Psalms 76:1
in Psalms 76God is known in Judah; His name is great in Israel.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
In Judah is God known: His name is great in Israel.
KJV
In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.
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This verse in Psalms 76
Commentary
11 notes on this verseBefore the cross gave light to the world, before the Lord was seen upon the earth, God was known in Judaea, and his name was great in Israel; but when the Savior came, his sound went out into all the earth, and his words unto the ends of the world.
This site's exposition
God is known in Judah
on Psalms 76:1-3
God is known in Judah, and His tent is in Salem, the older name of Jerusalem where Melchizedek was king and priest at Genesis 14:18. In that same city He shattered the flaming arrows and broke the shield and sword. The weapons of war break at Zion.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
The Jews are wont to glory in this Psalm which we have sung, saying, "Known in Judaea is God, in Israel great is the name of Him:" and to revile the Gentiles to whom God is not known, and to say that to themselves alone God is known; seeing that the Prophet saith, "Known in Judaea is God." ...But God is known in very deed in Judaea, if they understand what is Judaea. For indeed God is not known except in Judaea. Behold even we say this, that except a person shall have been in Judaea, known to him God cannot be. But what saith the Apostle? He that in secret is a Jew, he that is so in circumcision of the heart, not in letter but in spirit. There are therefore Jews in circumcision of the flesh, and there are Jews in circumcision of the heart. ...They then are more truly Jews, who have been made Christians out of Jews: the rest of the Jews, who in Christ have not believed, have deserved to lose even the very name. The true Judaea, then, is the Church of Christ, believing in that King, who hath come out of the tribe of Judah through the Virgin Mary; believing in Him of whom the Apostle was just now speaking, in writing to Timothy, "Be thou mindful that Jesus Christ hath risen from the dead, of the seed of David, after my Gospel." For of Judah is David, and out of David is the Lord Jesus Christ. We believing in Christ do belong to Judah: and we acknowledge Christ. We, that with eyes have not seen, in faith do keep Him. Let not therefore the Jews revile, who are no longer Jews. ... "Known in Judaea is God, in Israel great is the Name of Him" (ver. 1). Concerning Israel also we ought so to take it as we have concerning Judaea: as they were not the true Jews, so neither was that the true Israel. For what is Israel said to be? One seeing God. And how have they seen God, among whom He walked in the flesh; and while they supposed Him to be man, they slew Him? […]
The Reformation1 voice
It is therefore asserted, that the glory of God was conspicuously displayed when the enemies of Israel were discomfited by such a miraculous interposition.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
With what pleasure may we Christians apply all this to the advantages we enjoy by the Redeemer! It is through him that God is known; it is in him that God's name is great; to him it is owing that God has a tabernacle and a dwelling-place in his church.
In Judah is God known,....
It is the honour and privilege of Judah and Israel that among them God is known, and where he is known his name will be great. God is known as he is pleased to make himself known; and those are happy to whom he discovers himself--happy people that have their land filled with the knowledge of God, happy persons that have their hearts filled with that knowledge.
4 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
In Judah is God known. If unknown in all the world beside, he has so revealed himself to his people by his deeds of grace, that he is no unknown God to them. His name is great in Israel. To be known, in the Lord's case, is to be honoured: those who know his name admire the greatness of it.
In Judah is God known. If unknown in all the world beside, he has so revealed himself to his people by his deeds of grace, that he is no unknown God to them. His name is great in Israel. To be known, in the Lord's case, is to be honoured: those who know his name admire the greatness of it. Although Judah and Israel were unhappily divided politically, yet the godly of both nations were agreed concerning Jehovah their God; and truly whatever schisms may mar the visible church, the saints always "appear as one" in magnifying the Lord their God. Dark is the outer world, but within the favoured circle Jehovah is revealed, and is the adoration of all who behold him. The world knows him not, and therefore blasphemes him, but his church is full of ardour to proclaim his fame unto the ends of the earth.
In Judah is God known - The true God revealed himself to the Jews. The Israelites, after the separation of the tribes, had the same knowledge, but they greatly corrupted the Divine worship; though still God was great, even in Israel.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
In Judah is God known - That is, he has made himself known there in a special manner; he has evinced his watchful care over the city so as to demand a proper acknowledgment; he has manifested himself there as he has not elsewhere. It is true that God is known, or makes himself known everywhere; but it is also true that he does this in some places, and at some times, in a more marked and striking manner than he does in other places and at other times. The most clear and impressive displays of his character are among his own people - in the church. “His name is great in Israel.” Among the people of Israel; or, among his own people. The meaning here is, that, by some act referred to in the psalm, he had so displayed his power and his mercy in favor of that people, as to make it proper that his name should be exalted or praised.
The words behind it
6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| נוֹדָ֣ע | noda' | [is] known | H3045 → | 945 times |
| בִּֽיהוּדָ֣ה | bihudah | in Judah | H3063 → | 819 times |
| אֱלֹהִ֑ים | ʾelohim | God | H430 → | 2601 times |
| בְּ֝יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל | beyisrael | in Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| גָּד֥וֹל | gadol | [is] great | H1419 → | 526 times |
| שְׁמֽוֹ׃ | shemo | name his | H8034 → | 864 times |
נוֹדָ֣ע[is] known
noda'H3045 →945 times
בִּֽיהוּדָ֣הin Judah
bihudahH3063 →819 times
אֱלֹהִ֑יםGod
ʾelohimH430 →2601 times
בְּ֝יִשְׂרָאֵ֗לin Israel
beyisraelH3478 →2507 times
גָּד֥וֹל[is] great
gadolH1419 →526 times
שְׁמֽוֹ׃name his
shemoH8034 →864 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
Acts 17:23For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to…
it leads to
- Galatians 4:8–9
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
- John 4:22
You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.
- John 17:3
Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.
- John 17:25
Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, I know You, and they know that You sent Me.
- Acts 17:30
Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.
- Galatians 4:8–9
Through
Daniel 3:29Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be cut into pieces and their houses reduced to rubble.…
it leads to
- Daniel 2:5
The king replied to the astrologers, “My word is final: If you do not tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will be cut into pieces and your houses will be reduced to…
- Psalms 76:10
Even the wrath of man shall praise You; with the survivors of wrath You will clothe Yourself.
- Deuteronomy 32:31
For their rock is not like our Rock, even our enemies concede.
- Daniel 2:5
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Psalms
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
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 76; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 3; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms; Jerome, Homily 9, on Psalm 75; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.