Psalms 99:2
in Psalms 99Great is the LORD in Zion; He is exalted above all the peoples.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Jehovah is great in Zion; And he is high above all the peoples.
KJV
The Lord is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people.
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This verse in Psalms 99
Commentary
9 notes on this verseThe Lord is great in Zion. Of old the temple's sacred hill was the centre of the worship of the great King, and the place where his grandeur was most clearly beheld: his church is now his favoured palace, where his greatness is displayed, acknowledged, and adored. He there unveils his attributes and commands the lowliest homage; the ignorant forget him, the wicked despise him, the atheistical oppose him, but among his own chosen he is great beyond comparison.
This site's exposition
He is enthroned above the cherubim
on Psalms 99:1-3
Enthroned above the cherubim puts Him over the mercy seat of the ark, the seat Exodus 25:22 says He speaks from. The nations tremble and the earth quakes at that throne. He is holy closes the first section and sounds again at verses 5 and 9.
This site's exposition
Great is the LORD in Zion
His greatness is placed on one hill, Zion, where the ark stood. From there He is exalted above all the peoples. The God of the whole earth chose a place to be known.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"The Lord is great in Sion, and high above all people" (ver. 2). ...He whom I spoke to thee of as above the Cherubims, is great in Sion. Ask thou now, what is Sion? We know Sion to be the city of God. The city of Jerusalem is called Sion; and is so called according to a certain interpretation, for that Sion signifieth watching, that is, sight and contemplation; for to watch is to look forward to, or gaze upon, or strain the eyes to see. Now every soul is a Sion, if it trieth to see that light which is to be seen. For if it shall have gazed upon a light of its own, it is darkened; if upon His, it is enlightened. But, now that it is clear that Sion is the city of God; what is the city of God, but the Holy Church? For men who love one another, and who love their God who dwelleth in them, constitute a city unto God. Because a city is held together by some law; their very law is Love; and that very Love is God: for openly it is written, "God is Love." He therefore who is full of Love, is full of God; and many, full of love, constitute a city full of God. That city of God is called Sion; the Church therefore is Sion. In it God is great....
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
He is high there above all people; as that which is high is exposed to view, and looked up to, so in Zion the perfections of the divine nature appear more conspicuous and more illustrious than any where else. Therefore let those that dwell in Zion, and worship there, praise thy great and terrible name, and give thee the glory due unto it, for it is holy.
The Lord is great in Zion,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
The Lord is great in Zion. Of old the temple's sacred hill was the centre of the worship of the great King, and the place where his grandeur was most clearly beheld: his church is now his favoured palace, where his greatness is displayed, acknowledged, and adored. He there unveils his attributes and commands the lowliest homage; the ignorant forget him, the wicked despise him, the atheistical oppose him, but among his own chosen he is great beyond comparison. He is great in the esteem of the gracious, great in his acts of mercy, and really great in himself: great in mercy, power, wisdom, justice, and glory. And he is high above all the people; towering above their highest thoughts and loftiest conceptions. The highest are not high to him, yet, blessed be his name, the lowliest are not despised by him. In such a God we rejoice, his greatness and loftiness are exceedingly delightful in our esteem; the more he is honoured and exalted in the hearts of men, the more exultant are his people. If Israel delighted in Saul because he was head and shoulders above the people, how much more should we exult in our God and King, Who is as high above us as the heavens are above the earth.
The Lord is great in Zion - It is among his own worshippers that he has manifested his power and glory in an especial manner. There he is known, and there he is worthily magnified.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The Lord is great in Zion - Compare Psa 95:3. The meaning here is, not that God is “absolutely” great - which is indeed true - but that there is a sense in which he has shown himself great “in Zion;” that is, in his manifestations toward his own people. He has evinced power in their behalf; he has interposed for them in times of danger; he has so discomfited their enemies as to show that he is a great God - a God worthy to be adored. And he is high above all the people - Above all the nations. He has them under his control. He rules over all. The God who rules in Zion also rules all the nations of the earth; and his people, therefore, have special occasion to praise him.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
The Lord is great in Zion – Then He will be great in Zion because there He will be magnified above all the nations when He executes judgement on the wicked.
2 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
nations will quake [This] deals with the war of Gog and Magog. Then the nations will quake, as the matter that is said (Zech.:12): “And this shall be the plague, etc.”
They will acknowledge Your name They will acknowledge the might of the King Who loves judgment.
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. 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| יְ֭הוָה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| בְּצִיּ֣וֹן | betziyon | in Zion | H6726 → | 154 times |
| גָּד֑וֹל | gadol | [is] great | H1419 → | 526 times |
| וְרָ֥ם | veram | and [is] exalted | H7311 → | 190 times |
| ה֝֗וּא | hu' | he | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | over | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| הָֽעַמִּֽים׃ | haamim | the peoples | H5971 → | 1873 times |
יְ֭הוָהYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
בְּצִיּ֣וֹןin Zion
betziyonH6726 →154 times
גָּד֑וֹל[is] great
gadolH1419 →526 times
וְרָ֥םand [is] exalted
veramH7311 →190 times
ה֝֗וּאhe
hu'H1931 →1879 times
עַל־over
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
הָֽעַמִּֽים׃the peoples
haamimH5971 →1873 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 66:7He rules forever by His power; His eyes watch the nations. Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah
it leads to
- Psalms 11:4
The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD is on His heavenly throne. His eyes are watching closely; they examine the sons of men.
- Psalms 11:4
Through
Isaiah 12:6Cry out and sing, O citizen of Zion, for great among you is the Holy One of Israel.”
it leads to
- Zechariah 2:10–11
“Shout for joy and be glad, O Daughter of Zion, for I am coming to dwell among you,” declares the LORD.
- Zechariah 2:5
For I will be a wall of fire around it, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory within it.’”
- Zechariah 2:10–11
Through
Psalms 97:9For You, O LORD, are Most High over all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods.
it leads to
- Psalms 95:3
For the LORD is a great God, a great King above all gods.
- Exodus 18:11
Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for He did this when they treated Israel with arrogance.”
- Psalms 83:18
May they know that You alone, whose name is the LORD, are Most High over all the earth.
- Psalms 95:3
Through
Isaiah 14:32What answer will be given to the envoys of that nation? “The LORD has founded Zion, where His afflicted people will find refuge.”
it leads to
- Psalms 87:5
And it will be said of Zion: “This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High Himself will establish her.”
- Psalms 102:16
For the LORD will rebuild Zion; He has appeared in His glory.
- Psalms 87:5
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Psalms
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 99; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 4; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.