Questions tagged [tehilim-psalms]
One of the books that make up the "Kesuvim" (or "Writings). Composed mostly by King David, but includes chapters by Adam, Avraham, King Shlomo (Solomon) and others.
90
questions
10
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Why do the Sifrei Eme"s (i.e. Job, Proverbs, Psalms) have cantillation marks?
Why do the Sifrei Eme"s (i.e. Job, Proverbs, Psalms) have cantillation marks?
Are they read to a tune or is it just punctuation for personal usage?
Have they ever been read publicly with the tune?
(...
- 23.5k
11
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Is it appropriately Jewish to use Psalms as a form of talisman?
While wandering around Israel, I noticed a group of youths asking the public to recite a psalm for the soldiers. Ok, I recited a Psalm.
I assumed these prayers were fulfilling what I saw as the ...
15
votes
2
answers
512
views
Understanding of Ps. 137 before the exile
Psalm 137 starts (in my own translation)
On Babylon's rivers, there, we sat, also cried, in our remembering Zion.
and continues to describe the scene. Ibn Ezra cites some who hold that David ...
- 73.6k
12
votes
5
answers
463
views
Reconciling "פותח את ידך" and knowing people are starving?
Tehillim 145:16 (Sefaria's translation):
פּוֹתֵחַ אֶת־יָדֶךָ וּמַשְׂבִּיעַ לְכָל־חַי רָצוֹן׃
You give it (the food mentioned in the previous pasuk) openhandedly, feeding every creature to its ...
- 9,449
7
votes
1
answer
294
views
Psalm 145: Which Person?
Psalm 145 makes up the bulk of the oft recited prayer known as Ashrei. It is an alphabetic acrostic (missing the letter nun) about the greatness of God.
The verses beginning with Alef, Bet, Dalet, Heh,...
- 96.3k
24
votes
11
answers
819
views
"I never saw a tzaddik be abandoned..." - how do we understand this?
At the end of bentching we say that "I was young, and I also became old, and I never saw a righteous person be abandoned, and his children asking for bread" (Tehillim 37:25).
How do we reconcile that ...
Just Wondering
10
votes
3
answers
906
views
Who is the author of Tehilim 137?
Who is the accepted author of Psalm 137, and if it was David Hamelech, then is it accepted as a prophecy?
9
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Who divided the Tehillim into days?
Who divided the Sefer Tehillim into daily sections (both day of week and day of month)?
- 40.1k
16
votes
4
answers
886
views
How sick does someone have to be to be put on "the cholim list"?
By putting someone on a cholim list you are asking the tzibur to daven/ say tehillim on their behalf. How sick does someone need to be for it to be appropriate to put them on such a list?
- 671
11
votes
1
answer
788
views
Source for Shir Shel Yom of the Gra
There is a custom of the Gra to replace the regular shir shel yom on holidays and various other special days with a psalm specific to that day. (This custom is followed by many Nusach Ashkenaz ...
- 40.2k
9
votes
1
answer
207
views
Why put Psalm 130 right before barchu?
I've seen the custom quoted in many siddurim to recite Psalm 130 (שיר המעלות ממעמקים), with the Ark open, between ישתבח and ברכו during עשרת ימי תשובה. This particular Psalm was chosen because it's ...
- 18.9k
7
votes
5
answers
3k
views
What ancient sources discuss the meaning of Psalm 22?
Many Christians believe Psalm 22 refers to Jesus of Nazareth. How have Jews historically understood Psalm 22 and interpreted it?
- 873
4
votes
1
answer
171
views
Psalms for Festivals
There are Nuschaot (eg the Gra's) that recite specific Psalms on individual Festival days, instead of the Psalm of the day of the week. Presumably this is based on what was done in the Temple. Where ...
- 51
20
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Nun in Ashrei- Psalm 145
The prayer Ashrei, which we recite three times a day, is an acrostic consisting of all the letters of the Hebrew alphabet except for nun (נ). Why is the nun omitted?
- 5,657
18
votes
1
answer
659
views
Why do Sifrei Emes use different taamim?
I know that the Sifrei Emes (Tehillim, Mishlei, Iyov) use a different system of taamim. Why is this?
What is it about these books that makes it that they cannot — or should not — use the ...
- 28.4k
13
votes
6
answers
3k
views
What is meant by the 974 "worlds" that were "created and destroyed"?
Midrash Tehillim 90:13 says that God created and destroyed 974 worlds before this one. What exactly does that mean?
I've heard it used in defense of a modern understanding of evolution and cosmology ...
- 2,547
11
votes
2
answers
921
views
Should we say Al Naharos Bavel?
Tehillim 137 is printed in several bentchers before birkas hamazon, but from what I have seen most people do not say it. What is the correct thing to do: say or omit? Are there different minhagim?
- 3,928
11
votes
2
answers
623
views
Tehilim divided into five sections?
According to Wikipedia, Jewish tradition divides the book of Tehilim into five sections (1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150). This is unsourced there; the references at the bottom of the page ...
- 56.2k
8
votes
2
answers
357
views
Stress of הושיעה and הצליחה in Hallel
Why is הושיעה Mileel (penultimately stressed) whereas הצליחה is Milra (ultimately stressed) in Psalms 118:25?
- 665
8
votes
2
answers
801
views
When do we start reciting Psalm 27?
Yesterday being the 30th of Av (and Rosh Chodesh Elul), prompted a question at shul: exactly when do we start saying Psalm 27—on the first day of Elul or the first day of Rosh Chodesh Elul? Most ...
- 798
7
votes
2
answers
250
views
Koren Siddur on Kal Atzmotai Tomarna
(Note: likely not relevant to those who Daven/read Hebrew with an Ashkenazi pronunciation.)
This Shabbos I was asked to lead Pesukei Dezimrah at a shul I was visiting, and I was given a Koren Siddur ...
- 20.8k
6
votes
1
answer
445
views
Why is Sefer Tehillim called Tehillim and not Tehillos?
Tehillim is plural of Tehilla (תהלה). Tehilla looks like a feminine noun, which is why there's a word called תהלות.
So why is the sefer called Sefer Tehillim?
- 40.1k
6
votes
1
answer
287
views
Why does the prefix She- appear in only Tehillim, Shir Hashirim, and Koheles?
The prefix שֶׁ is very common in Mishnaic and Modern Hebrew, but in Tanakh appear rarely, except in Tehillim, Shir Hashirim, and Koheles, where it is all over the place. Why are these books the only ...
- 8,233
6
votes
2
answers
522
views
Where do Ashrei's intro sentences in the liturgy before Psalm 145 (Ashrei) come from?
The sentences "Joyful are the inhabitants of Your House, constantly praising You. Joyful are the people for whom this is so" preface Ashrei. They aren't in the psalm that David wrote, 145, but a ...
- 339
6
votes
2
answers
347
views
Pirkei Avos on shabbos during mincha?
It seems clear from the Rama, MB, and other sources (as well as from most printed siddurim) that Pirkei Avos is said in the synagogue at Shabbos Mincha as part of the tefillah in the summer months, ...
- 637
6
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Tehilim HaChida - in the order of the Aleph Bais
I recently came across the Tehilim HaChida which is the entire Tehilim with the Pesukim rearranged in the order of the Aleph Bais by first letter. From the introduction it seems like it is a special ...
- 138k
5
votes
2
answers
783
views
Vihi Noam customs
In my siddur, I noticed when reciting Psalm 91 (for example, Kriyas Shema shel Mitah, Pesukei Dezimra Shabbos morning, Maariv Motzei Shabbos), there are two unusual things indicated:
The last verse ...
- 19.2k
5
votes
1
answer
133
views
Tehilim Chapter 34 according to Aleph Bet
Is there an explanation for why this chapter of tehilim was written according to the Aleph Bet, and why it skips the vav?
user8726
3
votes
1
answer
218
views
Source for book of Tehillim out of order?
I recall learning a midrash (shochar tov?) that the book of Tehillim is out of order and Rebbi Yehoshua ben Levi wanted to put it back in order but was not allowed to do so. Where is this statement ...
- 3,785
2
votes
1
answer
245
views
Dagesh on Hatslicha nna
I see a machloket sidurim and Tanachim about the Na of Hasem Hatlicha Na in the hallel.
Many sidurim was with dagesh on Hoshianna and not on hatslicha na. I searched an explanation.
The explanation ...
- 22.5k
2
votes
3
answers
128
views
Does G-d feed every creature?
Does Psalm 145:16 teach that G-d ensures the well being of every living animal?
"You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing"
1
vote
1
answer
129
views
What are the minimum amount of tehillim (psalms) one must recite before concluding with kaddish?
For example many on shabbbos mevarchim recite all of tehillim and when someone finishes a book kaddish kaddish is recited.
Does it need to be a whole book for kaddish to be said or is there another ...
- 1,249
1
vote
2
answers
3k
views
Tehillim while waiting for medical test results
When one is waiting for a medical test result, which tehillim is it customary to recite?
- 19
0
votes
1
answer
351
views
Translation of פתחו לי שערי צדק
What is the most accurate English translation of the famous verse from Tehillim (Psalms)
פתחו לי שערי צדק
?
- 1,346
17
votes
4
answers
758
views
Mizmor L'Toda with Melody
In the context of p'sukei d'zimra, the Shulchan Aruch in Orach Chaim 51:9 rules that "The Psalm of Thanksgiving [i.e. Psalm 100] should be recited with a melody, for all songs are destined to fall ...
17
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Did King David's parents abandon him? (Psalm 27)
This time of year we say the Psalm 27 “LeDavid Ori”. It contains a line, "For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord gathers me in."
Why might King David have even thought of ...
- 7,764
13
votes
3
answers
362
views
Why does Wednesday's shir shel yom include part of the next perek?
The Shir Shel Yom is (usually) a chapter of Tehillim said at the end of davening, unique to each day. That applies for every day except Wednesday.
In some (many) customs, Wednesday's song is Tehillim ...
- 22.9k
13
votes
6
answers
8k
views
The power of saying tehillim
When I was starting to become observant, at the end of shacharis one day, someone asked me "are you finished with tehillim?". I told them I don't know what that is. They told me "if we knew what was ...
- 990
12
votes
1
answer
407
views
Why is there a custom to join "Hashem" and "Elokenu" together in the line Al Taazvenu in Shema Kolenu in Selichot
In Shema Kolenu, based on the Posuk in Psalms 38:22 we say the phrase:
Al Taazvenu Hashem Elokenu Al tirchak mimenu | Don't leave us Hashem Our God Don't distance yourself from us.
The interesting ...
- 6,016
12
votes
4
answers
593
views
Sitting for "Ashre"?
I have seen people seemingly careful to sit down when beginning the paragraph of prayers that starts "Ashre yosh've vesecha" (Ps. 84:5). One such person told me that he was, in fact, careful to do so, ...
- 73.6k
10
votes
2
answers
439
views
What is the proof that HaShem's purpose in creation was to bestow good?
Rabbi M Ch Luzzatto in Derech HaShem (1:2:1) gives HaShem’s purpose in creation to “bestow of His good to another”. (Translation Aryeh Kaplan.) The translator in his notes gives several sources/...
- 46.6k
8
votes
2
answers
515
views
The order of Tehillim
Sefer Tehillim (Psalms) consists of 150 mizmorim, most likely compiled (and perhaps even entirely written) by King David. The mizmorim are not in chronological order following the events that inspired ...
- 28.4k
7
votes
1
answer
261
views
Repeated final line in Psalm 150
During Pesukei D'zimra, we say a series of chapters from Tehillim. When we recite chapter 150, the final pasuk (kol haneshama...) is said twice. The ArtScroll Machzor (unlike the everyday ArtScroll ...
- 37.4k
7
votes
7
answers
325
views
Unusual spelling of Joseph's name
In Psalm 81:6, why is Joseph's name spelled יהוסף? Seems to be the only place in the TaNaK that I currently know of that his name is spelled in this fashion.
- 351
7
votes
3
answers
470
views
"Praiseworthy is he who will clutch and dash your infants against the rock"?
I do not understand the last lines of psalm 137 ("By the rivers of Babylon"/"Al naharos bovel," the psalm recited before Birkat Ha-Mazon on weekdays. [It includes the famous lines &...
- 19.5k
7
votes
0
answers
392
views
Can one read Tehillim or Tanach at night? [duplicate]
I remember hearing people quote sources that say it is better not to reading Tehillim or Tanach at night.
Does anyone know the source to this, and to why it should not be read at night? Does one ...
7
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Mizmor l'David (Psalms 23) at Shalosh Suedos
There is a common minhag (custom) to sing Mizmor l'David at Seudah Shlishis, the third Sabbath meal. It is common to sing this song three times in a row and I was asked this Shabbos by a friend why ...
- 13.2k
7
votes
2
answers
391
views
Why repeat the last verse of "Yoshev b'Seter Elyon"
In Nusach ashkenaz, as well as in "V'hi Noam" of Nusach haAri, the last pasuk of "Yoshev B'seter Elyon" (Psalm 91) is repeated.
Why is that?
- 12.8k
7
votes
1
answer
269
views
Why do yekkes say Shir Mizmor Le'Osof each morning?
There is a very old Minhag Ashkenaz (i.e. practiced by yekkes) that every day after Shacharis (or Musaf) one says Psalm 83 (Shir Mizmor LeOsof).
I have done this for a long time, however I am yet to ...
- 3,291
6
votes
3
answers
441
views
Why aren't Job or Psalms 90 in the Pentateuch?
In the Tanakh, the Jewish Biblical Canon, there are three categories of works: the Torah of Moses, and what are know as the 'Prophets' and 'Writings'. This categorization is outlined and mentioned in ...
- 8,174