Bible Strands
Psalms 148:12
young men and maidens, old and young together.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The psalmist addresses all human demographics, immediately following a summons to kings, peoples, and rulers in Psalm 148:11. This verse expands that call to include every age and gender group before the passage closes with a declaration of God’s exalted name in verse 13.
The words — בַּחוּרִ֥ים (ba.chu.Rim) literally means "young men," and בְּתוּל֑וֹת (be.tu.Lot) denotes "young women." These terms are paired with זְ֝קֵנִ֗ים (ze.ke.Nim, "old") and נְעָרִֽים\׃ (ne.'a.Rim, "youths") to mark the full demographic range.
The thread — This structural pairing of age and gender groups appears in Jeremiah 31:13, where maidens, young men, and old gather together, and in Psalm 68:25, which places maidens among musicians. The pattern also surfaces in Titus 2:4 when addressing the training of younger women within the community.
Why it lands — The text explicitly lists every age and gender group to show that the summons to praise applies universally, not selectively. It requires the reader to acknowledge their own place within this complete roster before proceeding to the declaration of God’s exalted name.
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
Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 31:13 Then the maidens will rejoice with dancing, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into joy, and give them comfort and joy for their sorrow.
- Titus 2:4 In this way they can train the young women to love their husbands and children,
- Psalms 68:25 The singers lead the way, the musicians follow after, among the maidens playing tambourines.
- Matthew 21:15 But the chief priests and scribes were indignant when they saw the wonders He performed and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”
- Psalms 8:2 From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise on account of Your adversaries, to silence the enemy and avenger.
- Zechariah 9:17 How lovely they will be, and how beautiful! Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine, the young women.
- Luke 19:37 And as He approached the descent from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of disciples began to praise God joyfully in a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen: