What Does Psalm 148:12 Mean in the King James?
Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Hebrew word translated “children” also names youths, bringing the emerging and elder generations into one chorus of praise.
THE MEANING
In the song’s call to praise, young men, maidens, elders, and youths all have a place. The season of life you inhabit does not put you outside that living chorus.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that praise belongs only to the mature: youths are named alongside elders.
THE ROOT
נְעָרִים
ne'arim
GROWS FROM
נ-ע-ר
n-ʿ-r
A youth or young person; the word can refer to boys and young men, not only small children.
“children” in this verse is ne'arim. The Hebrew ne’arim can describe youths beyond early childhood, so its sense overlaps with the earlier “young men.” The list places the young and old together, spanning the years of a life within the call to praise.
ALSO GROWS
na'ar: A youth, boy, young man, or young attendant.
נַעַר
This singular form shows that the Hebrew word rendered “children” can include youths beyond early childhood.
na'arah: A girl or young woman.
נַעֲרָה
This feminine form shares the youth word’s root, which names a life stage; the verse also names maidens explicitly.
זְקֵנִים
zeqenim
GROWS FROM
ז-ק-ן
z-q-n
To grow old or be aged.
“old men” in this verse is zeqenim. The same root names both age and elder status, so the verse’s elders are a generation within the gathered whole. Beside the youths, they show that neither the beginning nor the later years place someone beyond praise.
ALSO GROWS
zaqen: An old person or elder.
זָקֵן
This singular form shows how age can also mark the role of an elder.
ziqnah: Old age.
זִקְנָה
This related form names a life stage that the verse includes in the same call as youth.
THE PATTERN
The call to honor God moves across generations and includes the whole living creation.
One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.THE THREAD
Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.The word translated “old” comes from the same ז-ק-ן (z-q-n) root as “old men” here. Psalm 148 gathers elders into praise; Psalm 71 shows an elder’s voice carrying God’s strength to the next generation.
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