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Psalm 134 · a question people ask

Who says the last verse, and who is the you it blesses?

In the text

The psalm doesn't say. Its first two verses call many: "all you servants of the LORD" (134:1), "Lift up your hands" (134:2). Its last verse blesses one: "May the LORD bless you from Zion, even he who made heaven and earth" (134:3), where you is singular in Hebrew. The same three Hebrew words open Psalm 128:5, said to one person there too, and the priests' blessing opens with the first two of them: "The LORD bless you, and keep you" (Numbers 6:24). Psalm 134 doesn't say who speaks its last verse, and these notes don't name a speaker for it.

The verses

“A Song of Ascents. Look! Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the LORD’s house! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary. Praise the LORD! May the LORD bless you from Zion, even he who made heaven and earth.”
Psalm 134:1-3 · World English Bible
“May the LORD bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life.”
Psalm 128:5 · World English Bible
“‘The LORD bless you, and keep you.”
Numbers 6:24 · World English Bible
““Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘This is how you shall bless the children of Israel.’ You shall tell them,”
Numbers 6:23 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 134

Psalm 134: By night in the LORD's house

Psalm 134, the last Song of Ascents, calls all the LORD's servants "who stand by night in the LORD’s house" (134:1) to lift their hands and praise him. In Hebrew that Praise is bless, the same verb as the last verse's "May the LORD bless you from Zion" (134:3): the servants bless the LORD, and the LORD blesses, many called and one blessed.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions