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Bless the LORD, All You Servants
This short song calls the LORD’s servants to praise him, even during the night. It ends with a blessing from the LORD, linking worship in his house with his power as the Maker of heaven and earth.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
Psalm 134 is a brief poem of praise. It speaks to the servants of the LORD who stand by night in the LORD’s house, tells them to lift their hands in the sanctuary, and closes with a blessing from Zion from the LORD who made heaven and earth.
Psalms 134:1–3Main takeaway
This passage teaches that the LORD is worthy of praise in his house, and the blessing spoken here comes from the LORD who made everything.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A call to the LORD’s servantsThe psalm begins with a strong call: “Look! Praise Yahweh.” The people addressed are “all you servants of Yahweh.”
Explanation
The psalm begins with a strong call: “Look! Praise Yahweh.” The people addressed are “all you servants of Yahweh.” The verse especially notices those “who stand by night in Yahweh’s house,” so praise is not limited to daytime. The focus is on the LORD and on serving in his house.
02Lifted hands in the sanctuaryVerse 2 repeats the call to praise and adds a physical action: “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary.”
Explanation
Verse 2 repeats the call to praise and adds a physical action: “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary.” In this poem, raised hands belong with honouring the LORD. The sanctuary is the holy place named in the psalm, so the action is part of worship directed to Yahweh, not to anyone else.
03A blessing from ZionThe final verse changes from command to blessing: “May Yahweh bless you from Zion.” Zion is named as the place from which this blessing is spoken.
Explanation
The final verse changes from command to blessing: “May Yahweh bless you from Zion.” Zion is named as the place from which this blessing is spoken. The blessing does not come from human strength, but from Yahweh himself. The poem keeps attention on the LORD as the source of good.
04The Maker of heaven and earthThe last words describe the LORD as “he who made heaven and earth.” This gives the blessing great weight.
Explanation
The last words describe the LORD as “he who made heaven and earth.” This gives the blessing great weight. The one praised in the house of the LORD is also the Creator of all things. The psalm joins worship in the sanctuary with the LORD’s power over everything he has made.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Who is told to praise the LORD in this psalm?
Look carefully at the description in verse 1 and notice both who they are and where they stand.
02What action does verse 2 connect with praising the LORD?
Find the physical response named in the sanctuary and link it with the repeated command to praise.
03Why does the blessing in verse 3 sound so significant?
Use the final description of the LORD to explain why his blessing carries such weight.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Psalms 134:1–3
1Look! Praise Yahweh, all you servants of Yahweh, who stand by night in Yahweh’s house!
2Lift up your hands in the sanctuary. Praise Yahweh!
3May Yahweh bless you from Zion, even he who made heaven and earth.