Psalms 135:13

Psa 135:13 Thy name, O LORD, [endureth] for ever; [and] thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations.

Ver. 13. Thy name, O Lord, &c.] Else, O nos ingratos!

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Psa 135:13-14. Thy name, O Lord, endureth for ever — These wonderful works of thine shall never be forgotten. They, together with the land which thou gavest us through them, and which we yet enjoy, are an everlasting monument of thy power and goodness, and an obligation upon, and an encouragement to us, to trust in thee, in all our present or future difficulties. For the Lord will judge his people — Will, in due time, plead the cause of his people, or give judgment for them. And he will repent himself, &c. — He will recall that severe sentence which for their sins he had passed upon them.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

This God who rules so praiseworthily in the universe and in the history of Israel is the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever. Just as Psa 135:13 (cf. Psa 102:13) is taken from Exo 3:15, so Psa 135:14 is taken from Deu 32:36, cf. Psa 90:13, and vid., on Heb 10:30-31.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

13. (Psa 135:13) Jehovah, thy name (is) to eternity. Jehovah, thy memory is to generation and generation. Name and memory are here equivalent expressions, meaning that by which God is remembered or commemorated, namely, his perfections as exhibited in act. The perpetuity of this implies continued or repeated acts of goodness.

Joseph Addison Alexander, The Psalms Translated and Explained (1850) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

135:13-18 The Lord’s name and character stand in contrast to idols.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

13. O Jehovah! thy name is for ever There are many reasons why the name of God ought always to be kept up in the world, but here the Psalmist speaks more especially of that everlasting praise which is due to him for preserving his Church and people, the cause being immediately added — that God will judge his people The whole world is a theater for the display of the divine goodness, wisdom, justice, and power, but the Church is the orchestra, as it were — the most conspicuous part of it; and the nearer the approaches are that God makes to us the more intimate and condescending the communication of his benefits, the more attentively are we called to consider them. The term judging in the Hebrew expresses whatever belongs to just and legitimate government, “Le mot de juger selon les Hebrieux,, contient en soy toutes les parties d’un juste et legitime gouvernement. — Fr.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

(13) This verse is from Exo_3:15.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

13. Cp. Exo_3:15; Psa_30:4; Psa_102:12. Jehovah’s Name is called His memorial, as bringing to mind all that He is and does. Such as He has once revealed Himself to be He will continue for ever. Cp. Heb_13:8.

13–18. Jehovah is eternally the same, and will not forget His people; whereas the impotent gods of the heathen cannot protect their worshippers.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

For the Lord will judge his people,.... Rule and govern, protect and defend them; plead their cause, and avenge them of their enemies; judge between them, distinguish them by his care and providence, make them visible, so that others shall see the difference between them; especially at the last day, when he will judge them, and, as the righteous Judge, give them the crown of righteousness. Or "though the Lord judges his people" (m); chastises them in a fatherly way, that they may not be condemned with the world;

and, or "yet" (n);

he will repent himself concerning his servants; of the evil of affliction he has brought upon them; he will change the course of his providential dealings with them, according to his unchangeable will; and turn their adversity into prosperity, and their mourning into joy: some render it, "he will be entreated for his servants" (o); he will hear prayer on their account, and save them out of their afflictions; or, as others, "he will comfort himself concerning his servants" (p); take pleasure in them and their prosperity, comfort them, and take delight in so doing. The Targum of the whole is,

"for the Lord will judge the judgment of his people by his word, and to his righteous servants will return in his mercies.''

(m) "quod si", Junius & Tremellius; "nam etsi", Piscator. (n) "Tamen", Piscator; "mox", Junius & Tremellius. (o) "deprecabitur", V. L. "sinet se deprecari", Tirinus. (p) "Solatium reportabit", Tigurine version.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Thy name, O Lord, endureth for ever - Thou art the ever-living, the unchanging God. The generations of people pass away; the kingdoms of the earth change; the idols perish, but thou art the same. The object here seems to be to bring the image or the idea of God before the mind as he was when he performed these great works, as a God interposing in behalf of his people, and as worthy of praise. The idea is that he is the same now that he was then; and as he then impressed the world with a sense of his majesty and power, and as he then interposed in behalf of his people by mighty signs and wonders, we should feel that, being an unchangeable God, he can do it now, and is now equally worthy. of confidence, adoration, and praise.

And thy memorial - Thy remembrance; the memory of thyself. That is, What thou hast done to secure a remembrance among people is of such a nature as to make the same impression to all coming time. The events were such that the memory of them should never pass away from mankind.

Throughout all generations - Margin, as in Hebrew, To generation and generation. There never will be a generation on the earth, in the latest periods, to which the memory of these things should not be transmitted.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

These wonderful works of thine shall never be forgotten. The land which thou gavest us, Psa 135:12, and which we yet enjoy, is an everlasting monument of thy power and goodness, and an obligation and encouragement to trust in thee in all our present or future difficulties.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Ver. 13. Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever. God's name is eternal, and will never be changed. His character is immutable; his fame and honour also shall remain to all eternity. There shall always be life in the name of Jesus, and sweetness and consolation. Those upon whom the Lord's name is named in verity and truth shall be preserved by it, and kept from all evil, world without end. JEHOVAH is a name which shall outlive the ages, and retain the fulness of its glory and might for ever. And thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations. Never shall men forget thee, O Lord. The ordinances of thine house shall keep thee in men's memories, and thine everlasting gospel and the grace which goes therewith shall be abiding reminders of thee. Grateful hearts will for ever beat to thy praise, and enlightened minds shall continue to marvel at all thy wondrous works. Men's memorials decay, but the memorial of the Lord abideth evermore. What a comfort to desponding minds, trembling for the ark of the Lord! No, precious Name, thou shalt never perish! Fame of the Eternal, thou shalt never grow dim!

This verse must be construed in its connection, and it teaches us that the honour and glory gained by the Lord in the overthrow of the mighty kings would never die out. Israel for long ages reaped the benefit of the prestige which the divine victories had brought to the nation. Moreover, the Lord in thus keeping his covenant which he made with Abraham, when he promised to give the land to his seed, was making it clear that his memorial contained in promises and covenant would never be out of his sight. His name endures in all its truthfulness, for those who occupied Israel's land were driven out that the true heirs might dwell therein in peace.

Ver. 13. Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever.

1. As the embodiment of perfection:God's attributes and glory.

2. As the object of veneration:"Holy and reverent is his name."

3. As the cause of salvation:"For my name's sake", etc.

4. As the centre of attraction:"In his name shall the Gentiles trust." "Our desire is to the remembrance of thy name." "Where two or three are gathered in my name", etc.

5. As a plea in supplication:"For thy name's sake, pardon", etc. "Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name."

6. As a warrant for action:"Whatsoever ye do, do all in the name", etc.

7. As a refuge in tribulation:"The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." "I have kept them in thy name."

8. As a mark of glorification:"I will write upon him the name of my God."

9. As a terror to transgressors:"My name is dreadful among the heathen." W. J.

Psalms 135:14*

Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Thy Name, O Lord, endureth forever. The result of God"s marvelous doings (vers. 6-12) is that "his Name endureth forever can never be forgotten attracts to itself eternal praise and honor. And thy memorial (or, "thy remembrance") throughout all generations. (comp. Psa_102:12)

Authoritative records of the Divine ways.

"Thy memorial, O Lord, from one generation to another." The "memorial" may be but another word for the "Name;" but from one point of view the "Name" is but gathering into a single term the records of the Divine dealings; and it does but express that conception of God himself which his Divine dealings have produced on us. So we may say that the memorial of his doings fills with meaning the Divine Name, and assures us that what God has ever been to his people, he ever will be. Once on a time learned men were sorely puzzled by certain irregular holes on the front of an ancient temple. One, more sagacious than the rest, suggested that these indentations might be the marks of nails used to fasten Greek characters to the stone. Lines were drawn from one point to the next, when they were found to form letters, and the name of the Deity unexpectedly stood disclosed. What is known as a "zikr," or memorial service, is repeated by Mohammedans, at stated intervals, at the graves of those long dead, if they have left a reputation for holiness. The word "zikr" is closely connected with the Hebrew word for "a memorial," or "remembrance," indeed, one may say identical with it. The subject suggested is the Divine arrangement that the Divine dealings should be held in men"s memory through all the generations, and be a permanent moral force in every age. The Bible is the memorial.

I THE BIBLE IS A BOOK OF HISTORY. It is more than this, but it is this; and this to a very great extent. It is a collection of records of events that have happened. Take history out of the Pentateuch (or Hexateuch), out of the so-called historical books, out of the prophets, and take the references to history out of the Psalms, and what would be left? The fact is not sufficiently considered. The records in the book are memorials, reminders, of actual events.

II THE SUBJECT OF THE BIBLE IS GOD IN HISTORY. This brings to view the contrast between ordinary history and Biblical history. Scripture everywhere brings to view the direct relation of God to events. And so the records become memorials of God to every generation. Suggestive memorials, showing that history never is read aright unless God is seen in it. R.T.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

O Lord, Your name is eternal Like Your greatness and Your authority then, so is it also now, and You have the power to judge and to avenge us.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.