The LORD Reigns
Psalm 97 summary: what it means
Psalm 97 opens with a short announcement: the LORD reigns. The earth and the islands are told to rejoice. What follows is a picture of God's coming like a storm. Clouds and darkness surround him, fire goes before him, lightning lights up the world and the mountains melt like wax. At the centre of the scene is his throne, founded on righteousness and justice.
The second half looks at how people respond. Those who serve idols are shamed, while Zion and the daughters of Judah rejoice at his judgments. The psalm then speaks to the reader: you who love the LORD, hate evil. It ends on a quiet image, light sown for the righteous, and a call to be glad and give thanks.
Psalm 97: The LORD Reigns
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-97
Psalm 97 commentary: explained verse by verse
The LORD reigns!Let the earth rejoice!Let the multitude of islands be glad!
The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
The psalm opens with its main claim, the LORD reigns, and calls the whole earth to rejoice. Even the many islands are included.
Also read Colossians 1:13, Matthew 6:10, Isaiah 24:14-16, Isaiah 41:5
Clouds and darkness are around him.Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
Clouds and darkness surround God, so he is not seen clearly. Yet the foundation of his throne is plain: righteousness and justice.
Also read Exodus 24:16-18, Psalm 18:11-12, 1 Kings 8:10-12, Psalm 99:4
A fire goes before him,and burns up his adversaries on every side.
A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
Fire goes ahead of God and burns up his adversaries on every side. The scene is one of power drawing near.
Also read Malachi 4:1, Psalm 50:3, Daniel 7:10, 2 Thessalonians 1:8
His lightning lights up the world.The earth sees, and trembles.
His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
Lightning lights up the world, and the earth sees it and trembles. Creation itself reacts to God's coming.
Also read Exodus 19:16-18, Revelation 19:11, Jeremiah 10:10, Matthew 27:50-51
The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD,at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
The mountains, the most solid things in the landscape, melt like wax. The verse gives the cause twice: the presence of the LORD, the Lord of the whole earth.
Also read Isaiah 64:1-2, Joshua 3:11, Habakkuk 3:6, Judges 5:4-5
The heavens declare his righteousness.All the peoples have seen his glory.
The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
The heavens declare God's righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. The God surrounded by cloud in verse 2 is now seen by everyone.
Also read Psalm 98:3, Isaiah 40:5, Psalm 19:1, Psalm 50:6
Let all them be shamed who serve engraved images,who boast in their idols.Worship him, all you gods!
Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
Those who serve engraved images and boast in idols are put to shame. The verse ends by calling on all the gods to worship him, placing every rival below the LORD.
Also read Isaiah 44:9-11, Revelation 14:8-10, Isaiah 37:18-19, Isaiah 41:29
Zion heard and was glad.The daughters of Judah rejoicedbecause of your judgments, LORD.
Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.
Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice. The reason is God's judgments, which in this psalm are good news for his people.
Also read Revelation 19:1-7, Isaiah 52:7-10, Matthew 21:4-9, Zechariah 9:9
For you, LORD, are most high above all the earth.You are exalted far above all gods.
For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
The LORD is most high above all the earth and exalted far above all gods. It repeats the point of verse 7, now spoken directly to God.
Also read Exodus 18:11, Philippians 2:9-11, Ephesians 1:21, Jeremiah 10:8
You who love the LORD, hate evil!He preserves the souls of his saints.He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
The psalm addresses the reader: you who love the LORD, hate evil. It then points to God's care, since he preserves the souls of his saints and delivers them from the wicked.
Also read Psalm 119:104, Proverbs 2:8, Daniel 6:22, Psalm 34:14
Light is sown for the righteous,and gladness for the upright in heart.
Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. The image is of seed in the ground, planted now and coming up later.
Also read Revelation 22:5, John 12:46, Isaiah 60:1-2, Micah 7:9
Be glad in the LORD, you righteous people!Give thanks to his holy Name.
Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
The psalm closes by calling the righteous to be glad in the LORD and give thanks to his holy Name. It ends with the gladness it began with, now centred on God himself.
Also read Zephaniah 3:14-17, Psalm 32:11-1, Psalm 60:6, Psalm 30:4
A prayer from Psalm 97
LORD, you reign, and the earth can rejoice. Clouds and darkness are around you, yet righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. The mountains melt like wax at your presence, and the heavens declare your righteousness. You are most high above all the earth. Help me to love you and to hate evil. Preserve my soul, and deliver me from the hand of the wicked. You sow light for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart. I give thanks to your holy name. Amen.
Psalm 97 Bible study questions
- In verse 2, what surrounds God, and what is the foundation of his throne?
- In verse 5, what happens to the mountains at the presence of the LORD?
- Verse 2 places clouds and darkness beside righteousness and justice; how do you read a God described in both ways?
- Verse 10 tells those who love the LORD to hate evil; what does that pairing suggest to you?
- Psalm 93:1 also opens with the LORD reigns; how does its picture of God compare with Psalm 97:1 to 5?
Questions about Psalm 97
Who wrote Psalm 97?
The author is not named in the text. Psalm 97 has no heading.
What is Psalm 97 about?
It celebrates the LORD as King. It pictures his coming with cloud, fire and lightning, shames those who worship idols, and ends with joy and light for the righteous.
What does Psalm 97:1 mean?
It announces that the LORD reigns and calls the earth and the many islands to rejoice. The rest of the psalm describes what his reign looks like.
What does Psalm 97:11 mean?
It says light is sown for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart. The picture is of something planted that will grow, so their joy is on its way. The King James Version has the same wording.
What does Psalm 97:2 mean?
It says clouds and darkness surround God, yet his throne rests on righteousness and justice. God may be hidden, but the basis of his rule is clear.
Psalm 97 KJV: the King James Version
The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.1
Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.2
A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.3
His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.4
The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.5
The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.6
Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.7
Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.8
For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.9
Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.10
Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.11
Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.12
Psalm 97 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 יְהוָ֣ה מָ֭לָךְ תָּגֵ֣ל הָאָ֑רֶץ יִ֝שְׂמְח֗וּ אִיִּ֥ים רַבִּֽים׃
2 עָנָ֣ן וַעֲרָפֶ֣ל סְבִיבָ֑יו צֶ֥דֶק וּ֝מִשְׁפָּ֗ט מְכ֣וֹן כִּסְאֽוֹ׃
3 אֵ֭שׁ לְפָנָ֣יו תֵּלֵ֑ךְ וּתְלַהֵ֖ט סָבִ֣יב צָרָֽיו׃
4 הֵאִ֣ירוּ בְרָקָ֣יו תֵּבֵ֑ל רָאֲתָ֖ה וַתָּחֵ֣ל הָאָֽרֶץ׃
5 הָרִ֗ים כַּדּוֹנַ֗ג נָ֭מַסּוּ מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה מִ֝לִּפְנֵ֗י אֲד֣וֹן כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
6 הִגִּ֣ידוּ הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם צִדְק֑וֹ וְרָא֖וּ כָל־הָעַמִּ֣ים כְּבוֹדֽוֹ׃
7 יֵבֹ֤שׁוּ ׀ כָּל־עֹ֬בְדֵי פֶ֗סֶל הַמִּֽתְהַלְלִ֥ים בָּאֱלִילִ֑ים הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ־ל֝וֹ כָּל־אֱלֹהִֽים׃
8 שָׁמְעָ֬ה וַתִּשְׂמַ֨ח ׀ צִיּ֗וֹן וַ֭תָּגֵלְנָה בְּנ֣וֹת יְהוּדָ֑ה לְמַ֖עַן מִשְׁפָּטֶ֣יךָ יְהוָֽה׃
9 כִּֽי־אַתָּ֤ה יְהוָ֗ה עֶלְי֥וֹן עַל־כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ מְאֹ֥ד נַ֝עֲלֵ֗יתָ עַל־כָּל־אֱלֹהִֽים׃
10 אֹהֲבֵ֥י יְהוָ֗ה שִׂנְא֫וּ רָ֥ע שֹׁ֭מֵר נַפְשׁ֣וֹת חֲסִידָ֑יו מִיַּ֥ד רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים יַצִּילֵֽם׃
11 א֭וֹר זָרֻ֣עַ לַצַּדִּ֑יק וּֽלְיִשְׁרֵי־לֵ֥ב שִׂמְחָֽה׃
12 שִׂמְח֣וּ צַ֭דִּיקִים בַּֽיהוָ֑ה וְ֝הוֹד֗וּ לְזֵ֣כֶר קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃
Psalm 97 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 96 there.
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1 For the same David, when his land was restored again to him. The Lord hath reigned, let the earth rejoice: let many islands be glad.
2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: justice and judgment are the establishment of his throne.
3 A fire shall go before him, and shall burn his enemies round about.
4 His lightnings have shone forth to the world: the earth saw and trembled.
5 The mountains melted like wax, at the presence of the Lord: at the presence of the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens declared his justice: and all people saw his glory.
7 Let them be all confounded that adore graven things, and that glory in their idols. Adore him, all you his angels:
8 Sion heard, and was glad. And the daughters of Juda rejoiced, because of thy judgments, O Lord.
9 For thou art the most high Lord over all the earth: thou art exalted exceedingly above all gods.
10 You that love the Lord, hate evil: the Lord preserveth the souls of his saints, he will deliver them out of the hand of the sinner.
11 Light is risen to the just, and joy to the right of heart.
12 Rejoice, ye just, in the Lord: and give praise to the remembrance of his holiness.
Psalm 97 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 96.
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1 Huic David, quando terra ejus restituta est. Dominus regnavit: exsultet terra; lætentur insulæ multæ.
2 Nubes et caligo in circuitu ejus; justitia et judicium correctio sedis ejus.
3 Ignis ante ipsum præcedet, et inflammabit in circuitu inimicos ejus.
4 Illuxerunt fulgura ejus orbi terræ; vidit, et commota est terra.
5 Montes sicut cera fluxerunt a facie Domini; a facie Domini omnis terra.
6 Annuntiaverunt cæli justitiam ejus, et viderunt omnes populi gloriam ejus.
7 Confundantur omnes qui adorant sculptilia, et qui gloriantur in simulacris suis. Adorate eum omnes angeli ejus.
8 Audivit, et lætata est Sion, et exsultaverunt filiæ Judæ propter judicia tua, Domine.
9 Quoniam tu Dominus altissimus super omnem terram; nimis exaltatus es super omnes deos.
10 Qui diligitis Dominum, odite malum: custodit Dominus animas sanctorum suorum; de manu peccatoris liberabit eos.
11 Lux orta est justo, et rectis corde lætitia.
12 Lætamini, justi, in Domino, et confitemini memoriæ sanctificationis ejus.
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Psalm 97 at a glance
| Verses | 12 |
| 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 96 |
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Psalm 97 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 97 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 97 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