Psalm 50:2 kjv
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.
Psalm 50:2 nkjv
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God will shine forth.
Psalm 50:2 niv
From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.
Psalm 50:2 esv
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
Psalm 50:2 nlt
From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God shines in glorious radiance.
Psalm 50 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Zion's Beauty and God's Dwelling | ||
| Ps 48:2 | Beautiful in its elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion... | Zion as geographical and spiritual beauty |
| Ps 87:2-3 | The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places... | God's affection for Zion and its spiritual significance |
| Isa 2:2-3 | In the latter days the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be... | Zion as center of truth and worship in latter days |
| Joel 3:17 | So you shall know that I am the LORD your God, dwelling in Zion... | God's dwelling in Zion, holy mountain |
| Isa 60:13 | The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the plane... | Future glory and beauty of Zion |
| Rev 21:2, 10-11 | I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven... | New Jerusalem, spiritual Zion, perfected beauty |
| God Shines Forth / Manifestation / Theophany | ||
| Deut 33:2 | The LORD came from Sinai and dawned from Seir upon us; he shone... | God's glorious appearance from mountains |
| Ps 80:1 | Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! | Imploring God to shine forth and intervene |
| Ps 94:1 | O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! | Plea for God to manifest justice |
| Hab 3:3-4 | God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. His splendor... | God's radiant manifestation in judgment and power |
| Isa 60:1 | Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD... | God's glory illuminating His people |
| Mal 3:2 | But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand... | Impending manifestation for judgment |
| Lk 17:24 | For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side... | Sudden, undeniable nature of divine appearance |
| Tit 2:13 | Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great... | Future glorious appearance of Christ |
| Rev 1:16 | In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp... | Christ's glorious and powerful manifestation |
| Divine Judgment and Holiness emanating from Zion | ||
| Ps 76:4-6 | Glorious are you, more majestic than the mountains of prey. | God's might and judgment from His dwelling |
| Ps 110:2 | The LORD sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst... | God's dominion and rule established from Zion |
| Jer 3:17 | At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the LORD... | Jerusalem as center of future divine rule and justice |
| Zech 14:4 | On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies... | God's direct intervention from the area of Jerusalem |
| Isa 42:13 | The LORD goes out like a mighty man, like a warrior he stirs up... | God's active intervention and judgment |
| Ez 9:3, 10:4 | Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherubim... | God's glory departing / returning, linked to judgment |
Psalm 50 verses
Psalm 50 2 Meaning
Psalm 50:2 describes the divine setting for a unique revelation from God. It proclaims that from Zion, depicted as the epitome of beauty and completeness, God radiates His glorious presence and manifests Himself. This manifestation is not merely a passive display but an active, glorious appearing, typically heralding a significant divine act, such as judgment or intervention.
Psalm 50 2 Context
Psalm 50 is a Psalm of Asaph, uniquely structured as a divine judgment scene, often referred to as a "liturgical prophetic summons." God is depicted as the supreme judge calling heaven and earth as witnesses, particularly His people Israel, to account. This verse, Psalm 50:2, sets the grand stage for this cosmic courtroom. It paints a picture of God's majestic advent, a solemn theophany that radiates from Zion. This divine appearance is not a gentle revelation but an awesome display of power, reminiscent of the Sinai revelation, designed to inspire awe and signify impending judgment on His covenant people for their religious hypocrisy and moral failings, despite their adherence to ceremonial law.
Psalm 50 2 Word analysis
Out of Zion (מִצִּיּוֹן - Mitz-Tziyon):
- "Out of": Denotes origin, direction, and authority. It signifies that what follows—God's shining forth—is directly linked to and emanates from this specific location.
- "Zion": The Hebrew term for one of the hills on which Jerusalem was built, later used to refer to Jerusalem itself, particularly the temple mount and by extension, the dwelling place of God, the spiritual center for Israel, and a prophetic symbol of God's universal reign. It highlights Jerusalem as the appointed place from which God chooses to manifest His glory.
the perfection of beauty (מִכְלַל יֹפִי - Miklal Yofi):
- "perfection" (miklal): This Hebrew word means completion, perfect totality, crown, or splendor. It indicates absolute excellence, not merely an aspect of beauty but the essence of it, signifying that Zion is complete, consummately beautiful, or adorned in every way.
- "beauty" (yofi): Refers to aesthetic appeal, splendor, or grace.
- Together, this phrase describes Zion, not as inherently perfect or beautiful by itself, but as the site rendered perfect and supremely beautiful by the indwelling and impending presence of God. It's a holiness and grandeur derived from divine association. This emphasis sets the glorious and majestic scene for God's appearance.
God shines forth (אֱלֹהִים הוֹפִ֫יעַ - Elohim hofia):
- "God" (Elohim): The common, plural noun for God, often conveying majesty and might. It refers to the universal sovereign who presides over all.
- "shines forth" (hofia): A Hifil verb from the root yāphaʿ, meaning to shine, to cause to appear, to illuminate, or to manifest with splendor. This verb consistently describes the sudden, powerful, and visible appearance of God in majesty, often accompanied by light, fire, or storm, implying divine intervention or judgment. It carries echoes of the Sinaitic revelation and sets a tone of awe and potential confrontation.
Psalm 50 2 Bonus section
The concept of God "shining forth" from a specific location resonates with ancient Near Eastern motifs of divine advent but reinterprets them through the lens of Yahweh's unique, morally authoritative revelation. It contrasts with pagan deities often associated with static images; Israel's God actively manifests, appears, and acts in history from His holy dwelling. This verse anticipates not just historical judgments, but future eschatological judgments and revelations of God's glory from a perfected, heavenly Zion, serving as a prototype for divine glory extending to all nations.
Psalm 50 2 Commentary
Psalm 50:2 powerfully sets the stage for God's cosmic court in a vivid prophetic vision. "Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth" depicts a majestic theophany emanating from the earthly dwelling of God's presence. Zion, not merely a geographical location, but a symbol of God's chosen sanctuary, is portrayed as consummately beautiful, not for its aesthetic value, but because it is the locus of God's holy presence and revelation. God's "shining forth" is a deliberate, radiant manifestation, a visible epiphany laden with purpose—to call His people to account and execute justice. This divine appearance is awesome and inescapable, intended to demand attention and underscore the solemnity of His judgment.