King James Version
Psalms 98
9 verses with commentary
Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord
A Psalm. O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
This opening verse calls for a new song in celebration of God's marvellous works. 'O sing unto the LORD a new song' echoes the opening of Psalm 96 but adds crucial context. 'For he hath done marvellous things' provides the reason for the new song: God's recent or ongoing merciful acts demand fresh, responsive praise. 'Marvellous things' (Hebrew 'pele' - wonders) refers to extraordinary divine acts...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(1) **Victory.**—The word more commonly rendered “salvation,” as, indeed, in next verse.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
24-27. The triumphal procession, after the deliverance, is depicted.
**They have seen--**impersonally, "There have been seen."
**the goings of my God--**as leading the procession; the ark, the symbol of His presence, being in front. The various bands of music (Psa 68:25) follow, and all who are--
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 98
Chapter Outline
The glory of the Redeemer.(1-3)
The joy of the Redeemer.(4-9)
**Verses 1-3**
A song of praise for redeeming love is a new song, a mystery hidden from ages and generations. Converts sing a new song, very different from what they had sung. If the grace of God put a new heart into our breasts, it will put a new song into our mouths. Let this new song be su...
Read full commentary →The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. openly: or, revealed
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>The LORD hath made known his salvation</strong> (יְשׁוּעָתוֹ הוֹדִיעַ, yeshu'ato hodia')—God actively reveals (<em>hodia'</em>, made known) His <em>yeshu'ah</em> (salvation, deliverance). This is not hidden mystery but public declaration. The Hebrew emphasizes completed divine action: salvation accomplished and proclaimed.<br><br><strong>His righteousness hath he openly shewed</strong> (צִ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
24-27. The triumphal procession, after the deliverance, is depicted.
**They have seen--**impersonally, "There have been seen."
**the goings of my God--**as leading the procession; the ark, the symbol of His presence, being in front. The various bands of music (Psa 68:25) follow, and all who are--
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 98
Chapter Outline
The glory of the Redeemer.(1-3)
The joy of the Redeemer.(4-9)
**Verses 1-3**
A song of praise for redeeming love is a new song, a mystery hidden from ages and generations. Converts sing a new song, very different from what they had sung. If the grace of God put a new heart into our breasts, it will put a new song into our mouths. Let this new song be su...
Read full commentary →He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>He hath remembered his mercy and his truth</strong> (זָכַר חַסְדּוֹ וֶאֱמוּנָתוֹ, zakhar chasdo ve'emunato)—God's covenant faithfulness is celebrated through two pillars: <em>chesed</em> (steadfast loyal love) and <em>emunah</em> (faithfulness, reliability). The verb <em>zakhar</em> (remembered) means more than mental recall—it signifies covenant action, God moving to fulfill His promises....
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
24-27. The triumphal procession, after the deliverance, is depicted.
**They have seen--**impersonally, "There have been seen."
**the goings of my God--**as leading the procession; the ark, the symbol of His presence, being in front. The various bands of music (Psa 68:25) follow, and all who are--
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 98
Chapter Outline
The glory of the Redeemer.(1-3)
The joy of the Redeemer.(4-9)
**Verses 1-3**
A song of praise for redeeming love is a new song, a mystery hidden from ages and generations. Converts sing a new song, very different from what they had sung. If the grace of God put a new heart into our breasts, it will put a new song into our mouths. Let this new song be su...
Read full commentary →Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
This verse intensifies the call to worship, expanding from singing to a comprehensive, joyful response. 'Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth' repeats a command from Psalm 95:1 but here applies it universally - 'all the earth' should make joyful noise. 'Joyful noise' (Hebrew 'rinnah') denotes loud, exultant shouting or singing - unrestrained expression of joy. 'Make a loud noise' empha...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(4) **Make a joyful noise.**—Better, *Break out into songs and music.*
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
24-27. The triumphal procession, after the deliverance, is depicted.
**They have seen--**impersonally, "There have been seen."
**the goings of my God--**as leading the procession; the ark, the symbol of His presence, being in front. The various bands of music (Psa 68:25) follow, and all who are--
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 4-9**
Let all the children of men rejoice in the setting up the kingdom of Christ, for all may benefit by it. The different orders of rational creatures in the universe, seem to be described in figurative language in the reign of the great Messiah. The kingdom of Christ will be a blessing to the whole creation. We expect his second coming to begin his glorious reign. Then shall heaven...
Read full commentary →Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Sing unto the LORD with the harp</strong> (זַמְּרוּ לַיהוָה בְּכִנּוֹר, zammeru l'YHWH bekinnor)—<em>Zimrah</em> means to make music, to sing praise accompanied by instruments. The <em>kinnor</em> (lyre/harp) was David's instrument (1 Samuel 16:23), associated with prophetic worship and royal psalms.<br><br><strong>With the harp, and the voice of a psalm</strong> (בְּכִנּוֹר וְקוֹל זִמְרָה...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(5) **Sing . . .**—Rather, *Play to Jehovah on a harp. on a harp, and with melodious sound of music.*
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
28-29. Thanks for the past, and confident prayer for the future victories of Zion are mingled in a song of praise.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 4-9**
Let all the children of men rejoice in the setting up the kingdom of Christ, for all may benefit by it. The different orders of rational creatures in the universe, seem to be described in figurative language in the reign of the great Messiah. The kingdom of Christ will be a blessing to the whole creation. We expect his second coming to begin his glorious reign. Then shall heaven...
Read full commentary →With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>With trumpets and sound of cornet</strong> (בַּחֲצֹצְרוֹת וְקוֹל שׁוֹפָר, bakhatzotzerot veqol shofar)—two distinct instruments: the silver <em>chatzotzrah</em> (trumpet) used by priests for temple rituals (Numbers 10:2), and the ram's horn <em>shofar</em> used for festivals, warfare, and coronations. Together they represent priestly ministry and royal authority.<br><br><strong>Make a joyf...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(6) **Trumpets . . . cornet.**—(See Numbers 10:2; Exodus 19:16; and *Bible Educator, *ii. 231, 232.) This is the only place in the psalm where the *chatsotsereh, *or “straight trumpet” is mentioned.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
28-29. Thanks for the past, and confident prayer for the future victories of Zion are mingled in a song of praise.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 4-9**
Let all the children of men rejoice in the setting up the kingdom of Christ, for all may benefit by it. The different orders of rational creatures in the universe, seem to be described in figurative language in the reign of the great Messiah. The kingdom of Christ will be a blessing to the whole creation. We expect his second coming to begin his glorious reign. Then shall heaven...
Read full commentary →Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. the fulness: or, all it containeth
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof</strong> (יִרְעַם הַיָּם וּמְלֹאוֹ, yir'am hayam umelo'o)—the psalmist summons creation itself to praise. <em>Ra'am</em> (roar, thunder) describes the sea's powerful voice. The phrase <em>umelo'o</em> (and its fulness) means everything the sea contains—creatures, waves, depths.<br><br><strong>The world, and they that dwell therein</strong> (תֵּבֵל ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(7) See Psalm 96:11.
“Listen! the mighty Being is awake
And doth with His eternal motion make
A sound like thunder everlastingly.”
WORDSWORTH.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
30. The strongest nations are represented by the strongest beasts (compare Margin).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 4-9**
Let all the children of men rejoice in the setting up the kingdom of Christ, for all may benefit by it. The different orders of rational creatures in the universe, seem to be described in figurative language in the reign of the great Messiah. The kingdom of Christ will be a blessing to the whole creation. We expect his second coming to begin his glorious reign. Then shall heaven...
Read full commentary →Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together
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KJV Study Commentary
This verse expands the circle of worship to include non-human creation, suggesting that nature itself should rejoice in God's rule. 'Let the floods clap their hands' uses vivid imagery: floods (represented as having hands) clapping together suggest waters flowing powerfully, meeting, and creating sound. The metaphor gives agency to nature and includes it in worship. 'Let the hills be joyful togeth...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(8) **Clap their hands.**—This expression, descriptive of the lapping sound of waves, occurs also in Isaiah 55:12.
**Let the hills be joyful together.**—
“Far along,
From peak to peak, the rattling crags among,
Leaps the live thunder! Not from one long cloud,
But every mountain now hath found a tongue,
And Jura answers through her misty shroud
Back to the joyous Alps who call to her aloud.”
BYRON:...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**31. Princes--**or, literally, "fat ones," the most eminent from the most wealthy, and the most distant nation, represent the universal subjection.
**stretch out her hands--**or, "make to run her hands," denoting haste.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 4-9**
Let all the children of men rejoice in the setting up the kingdom of Christ, for all may benefit by it. The different orders of rational creatures in the universe, seem to be described in figurative language in the reign of the great Messiah. The kingdom of Christ will be a blessing to the whole creation. We expect his second coming to begin his glorious reign. Then shall heaven...
Read full commentary →Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
This concluding verse returns to the theme of God's coming judgment that appears at the end of Psalm 96. 'Before the LORD; for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth' establishes God's future role as cosmic judge. The repetition 'for he cometh, for he cometh' emphasizes both certainty and imminence. 'Judge the earth' reiterates the cosmic scope of God's justice - His judgment extends over all...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(9) See Psalm 96:13.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**32-36. To Him who is presented as riding in triumph through His ancient heavens and proclaiming His presence--**to Him who, in nature, and still more in the wonders of His spiritual government, out of His holy place (Psa 43:3), is terrible, who rules His Church, and, by His Church, rules the world in righteousness--let all nations and kingdoms give honor and power and dominion evermore.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 4-9**
Let all the children of men rejoice in the setting up the kingdom of Christ, for all may benefit by it. The different orders of rational creatures in the universe, seem to be described in figurative language in the reign of the great Messiah. The kingdom of Christ will be a blessing to the whole creation. We expect his second coming to begin his glorious reign. Then shall heaven...
Read full commentary →