Who wrote the Book of Psalms?

Jewish beliefsPending rabbinic review

Short answer

Jewish tradition attributes the Psalms to King David, who wrote most of them and edited the book. The Talmud says he included psalms by ten elders, among them Adam, Melchizedek, Abraham, Moses, Heman, Jeduthun, Asaph and the three sons of Korah. Some psalms name their authors; others, such as Psalm 137, were written later.

The Talmud’s list

The Talmud says: “David wrote the Book of Psalms with the help of ten elders” – Adam, Melchizedek, Abraham, Moses, Heman, Jeduthun, Asaph and the three sons of Korah. The headings of the psalms support this: Psalm 90 is “a prayer of Moses, the man of God”, Psalms 42–49 are “of the sons of Korah”, Psalms 50 and 73–83 “of Asaph”. Seventy-three psalms are headed “le-David”.

David, the sweet singer

David is called “the sweet singer of Israel” (2 Samuel 23:1). He played the harp for Saul, and many psalms reflect events in his life – fleeing from Saul (Psalm 57), the sin with Bathsheba (Psalm 51). The second book of Psalms closes: “The prayers of David son of Jesse are ended” (Psalm 72:20).

Five books

The 150 psalms are divided into five books, which the Midrash compares to the five books of the Torah: “Moses gave Israel the five books of the Torah, and David gave Israel the five books of Psalms.”

Psalms in Jewish life

Psalms fill the daily prayers: Ashrei (Psalm 145) is said three times a day, the Song of the Day each morning, Hallel on festivals, and Kabbalat Shabbat is built from Psalms 95–99 and 29. Many recite the whole book weekly or monthly, and Psalms are said for the sick, at a grave and in times of trouble. Our Hebrew site has the full text with commentaries.

Sources

In the Torah

כָּלּוּ תְפִלּוֹת דָּוִד בֶּן־יִשָׁי
Psalms 72:20

Talmud and halacha

Talmud Bava Batra 14b–15a – David and the ten elders
Midrash Tehillim 1:2 – five books of Psalms

Also asked as

Who wrote the Psalms in the Bible?
Did King David write all the Psalms?