Psalms 96:9

9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his[a] holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.

Psalms 96:9 in Other Translations

KJV
9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
ESV
9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!
NLT
9 Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor. Let all the earth tremble before him.
MSG
9 Bow before the beauty of God, Then to your knees - everyone worship!
CSB
9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of [His] holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth.

Psalms 96:9 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 96:9

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness
(See Gill on Psalms 29:2), in this and the three preceding verses there is a manifest allusion to the form of addresses made to kings in the eastern nations; who being arrayed, and seated in a majestic manner, with all the marks of royal honour and dignity about them, whom their subjects approach with ascriptions of glory to them; bringing presents in their hands, and bowing down to the ground before them, as the word F18 for "worship" signifies; expressing the utmost awe and reverence of them, as in the next clause:

fear before him, all the earth;
or, as the Targum,

``all the inhabitants of the earth;''

it is the duty of all men to fear the Lord; but none can fear him aright without his grace, or an heart given them to fear him: this respects the latter day, when the Jews shall seek the Lord, and fear him and his goodness; when all nations shall fear and worship him; when, from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, the name of the Lord shall be great and tremendous among the Gentiles; see ( Hosea 3:5 ) ( Revelation 15:3 Revelation 15:4 ) ( Malachi 1:11 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F18 (wwxtvh) "incurvate vos", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "prosternite vos", Tigurine version.

Psalms 96:9 In-Context

7 Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it.

Cross References 4

  • 1. Exodus 23:25; John 1:9
  • 2. S Psalms 93:5; Psalms 29:2
  • 3. S Exodus 15:14; Psalms 114:7
  • 4. Psalms 33:8

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or Lord"with the splendor of"
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