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Psalm 148 · a question people ask

What does "He has lifted up the horn of his people" (148:14) mean?

In the text

Brown-Driver-Briggs gives among the senses of horn, qeren, "fig. of pers., symbol of strength" (tap horn). Other verses lift up a horn too: "the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up" (Psalm 75:10), and "In your favor, our horn will be exalted" (Psalm 89:17). Hannah prayed, "My horn is exalted in the LORD" (1 Samuel 2:1), and near the end of her prayer, "He will give strength to his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed" (1 Samuel 2:10). In 148:14 it is the LORD who lifts it up, and the horn is "of his people", whom the verse names: "the children of Israel, a people near to him" (148:14). The psalm doesn't say when or how he lifted it up, and these notes don't either.

The verses

“He has lifted up the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints, even of the children of Israel, a people near to him. Praise the LORD!”
Psalm 148:14 · World English Bible
“I will cut off all the horns of the wicked, but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.”
Psalm 75:10 · World English Bible
“For you are the glory of their strength. In your favor, our horn will be exalted.”
Psalm 89:17 · World English Bible
“Hannah prayed, and said, “My heart exults in the LORD! My horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth is enlarged over my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.”
1 Samuel 2:1 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 148

Psalm 148: Praise the LORD from the heavens

Psalm 148 calls the heavens to praise, then the earth, and gives each a reason in the same Hebrew words: "Let them praise the LORD’s name, for" (148:5, 148:13). And its "lightning" (148:8) is esh, the Hebrew word for fire, doing what Psalm 103:20 says the angels do: fulfilling his word.

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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