The Hebrew name for the book of Psalms is Tehillim, meaning “songs of praise,” with individual psalms called Mizmorim, such as Mizmor Aleph (Psalm 1), Mizmor Bet (Psalm 2), and so forth. The Psalms have long served as the Bible’s prayer book. Traditionally, Tehillim is divided into five books, mirroring the five books of the Torah. Just as Moses gave Israel the Torah, David gave the Psalms— “Moses gave the path, but David gave directions.” In the Hebrew Bible, the Psalms are part of the wisdom literature within the Ketuvim (“Writings”). Each of the first four books concludes with a doxology (a usually liturgical expression of praise to God). Psalm 150 serves as a doxology for the fifth book and an appropriate conclusion to the entire Psalter.

The Genesis Book concerning man: Psalms 1-41

Writer:

• All 41 of these psalms are ascribed to King David.

Interesting Facts

• Psalms 9, 10, 25, 34, and 37 have acrostic elements.

Studying the Psalms

Psalms 1-10

• The Righteous vs. The Ungodly: Insights from Psalm 1
• The Prophecy of the Anointed One in Psalm 2
• Psalm 3: Trusting God in Times of Trouble
• Understanding Psalm 4: A Guide to Finding Peace in Distress
• Understanding Psalm 5: A Guide to Morning Prayer
• Psalm 6: A Journey from Sorrow to Assurance 
• Understanding Psalm 7: Trust and Justice in God
• Exploring the Majesty of God in Psalm 8
• Understanding Psalm 9: Praise and Justice
• Psalm 10 Outline
• Psalm 10:2‑11 — The Wicked as a Reflection of Satan’s Character

Psalms 11-20

coming soon

Psalms 21-30

• THE SUFFERING MESSIAH PROPHECIES IN PSALM 22
• Finding Comfort in Psalm 23: Lessons for Life

Psalms 31-41

• Understanding Psalm 37:3-4 Trust and Delight in the Lord

More Information on the Book of Psalms

Unlocking the Wisdom of Psalms for Bible Study