Psalms 96:9
in Psalms 96Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Oh worship Jehovah in holy array: Tremble before him, all the earth.
KJV
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
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This verse in Psalms 96
Commentary
10 notes on this verseTake up victims, and enter into his courts. 'A holy victim, living, pleasing to God.' Take up victims. Bring victims yourselves. What victims? Be yourselves the victims. Virginity is a whole-burnt-offering to Christ: all chastity, whether in virginity or in widowhood or in continence, is a victim to Christ. I speak a new thing: the victim of chastity carries itself. Take up victims, and enter into his courts: adore the Lord in his holy court. I see many courts, I see one court. Take up victims, and enter into his courts: behold, many courts.
This site's exposition
O families of the nations
on Psalms 96:7-9
These verses repeat Psalm 29:1 and 2 almost word for word, with O families of the nations standing where Psalm 29 addresses the heavenly beings. The summons now reaches the whole earth, and it asks for worship in the splendor of His holiness. An offering comes into His courts with it.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"O worship the Lord in His holy court" [Psalm 96:9]: in the Catholic Church; this is His holy court. Let no man say, "Lo, here is Christ, or there. For there shall arise false prophets." [Matthew 24:23-24] Say this unto them, "There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." Ye are calling me to the whited wall; I adore my God in His holy court. "Let the whole earth be moved before His face."
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Beauty - Cloathed with all the gifts and graces, which are necessary in God's worship.
All the earth is here summoned to fear before the Lord, to worship him according to his appointment. In every place incense shall be offered to his name, Mal. i. This indeed spoke mortification to the Jews, but, withal, it gave a prospect of that which would redound very much to the glory of God and to the happiness of mankind.
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
0 worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. This is the only beauty which he cares for in our public services, and it is one for which no other can compensate. Beauty of architecture and apparel he does not regard; moral and spiritual beauty is that in which his soul delighteth. Worship must not be rendered to God in a slovenly, sinful, superficial manner; we must be reverent, sincere, earnest, and pure in heart both in our prayers and praises.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
0 worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. This is the only beauty which he cares for in our public services, and it is one for which no other can compensate. Beauty of architecture and apparel he does not regard; moral and spiritual beauty is that in which his soul delighteth. Worship must not be rendered to God in a slovenly, sinful, superficial manner; we must be reverent, sincere, earnest, and pure in heart both in our prayers and praises. Purity is the white linen of the Lord's choristers, righteousness is the comely garment of his priests, holiness is the royal apparel of his servants. Fear before him, all the earth. "Tremble" is the word in the original, and it expresses the profoundest awe, just as the word "worship" does, which would be more accurately translated by "bow down." Even the bodily frame would be moved to trembling and prostration if men were thoroughly conscious of the power and glory of Jehovah. Men of the world ridiculed "the Quakers" for trembling when under the power of the Holy Spirit; had they been able to discern the majesty of the Eternal they would have quaked also. There is a sacred trembling which is quite consistent with joy, the heart may even quiver with an awful excess of delight. The sight of the King in his beauty caused no alarm to John in Patmos, and yet it made him fall at his feet as dead. Oh, to behold him and worship him with prostrate awe and sacred fear!
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness - I think בהדרת קדש behadrath kodesh, signifies holy ornaments, such as the high priest wore in his ministrations. These were given him for glory and beauty; and the psalmist calls on him to put on his sacerdotal garments, to bring his offering, מנחה minchah, and come into the courts of the Lord, and perform his functions, and make intercession for the people.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness - This verse is literally taken from 1Ch 16:29-30. The margin here is, “in the glorious sanctuary.” The Septuagint, ἐν αὐλῇ ἁγίᾳ en aulē hagia - “in his holy court.” So the Latin Vulgate. On the meanings of the expression, see the notes at Psa 29:2. Fear before him, all the earth - All lands; all people. The word rendered “fear” means properly to writhe, to twist, to be in pain; and then, to tremble, to quake, to be afraid. The word “tremble” would perhaps best express the idea here. It is that solemn awe produced by the sense of the divine presence and majesty which causes trembling. It denotes profound reverence for God.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
“The Lord has reigned” This song will be [sung] in the future.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 6 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הִשְׁתַּחֲו֣וּ | hishtachavu | bow down | H7812 → | 172 times |
| לַ֭יהוָה | layahweh | to Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| בְּהַדְרַת־ | behadrat- | in adornment of | H1927 → | |
| קֹ֑דֶשׁ | kodesh | holiness | H6944 → | 469 times |
| חִ֥ילוּ | chilu | tremble | H2342 → | 58 times |
| מִ֝פָּנָ֗יו | mipanav | from before him | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | O all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| הָאָֽרֶץ׃ | haaretz | the earth | H776 → | 2504 times |
הִשְׁתַּחֲו֣וּbow down
hishtachavuH7812 →172 times
לַ֭יהוָהto Yahweh
layahwehH3068 →6520 times
בְּהַדְרַת־in adornment of
behadrat-H1927 →
קֹ֑דֶשׁholiness
kodeshH6944 →469 times
חִ֥ילוּtremble
chiluH2342 →58 times
מִ֝פָּנָ֗יוfrom before him
mipanavH6440 →2123 times
כָּל־O all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
הָאָֽרֶץ׃the earth
haaretzH776 →2504 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 29:2Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness.
it leads to
- Psalms 96:8–9
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering and enter His courts.
- 1 Chronicles 16:28–29
Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
- 2 Chronicles 20:21
Then Jehoshaphat consulted with the people and appointed those who would sing to the LORD and praise the splendor of His holiness. As they went out before the army, they were singing: “Give thanks…
- Psalms 110:3
Your people shall be willing on Your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, to You belongs the dew of Your youth.
- Psalms 27:4
One thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the…
- Psalms 96:8–9
Through
Psalms 110:3Your people shall be willing on Your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, to You belongs the dew of Your youth.
it leads to
- Judges 5:2
“When the princes take the lead in Israel, when the people volunteer, bless the LORD.
- Hebrews 13:21
equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
- Judges 5:2
Through
Psalms 33:8Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere Him.
it leads to
- Revelation 14:6–7
Then I saw another angel flying overhead, with the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation and tribe and tongue and people.
- Revelation 14:6–7
Where this verse is studied
By subject
Worship35 verses
About Psalms
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 96; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 4; Jerome, Homily 23, on Psalm 95; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.