Psalm 76 4

Psalm 76:4 kjv

Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.

Psalm 76:4 nkjv

You are more glorious and excellent Than the mountains of prey.

Psalm 76:4 niv

You are radiant with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game.

Psalm 76:4 esv

Glorious are you, more majestic than the mountains full of prey.

Psalm 76:4 nlt

You are glorious and more majestic
than the everlasting mountains.

Psalm 76 verses

Psalm 76 4 Meaning

Psalm 76:4 declares God's overwhelming glory, splendor, and inherent excellence. It emphasizes that the Lord's majesty surpasses even the most formidable and powerful earthly forces or kingdoms, symbolically referred to as "mountains of prey," highlighting His supreme sovereignty and unconquerable nature over all who would oppress or challenge Him.

Psalm 76 4 Context

Psalm 76 is a psalm of thanksgiving, specifically celebrating God's awesome judgment and deliverance for His people. It directly follows a great military victory by God, likely the miraculous defeat of Sennacherib's Assyrian army threatening Jerusalem, as recounted in 2 Kings 19 and Isaiah 37. Verses 1-3 declare God's renown in Judah and His established dwelling in Jerusalem (Salem/Zion), where He broke the weapons of war. Verse 4 then proceeds to emphasize that the source of this victory is God's unparalleled splendor and majesty, which vastly exceeds the apparent might of hostile "mountains of prey," signifying powerful, predatory kingdoms that had assembled for war. This verse places God's inherent glorious character as the ultimate reason for His demonstrated power in history, directly contrasting His might with any earthly force or supposed deity.

Psalm 76 4 Word analysis

• You (אַ֭תָּה, ’attah): The personal pronoun emphasizes the direct, active, and personal nature of God (Yahweh or Elohim, depending on translation/context, though 'God' in v.1) in exhibiting His majesty. It points to God's self-existing power, not power derived from any external source.
• are resplendent / more glorious / Thou art more glorious (נִאְדָּ֥ר, ni’dar): This is a Niphal participle of the verb ’adar (אדר), meaning "to be mighty," "to be glorious," "to be excellent," "to be majestic," "to be honorable." The Niphal stem denotes a passive or reflexive sense, suggesting inherent splendor or that He causes Himself to be seen as glorious. It signifies not merely outward appearance, but an intrinsic, awe-inspiring majesty and power. It points to God's inherent excellence and worth.
• more majestic than / more excellent than (מֵֽהָרֵי־, meharey-): The prefix min (מֵֽ-) signifies a comparative "from" or "than." It clearly establishes a hierarchy, asserting God's superiority. "Mountains" (harim) symbolize strength, permanence, stability, and often in ancient Near Eastern thought, served as dwelling places for deities or fortified centers of human power (kingdoms, empires). They represent imposing obstacles or strongholds.
• mountains of prey (טָֽרֶף, ṭāreph): This is a powerful, metaphorical phrase.
  • `ṭāreph` (טרף) literally means "prey," "booty," "spoil," or "torn animal/meat." It denotes something seized violently, plundered, or torn apart.
  • The phrase "mountains of prey" (harey ṭareph) suggests either:
    1. Mountains that are places from which prey is taken, implying centers of military operations, fortified places from which aggressive armies emerge to plunder. These would be the strongholds of powerful, conquering nations.
    2. Mountains that are like predatory beasts, preying on others. This personifies the mountains themselves or the kingdoms they represent as violent and ravenous.
  • This metaphor likely refers to powerful, plundering nations or empires (like Assyria), which amassed their wealth and power through violent conquest and spoil. They seemed invincible in their elevated strongholds, living off the "prey" of other nations.
  • The use of "prey" is a direct polemic against the perceived invincibility of human military might and the destructive nature of empires that thrive on violence and oppression. God's glory surpasses even this devastating human power, showing it to be nothing in comparison to His own.

Psalm 76 4 Bonus section

The concept of "mountains of prey" also has a spiritual dimension, representing any powerful opposition or stronghold (like sin or evil systems) that seems insurmountable and thrives on destruction. The verse underscores that God's majesty is capable of dismantling all such opposing forces. This declaration serves as a deep wellspring of hope for God's people, assuring them that no earthly power, however formidable or destructive, can ever overshadow or withstand the omnipotent glory of the Lord. It shifts the focus from the transient power of human empires to the eternal and decisive authority of God.

Psalm 76 4 Commentary

Psalm 76:4 powerfully declares the incomparable glory of God, establishing His majestic superiority over all earthly might. The phrase "mountains of prey" masterfully depicts the most formidable human empires, symbolized by strong, elevated fortresses that thrive on conquest and plunder. Despite their perceived invincibility and their destructive nature, God's splendor outshines them, His power effortlessly breaking their weapons and plans. This verse is not just a statement of God's inherent glory but a triumphant declaration of its manifestation in specific, historical deliverance. It teaches that human arrogance, pride, and military prowess, however grand, are utterly diminished and ultimately defeated by the manifest glory of the Almighty, who is truly incomparable and supremely sovereign.For example, when facing overwhelming political pressure or systems that seem to operate by predation, this verse reassures believers that God's power ultimately dwarfs such entities.