Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The "hosts" aren't just another category of angels; this term refers to the vast, organized armies of heaven, highlighting their perfect order and constant readiness to serve God, which serves as a profound model for human obedience.
Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is building to a crescendo of praise, starting with the highest heavens. After calling on celestial beings to praise God, the psalmist moves to invoke the sun, moon, stars, and even the waters above the sky. The purpose is to show that everything in creation, from the most powerful angels to the silent, distant stars, owes its existence and order to God's command and should therefore declare His glory.
When the Bible talks about 'hosts,' who are we picturing? It's more than just a crowd – it's an organized, powerful force.
The term 'hosts' here, often translated from a Hebrew word meaning 'army' or 'multitude,' refers to the vast, organized ranks of angels. Think of them not just as gentle spirits, but as a celestial army, ready to execute God's commands. They are described as 'hosts' because of their immense numbers, their perfect order, and their complete subjection to God, their Commander. This imagery emphasizes their power and readiness to serve, highlighting that even the highest spiritual beings are part of God's ordered universe, devoted to His will.
Why would the psalmist call on angels and stars to praise God? They don't need prompting, do they?
The invitation for angels and inanimate creation to praise God isn't because they are deficient in worship, but rather a 'poetic rapture.' The psalmist uses this grand vision to stir us up. By imagining the highest beings and the vast cosmos joining in worship, he ignites a desire within us to participate. It’s like an orchestra conductor bringing all the sections in to create a magnificent symphony. Our role is to join this cosmic chorus, inspired by the boundless praise that eternally surrounds God's throne.
Understand the original words
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mal'akh · Hebrew Noun
Spiritual beings created by God to serve Him, carry out His will, and act as messengers. They are witnesses and participants in the cosmic worship of the Creator.
tsaba' · Hebrew Noun
Often refers to the vast collection of celestial bodies or spiritual beings (angelic armies) under God's command. It emphasizes God’s sovereignty over the entirety of the created order.
This passage describes a multitude of the heavenly host joining the angels in praising God at the birth of Jesus, directly echoing the call for heavenly hosts to praise God found in Psalms 148:2.
Revelation 5:11-12John's vision in Revelation vividly portrays countless angels and living creatures around God's throne, all magnifying God and the Lamb. This aligns with the grand cosmic praise commanded in Psalms 148, envisioning the greatest possible chorus.
Nehemiah 9:6This prayer recounts God's creation of the heavens and all their hosts, explicitly stating that the 'host of heaven worships you.' This provides a historical and theological link to the concept of heavenly armies praising their Creator, as seen in Psalms 148:2.
Isaiah 6:3The seraphim in Isaiah's vision cry 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts!' This demonstrates the immediate and constant praise offered by heavenly beings ('hosts') to God, reinforcing the call in Psalms 148:2 for His angels and hosts to offer praise.
poolePsalms 148:2: "Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts."
He inviteth the angels here, and the senseless creatures afterward, to praise God; not as if the former needed, or the latter were capable of, his exhortation, but only by a poetical rapture; the design whereof is, that men by this means might be more provoked to this duty. The angels are called hosts, here and 1 Kings 22:19 , for their vast numbers, exquisite order, and perfect subjection to their General, the Lord of…
calvinPsalms 148:1-6: "Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights."
- Praise ye Jehovah from the heavens, praise him in the heights. 2. Praise him, all ye his angels; praise him, all ye his armies. 3. Praise him, ye sun and moon; praise him, ye shining stars. 4. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters above the heavens. 5. Let them praise the name of Jehovah; for he commanded, and they were created. 6. And he established them for ever; he hath set for…
The "hosts" aren't just another category of angels; this term refers to the vast, organized armies of heaven, highlighting their perfect order and constant readiness to serve God, which serves as a profound model for human obedience.
This psalm is building to a crescendo of praise, starting with the highest heavens. After calling on celestial beings to praise God, the psalmist moves to invoke the sun, moon, stars, and even the waters above the sky. The purpose is to show that everything in creation, from the most powerful angels to the silent, distant stars, owes its existence and order to God's command and should therefore declare His glory.
This psalm is building to a crescendo of praise, starting with the highest heavens. After calling on celestial beings to praise God, the psalmist moves to invoke the sun, moon, stars, and even the waters above the sky. The purpose is to show that everything in creation, from the most powerful angels to the silent, distant stars, owes its existence and order to God's command and should therefore declare His glory.
"Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts!" — The "hosts" aren't just another category of angels; this term refers to the vast, organized armies of heaven, highlighting their perfect order and constant readiness to serve God, which serves as a p…
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Last reviewed October 2026