Psalm 77 13

Psalm 77:13 kjv

Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?

Psalm 77:13 nkjv

Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great a God as our God?

Psalm 77:13 niv

Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God?

Psalm 77:13 esv

Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God?

Psalm 77:13 nlt

O God, your ways are holy.
Is there any god as mighty as you?

Psalm 77 verses

Psalm 77 13 Meaning

Psalm 77:13 is a powerful declaration affirming God's unique and perfect character. After grappling with profound anguish and questioning God's presence and past faithfulness (Psa 77:1-12), the psalmist pivots to recall God's great deeds. This verse anchors that remembrance in the truth of God's being. It states that God's "way" – His path, conduct, character, and sovereign dealings with humanity – is intrinsically "holy," set apart in moral perfection and purity. This holiness underscores His actions. The rhetorical question, "Who is so great a God as our God?", emphasizes the LORD's absolute incomparability and supreme might, establishing Him as unparalleled among all beings and deities. It is a profound confession of faith in God's perfect nature as the foundation for trust and hope.

Psalm 77 13 Context

Psalm 77 begins as a deeply personal lament (Psa 77:1-9) where the psalmist Asaph cries out to God in distress, his spirit overwhelmed, recalling sleepless nights and a failure to find comfort. He dwells on past glories (Psa 77:5-6), yet struggles with a profound sense that God has abandoned him, questioning if the Lord has forgotten to be gracious, has withdrawn His compassion, or if His promises have failed (Psa 77:7-9). The turning point comes in verses 10-12, where the psalmist intentionally shifts his focus from his own pain to remembering God's past deeds, specifically "the years of the right hand of the Most High" and His "wonders of old." Verse 13 marks the full embrace of this renewed perspective: a declaration of God's essential character. This statement of God's holiness and incomparable greatness serves as the theological foundation for trusting that God's mighty acts (detailed in Psa 77:14-20) will continue, regardless of current personal despair. Historically and culturally, the psalm reinforces the monotheistic worship of Yahweh in Israel, contrasting Him sharply with the morally ambiguous and limited pagan deities of surrounding nations whose "ways" were often chaotic or corrupt.

Psalm 77 13 Word analysis

• Your way (דַּרְכְּךָ, darkeka): This Hebrew term, derekh, literally means "path" or "road." However, in a theological context, it extends to signify God's course of action, His moral character, His divine conduct, or the method of His dealings. It encompasses His plan, His nature, and His operations in history. In Psalm 77, it specifically points to how God acts in relation to His people, particularly His past mighty works of salvation. It speaks not just of what God does, but how He does it and the essence of His doing.

• O God (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim): This is a general, common Hebrew name for God, frequently used throughout the Old Testament. It signifies deity and emphasizes God's power and might as the Creator and Sovereign over all things. Its usage here contrasts God's ultimate power with the psalmist's personal weakness and the apparent chaos he experiences.

• is holy (בַּקֹּדֶשׁ, bāqōḏeš): This phrase is significant. The preposition 'ב' (be) usually means "in" or "at," and qōḏeš means "holiness," "sacredness," or "sanctuary/holy place." While a literal reading could be "in the sanctuary" (meaning God's way/acts are found or manifested in the holy place, reminiscent of His presence in the tabernacle/temple, and from there He performed His deeds), the predominant and more profound interpretation adopted by most translations and scholars is that bāqōḏeš here indicates the quality or state of God's way—it is inherently holy. God's way is distinct, pure, set apart, perfect in all His actions, moral in every aspect, utterly free from sin or blemish. This aligns with God's very nature of holiness that transcends location. This emphasis on intrinsic holiness reassures the psalmist that even if God's actions are currently incomprehensible, their underlying character is absolute purity and rightness.

• Who is so great a God (מִי-אֵל גָּדוֹל, mî-ʾēl gādôl): This is a rhetorical question serving as a fervent declaration of God's incomparability. Mi (Who?) introduces the question. El is another Hebrew word for God, often highlighting God's power and strength (like El Shaddai). Gadol means "great," denoting vastness, significance, and might. The phrase collectively proclaims that there is no other deity or power that can even come close to the greatness and majesty of the God of Israel. It directly challenges any notion of other gods being equivalent or superior.

• as our God? (כֵּאלֹהֵינוּ, keʾelohênû): The preposition 'כ' (ke) means "as" or "like." Elohenu is "our God." This part of the question underscores the exclusive and personal relationship Israel has with Yahweh. He is not just "a" great God, but "our" God, unique and utterly distinct from all false gods worshipped by the nations. This phrase signifies belonging and reinforces the covenant relationship between the LORD and His people, which brings a specific hope and comfort amidst distress.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Your way, O God, is holy": This clause directly confronts the psalmist's preceding doubt and anguish (Psa 77:7-9). While his human perspective struggles with God's actions, this declaration reasserts a foundational truth: God's entire disposition and all His deeds are governed by His absolute holiness. This means God's path is not capricious, mistaken, or malicious; it is inherently righteous, even when inscrutable to human eyes. This theological anchor stabilizes the psalmist's turbulent heart.
  • "Who is so great a God as our God?": This rhetorical question naturally flows from the affirmation of God's holy way. The psalmist implies that it is precisely because God's ways are holy and unique that He is incomparable. The greatness is inseparable from His purity and distinctness. It serves as an doxological exclamation, pivoting from personal distress to cosmic praise, recalling God's supreme authority and power demonstrated in history, as subsequently unfolded in Psa 77:14-20. The inclusion of "our God" reinforces the personal covenantal bond and exclusivity of Yahweh in contrast to surrounding pagan beliefs.

Psalm 77 13 Bonus section

The concept of God's "way" (דרך, derekh) in this verse can be seen as encompassing the entirety of God's historical intervention and divine providence, leading to redemption. In light of the New Testament, Jesus Himself declares, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life" (Jn 14:6), pointing to His person as the very embodiment of God's righteous and redemptive "way" for humanity. Furthermore, the psalmist's affirmation of "Our God" carries profound covenantal significance, emphasizing God's faithfulness to His people regardless of their failures or despair. This unwavering covenantal bond is ultimately fulfilled in Christ, establishing a new and eternal covenant. The deep lament earlier in the Psalm underscores a crucial aspect of biblical faith: doubt and questioning are permitted in the presence of God, but ultimately lead to renewed faith in His unchangeable, holy, and incomparable character. This journey from anguish to renewed confidence in God's greatness and holy way is a timeless pattern for believers navigating suffering.

Psalm 77 13 Commentary

Psalm 77:13 is a pivotal statement in Asaph's psalm of lament, marking the theological turning point from despair to faith. The psalmist shifts from questioning God's apparent absence and broken promises to focusing on God's inherent character. By declaring "Your way, O God, is holy," he affirms that God's path, actions, and very being are set apart in moral perfection. This isn't just about what God does, but the flawless nature of how He operates. This statement stands in stark contrast to the human experience of imperfection and the capriciousness often attributed to pagan deities, making it an implicit polemic against contemporary false worship.

The follow-up rhetorical question, "Who is so great a God as our God?", builds upon this, emphasizing God's absolute incomparability and supreme power. It's an affirmation that Yahweh stands alone, unrivalled in majesty, wisdom, and might. This unique greatness, intrinsically linked to His holiness, assures the psalmist that despite present struggles, God's nature is unchangeably good and powerful enough to deliver, as proven by His historical acts which the psalm goes on to recall. It moves from intellectual assent to emotional re-alignment, providing the basis for hope when circumstances seem hopeless.

Practically, this verse reminds believers that when facing distress, the antidote to doubt is to fix one's gaze not on one's troubled circumstances or feelings, but on the immutable character of God—His holiness and His incomparable greatness. It invites us to remember who God truly is, transcending our immediate understanding or perception of His current dealings.