Sing a New Song
Psalm 96 summary: what it means
Psalm 96 is a call to worship addressed to the whole world. It opens with three commands to sing to the LORD, the first of them a new song, and tells the singers to declare his glory among the nations. The reason follows: the LORD is great and made the heavens, while the gods of the peoples are idols. The families of nations are told to ascribe glory to him, bring an offering and worship in holy array.
The message for the nations is short: the LORD reigns, and the world is established. From verse 11 creation joins in. The heavens, the earth, the sea, the fields and the trees of the woods are all called to rejoice. The psalm ends with the reason for their joy: he is coming to judge the earth with righteousness and the peoples with his truth.
Psalm 96: Sing a New Song
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-96
Psalm 96 commentary: explained verse by verse
Sing to the LORD a new song!Sing to the LORD, all the earth.
O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
The psalm opens with a command to sing a new song to the LORD, addressed to all the earth. From the first line the audience is the whole world, not one nation.
Also read Psalm 98:1, Psalm 67:3-6, Psalm 149:1, Psalm 68:32
Sing to the LORD!Bless his name!Proclaim his salvation from day to day!
Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
The call to sing is given a third time, with blessing his name and proclaiming his salvation. From day to day makes praise a daily task, not a single event.
Also read Psalm 40:10, Psalm 71:15, Romans 10:14-18, Isaiah 40:9
Declare his glory among the nations,his marvelous works among all the peoples.
Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
The singers are sent outward. They are to declare God's glory among the nations and his marvelous works among all the peoples.
Also read Psalm 22:27, Matthew 28:19, Psalm 72:18-19, Daniel 6:26-27
For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised!He is to be feared above all gods.
For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
The first reason for praise is God's greatness. He is to be feared above all gods, which sets up the comparison in verse 5.
Also read Luke 12:5, Psalm 86:10, Nehemiah 9:5, Psalm 95:3
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,but the LORD made the heavens.
For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
The comparison is blunt. The gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens, so the difference is between made things and their maker.
Also read Genesis 1:1, Jeremiah 10:3-5, Isaiah 46:1-2, Psalm 115:15
Honor and majesty are before him.Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
The psalm describes what surrounds God: honor and majesty before him, strength and beauty in his sanctuary. It pictures his presence rather than his actions.
Also read Psalm 63:2-3, Psalm 29:9, Psalm 8:1, 1 Chronicles 16:27
Ascribe to the LORD, you families of nations,ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe means to give God credit for what is his. The families of nations are told to acknowledge his glory and strength.
Also read Jude 1:24-25, Romans 15:9-10, 1 Peter 5:11, Psalm 22:27
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name.Bring an offering, and come into his courts.
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
Acknowledging his glory leads to action: bring an offering and come into his courts. The nations are invited into worship, not only to watch it.
Also read Hebrews 13:15-16, Exodus 34:5-9, Romans 12:1, Psalm 45:12
Worship the LORD in holy array.Tremble before him, all the earth.
O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
Worship in holy array is paired with trembling before him, and the whole earth is told to do both. The KJV reads: O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Also read Psalm 29:2, Ezra 7:27, Luke 21:5-6, Psalm 110:3
Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.”The world is also established.It can’t be moved.He will judge the peoples with equity.
Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
This is the message the nations are to hear: the LORD reigns. Because he reigns, the world is established and cannot be moved, and he will judge the peoples with equity.
Also read Psalm 93:1, Psalm 9:8, Revelation 11:15, Psalm 2:8-12
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice.Let the sea roar, and its fullness!
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
Creation is called to join in. The heavens are glad, the earth rejoices and the sea roars with everything in it.
Also read Isaiah 49:13, Psalm 97:1, Luke 15:10, Psalm 148:1-4
Let the field and all that is in it exult!Then all the trees of the woods shall sing for joy
Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
Also read Isaiah 55:12-13, Isaiah 44:23, Isaiah 35:1, Psalm 65:12-13
before the LORD; for he comes,for he comes to judge the earth.He will judge the world with righteousness,the peoples with his truth.
Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
The psalm ends with the reason for all this joy. The LORD is coming, and the psalm says so twice, to judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with his truth. Judgment here is presented as good news.
Also read Revelation 19:11, Revelation 11:18, Malachi 3:1-2, Titus 2:13
A prayer from Psalm 96
LORD, I want to sing you a new song with all the earth. Let me bless your name and tell of your salvation from day to day. You made the heavens. Honor and majesty are before you, and strength and beauty are in your sanctuary. I bring you the glory due to your name. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice. Let the sea roar and the trees of the woods sing for joy before you, for you come to judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with your truth. Amen.
Psalm 96 Bible study questions
- In verse 3, where is God's glory to be declared, and what is to be told among the peoples?
- In verses 11 and 12, which parts of creation are called to rejoice?
- What might it mean for you to sing a new song, as verse 1 puts it?
- Verse 13 treats God coming to judge the earth as a reason for joy; how do you respond to that idea?
- Psalm 98:9 ends with almost the same words as Psalm 96:13; what else do the two psalms share?
Questions about Psalm 96
What does Psalm 96 mean?
It calls the whole world to praise the LORD, tell the nations that he reigns, and rejoice because he is coming to judge the earth with righteousness and truth.
Who wrote Psalm 96?
The psalm has no heading and does not name its author.
What does Psalm 96:1 mean by a new song?
The psalm does not explain the phrase. It calls all the earth to sing a new song to the LORD, and the rest of the psalm gives the reasons: his greatness, his reign and his coming to judge.
What does Psalm 96:9 say in the KJV?
"O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth." The WEB has "Worship the LORD in holy array. Tremble before him, all the earth."
What does Psalm 96:5 mean?
It contrasts the gods of the peoples, which it calls idols, with the LORD, who made the heavens.
What does Psalm 96:6 say?
"Honor and majesty are before him. Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary." It describes the splendour around God's presence.
Psalm 96 KJV: the King James Version
O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.1
Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.2
Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.3
For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.4
For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.5
Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.6
Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.7
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.8
O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.9
Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.10
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.11
Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice12
Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.13
Psalm 96 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 שִׁ֣ירוּ לַ֭יהוָה שִׁ֣יר חָדָ֑שׁ שִׁ֥ירוּ לַ֝יהוָ֗ה כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
2 שִׁ֣ירוּ לַ֭יהוָה בָּרֲכ֣וּ שְׁמ֑וֹ בַּשְּׂר֥וּ מִיּֽוֹם־לְ֝י֗וֹם יְשׁוּעָתֽוֹ׃
3 סַפְּר֣וּ בַגּוֹיִ֣ם כְּבוֹד֑וֹ בְּכָל־הָֽ֝עַמִּ֗ים נִפְלְאוֹתָֽיו׃
4 כִּ֥י גָ֘ד֤וֹל יְהוָ֣ה וּמְהֻלָּ֣ל מְאֹ֑ד נוֹרָ֥א ה֝֗וּא עַל־כָּל־אֱלֹהִֽים׃
5 כִּ֤י ׀ כָּל־אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָעַמִּ֣ים אֱלִילִ֑ים וַֽ֝יהוָ֗ה שָׁמַ֥יִם עָשָֽׂה׃
6 הוֹד־וְהָדָ֥ר לְפָנָ֑יו עֹ֥ז וְ֝תִפְאֶ֗רֶת בְּמִקְדָּשֽׁוֹ׃
7 הָב֣וּ לַ֭יהוָה מִשְׁפְּח֣וֹת עַמִּ֑ים הָב֥וּ לַ֝יהוָ֗ה כָּב֥וֹד וָעֹֽז׃
8 הָב֣וּ לַ֭יהוָה כְּב֣וֹד שְׁמ֑וֹ שְׂאֽוּ־מִ֝נְחָ֗ה וּבֹ֥אוּ לְחַצְרוֹתָֽיו׃
9 הִשְׁתַּחֲו֣וּ לַ֭יהוָה בְּהַדְרַת־קֹ֑דֶשׁ חִ֥ילוּ מִ֝פָּנָ֗יו כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
10 אִמְר֤וּ בַגּוֹיִ֨ם ׀ יְה֘וָ֤ה מָלָ֗ךְ אַף־תִּכּ֣וֹן תֵּ֭בֵל בַּל־תִּמּ֑וֹט יָדִ֥ין עַ֝מִּ֗ים בְּמֵישָׁרִֽים׃
11 יִשְׂמְח֣וּ הַ֭שָּׁמַיִם וְתָגֵ֣ל הָאָ֑רֶץ יִֽרְעַ֥ם הַ֝יָּ֗ם וּמְלֹאֽוֹ׃
12 יַעֲלֹ֣ז שָׂ֭דַי וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־בּ֑וֹ אָ֥ז יְ֝רַנְּנ֗וּ כָּל־עֲצֵי־יָֽעַר׃
13 לִפְנֵ֤י יְהוָ֨ה ׀ כִּ֬י בָ֗א כִּ֥י בָא֮ לִשְׁפֹּ֪ט הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ יִשְׁפֹּֽט־תֵּבֵ֥ל בְּצֶ֑דֶק וְ֝עַמִּ֗ים בֶּאֱמוּנָתֽוֹ׃
Psalm 96 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 95 there.
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1 A canticle for David himself, when the house was built after the captivity. Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing ye to the Lord and bless his name: shew forth his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the Gentiles: his wonders among all people.
4 For the Lord is great, and exceedingly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the Gentiles are devils: but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Praise and beauty are before him: holiness and majesty in his sanctuary.
7 Bring ye to the Lord, O ye kindreds of the Gentiles, bring ye to the Lord glory and honour:
8 Bring to the Lord glory unto his name. Bring up sacrifices, and come into his courts:
9 Adore ye the Lord in his holy court. Let all the earth be moved at his presence.
10 Say ye among the Gentiles, the Lord hath reigned. For he hath corrected the world, which shall not be moved: he will judge the people with justice.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad, let the sea be moved, and the fulness thereof:
12 The fields and all things that are in them shall be joyful. Then shall all the trees of the woods rejoice
13 Before the face of the Lord, because he cometh: because he cometh to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with justice, and the people with his truth.
Psalm 96 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 95.
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1 Canticum ipsi David, quando domus ædificabatur post captivitatem. Cantate Domino canticum novum; cantate Domino omnis terra.
2 Cantate Domino, et benedicite nomini ejus; annuntiate de die in diem salutare ejus.
3 Annuntiate inter gentes gloriam ejus; in omnibus populis mirabilia ejus.
4 Quoniam magnus Dominus, et laudabilis nimis: terribilis est super omnes deos.
5 Quoniam omnes dii gentium dæmonia; Dominus autem cælos fecit.
6 Confessio et pulchritudo in conspectu ejus; sanctimonia et magnificentia in sanctificatione ejus.
7 Afferte Domino, patriæ gentium, afferte Domino gloriam et honorem;
8 afferte Domino gloriam nomini ejus. Tollite hostias, et introite in atria ejus;
9 adorate Dominum in atrio sancto ejus. Commoveatur a facie ejus universa terra;
10 dicite in gentibus, quia Dominus regnavit. Etenim correxit orbem terræ, qui non commovebitur; judicabit populos in æquitate.
11 Lætentur cæli, et exsultet terra; commoveatur mare et plenitudo ejus;
12 gaudebunt campi, et omnia quæ in eis sunt. Tunc exsultabunt omnia ligna silvarum
13 a facie Domini, quia venit, quoniam venit judicare terram. Judicabit orbem terræ in æquitate, et populos in veritate sua.
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Psalm 96 at a glance
| Verses | 13 |
| Heading in the text | No heading |
| Attributed to | Not named in the text. The psalm has no heading. |
| Type | Praise |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 95 |
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Psalm 96 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 96 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 96 belongs
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source