readers to treat political authority as non-autonomous and equally bound to the call to worship.
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
Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
Cross-references
- Isaiah 60:3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
- Psalms 102:15 So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear Your glory.
- Revelation 21:24 By its light the nations will walk, and into it the kings of the earth will bring their glory.
- Psalms 2:10 Therefore be wise, O kings; be admonished, O judges of the earth.
- Psalms 22:27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before Him.
- Psalms 66:1 For the choirmaster. A song. A Psalm. Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth!
- Psalms 68:31 Envoys will arrive from Egypt; Cush will stretch out her hands to God.
- Psalms 72:10 May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
- Psalms 86:9 All the nations You have made will come and bow before You, O Lord, and they will glorify Your name.
- Psalms 138:4 All the kings of the earth will give You thanks, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth.