Psalm 147:2
New International Version
The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel.

New Living Translation
The LORD is rebuilding Jerusalem and bringing the exiles back to Israel.

English Standard Version
The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel.

Berean Standard Bible
The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the exiles of Israel.

King James Bible
The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.

New King James Version
The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.

New American Standard Bible
The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the outcasts of Israel.

NASB 1995
The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the outcasts of Israel.

NASB 1977
The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the outcasts of Israel.

Legacy Standard Bible
Yahweh builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the outcasts of Israel.

Amplified Bible
The LORD is building up Jerusalem; He is gathering [together] the exiles of Israel.

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem; he gathers Israel’s exiled people.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem; He gathers Israel’s exiled people.

American Standard Version
Jehovah doth build up Jerusalem; He gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem and brings the people of Israel back home again.

English Revised Version
The LORD doth build up Jerusalem; he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD is the builder of Jerusalem. He is the one who gathers the outcasts of Israel together.

Good News Translation
The LORD is restoring Jerusalem; he is bringing back the exiles.

International Standard Version
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem; he gathers together the outcasts of Israel.

Majority Standard Bible
The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the exiles of Israel.

NET Bible
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem, and gathers the exiles of Israel.

New Heart English Bible
The LORD builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.

Webster's Bible Translation
The LORD buildeth up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.

World English Bible
Yahweh builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
YHWH [is] building Jerusalem, "" He gathers the driven away of Israel.

Young's Literal Translation
Building Jerusalem is Jehovah, The driven away of Israel He gathereth.

Smith's Literal Translation
Jehovah builds Jerusalem: he will collect together the outcasts of Israel.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The Lord buildeth up Jerusalem: he will gather together the dispersed of Israel.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The Lord builds up Jerusalem. He will gather together the dispersed of Israel.

New American Bible
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem, and gathers the dispersed of Israel,

New Revised Standard Version
The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers together the scattered of Israel.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
LORD JEHOVAH built Jerusalem and the scattered ones of Israel he gathered.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The LORD doth build up Jerusalem, He gathereth together the dispersed of Israel;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The Lord builds up Jerusalem; and he will gather together the dispersed of Israel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
It is Good to Sing Praises
1Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and lovely to praise Him! 2The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the exiles of Israel. 3He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.…

Cross References
Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,

Nehemiah 1:9
but if you return to Me and keep and practice My commandments, then even if your exiles have been banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’

Jeremiah 31:10
Hear, O nations, the word of the LORD, and proclaim it in distant coastlands: “The One who scattered Israel will gather them and keep them as a shepherd keeps his flock.

Ezekiel 34:12-13
As a shepherd looks for his scattered sheep when he is among the flock, so I will look for My flock. I will rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. / I will bring them out from the peoples, gather them from the countries, and bring them into their own land. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines, and in all the settlements of the land.

Isaiah 11:12
He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; He will collect the scattered of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

Zechariah 10:6
I will strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them, and they will be as though I had not rejected them. For I am the LORD their God, and I will answer them.

Isaiah 56:8
Thus declares the Lord GOD, who gathers the dispersed of Israel: “I will gather to them still others besides those already gathered.”

Jeremiah 23:3
Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock from all the lands to which I have banished them, and I will return them to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and multiply.

Ezekiel 11:17
Therefore declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you from the countries to which you have been scattered, and I will give back to you the land of Israel.’

Isaiah 49:5-6
And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, that Israel might be gathered to Him—for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and My God is My strength— / He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”

Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

John 11:52
and not only for the nation, but also for the scattered children of God, to gather them together into one.

Ephesians 2:19-22
Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, / built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. / In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. ...

1 Peter 2:4-5
As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight, / you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Acts 15:16-17
‘After this I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, / so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does these things


Treasury of Scripture

The LORD does build up Jerusalem: he gathers together the outcasts of Israel.

build

Psalm 51:18
Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Psalm 102:13-16
Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come…

Nehemiah 3:1
Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.

he

Psalm 102:20-22
To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; …

Deuteronomy 30:3
That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.

Ezra 2:64,65
The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, …

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Psalm 147
1. The prophet exhorts to praise God for his care of the church
4. His power and wisdom
6. His mercy
7. His providence
12. To praise him for his blessings upon the kingdom
15. For his power over the elements
19. And for his ordinances in the church














The LORD
The Hebrew word used here is "Yahweh," the personal name of God revealed to Moses in the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). This name signifies God's eternal existence and His covenant relationship with His people. In a conservative Christian perspective, "The LORD" is seen as the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of the universe, who is intimately involved in the lives of His people. This personal name emphasizes His faithfulness and unchanging nature, providing comfort and assurance to believers.

builds up
The Hebrew root for "builds up" is "banah," which means to construct or establish. This term is often used in the context of building a house or a city. In the context of Psalm 147:2, it signifies God's active role in restoring and strengthening His people. Historically, this can be seen in the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. Spiritually, it reflects God's ongoing work in the lives of believers, building them up in faith and character.

Jerusalem
Jerusalem holds a central place in biblical history as the city chosen by God for His temple and the capital of Israel. It symbolizes God's presence among His people and His redemptive plan. In a conservative Christian view, Jerusalem is not only a historical city but also represents the spiritual community of believers, the "New Jerusalem" described in Revelation. It is a place of peace and divine dwelling, where God gathers His people.

He gathers
The Hebrew word "qabats" means to collect or assemble. This action of gathering reflects God's initiative in bringing His people together. Historically, it refers to the return of the Israelites from exile. Spiritually, it signifies God's work in uniting believers from all nations into one body, the Church. This gathering is an act of grace, demonstrating God's desire for fellowship with His people.

the exiles
The term "exiles" refers to those who have been scattered or displaced. In the historical context, it points to the Israelites who were taken captive to Babylon. From a spiritual perspective, it can also represent those who are estranged from God due to sin. The conservative Christian interpretation sees this as a metaphor for God's redemptive work in bringing sinners back to Himself, restoring them to their rightful place in His kingdom.

of Israel
"Israel" refers to the descendants of Jacob, God's chosen people. It signifies the covenant relationship between God and His people. In a broader sense, it includes all who are part of God's family through faith in Jesus Christ. The conservative Christian perspective views Israel as both a historical nation and a spiritual entity, encompassing all believers who are grafted into the promises of God through Christ. This highlights the inclusivity of God's salvation plan and His faithfulness to His promises.

(2) Build up--i.e., of course, "rebuild." The word "outcasts," which is that used in Isaiah 11:12; Isaiah 56:8, shows that the rebuilding after the captivity is intended. The LXX. and Vulg. have "dispersion;" Symmachus, "those thrust out."

Verse 2. - The Lord doth build up Jerusalem. The rebuilding of Jerusalem after the return from the Babylonish captivity covered a space of above ninety years, from B.C. 538 till B.C. 445. First the temple was built (B.C. 533-515); then the city; finally, the walls and the gates ( B.C. 445). It was in connection with this last portion of the building that the present psalm seems to have been written. He gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. The exiles returned gradually - some with Zerubbabel ( B.C. 538); some with Ezra, in B.C. 457; others, doubtless, with Nehemiah, in B.C. 445; and again in B.C. 434.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The LORD
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

builds up
בּוֹנֵ֣ה (bō·w·nêh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1129: To build

Jerusalem;
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֣ם (yə·rū·šā·lim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

He gathers
יְכַנֵּֽס׃ (yə·ḵan·nês)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3664: To collect, to enfold

the exiles
נִדְחֵ֖י (niḏ·ḥê)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1760: To push, thrust

of Israel.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc


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OT Poetry: Psalm 147:2 Yahweh builds up Jerusalem (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 147:1
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