Psalm 96:11 kjv
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
Psalm 96:11 nkjv
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;
Psalm 96:11 niv
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
Psalm 96:11 esv
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
Psalm 96:11 nlt
Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice!
Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
Psalm 96 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 19:1-2 | The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands... | Nature speaks of God's glory. |
| Ps 96:13 | He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness... | Immediate context: Reason for creation's rejoicing. |
| Ps 97:1 | The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! | Earth's joy at God's universal reign. |
| Ps 98:7-9 | Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! Let the rivers clap their hands; let the mountains sing together for joy...for He comes to judge the earth. | Parallel psalm explicitly calls for the sea and all creation to rejoice at God's coming judgment. |
| Ps 148:1-12 | Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens...Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all you shining stars!...mountains and all hills...sea creatures and all deeps... | Comprehensive call for all creation, heavenly and earthly, to praise God. |
| 1 Chron 16:31-32 | Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!" Let the sea roar, and all that fills it... | Almost identical parallel verse found in David's psalm of thanks. |
| Job 38:8-11 | Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb...and said, 'Thus far shall you come, and no farther...' | God's absolute control and limitation over the powerful sea. |
| Isa 44:23 | Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it; shout, O depths of the earth; break forth into singing, O mountains... | Heavens and earth summoned to sing for God's redemption. |
| Isa 55:12 | For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. | Creation joyfully responds to God's blessing and restoration for His people. |
| Zech 14:9 | And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and his name one. | Prophetic declaration of God's universal kingship over all the earth. |
| Rom 1:20 | For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen... | Creation provides undeniable witness to God's power and character. |
| Rom 8:19-22 | For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God...The creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay... | Creation groans in anticipation of liberation from corruption, aligning with humanity's redemption. |
| Phil 2:10 | ...that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth... | Universal acknowledgement and submission to the reign of Jesus. |
| Heb 12:26 | At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." | God's powerful manifestation impacting both heaven and earth, leading to new creation. |
| 2 Pet 3:13 | But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. | Hope for a future new creation where God's righteous rule is perfectly established. |
| Rev 11:15 | ...The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever. | Declaration of God's ultimate and everlasting reign over the world. |
| Rev 19:6-7 | Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude...Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult... | Cosmic celebration of God's reigning as Almighty, with joy and exultation. |
| Rev 20:11 | Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it. From His presence earth and sky fled away... | The terrifying presence of God during the final judgment, showing His ultimate authority. |
| Rev 21:1 | Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. | The disappearance of the sea (often a symbol of chaos) in the new creation signifies perfect order and absence of rebellion under God's rule. |
| Col 1:16-17 | For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth...all things were created through Him and for Him. | Christ's preeminence and role as creator and sustainer of all things in heaven and on earth. |
Psalm 96 verses
Psalm 96 11 Meaning
Psalm 96:11 calls upon all elements of creation—the celestial heavens, the terrestrial earth, and the mighty sea with all its inhabitants—to participate in a vibrant chorus of celebration and exultation. This cosmic command to rejoice anticipates and reflects the majesty of the Lord’s universal reign and His impending righteous judgment over the entire world. It signifies that the entire created order, not just humanity, recognizes and responds to the supreme sovereignty of God.
Psalm 96 11 Context
Psalm 96 is an "enthronement psalm," often grouped with Psalms 93 and 95-99, celebrating the eternal kingship of Yahweh. It opens with a call for a "new song" and universal proclamation of God's glory among the nations. The psalm weaves themes of divine majesty, global worship, and righteous judgment. Verse 11 serves as a grand poetic climax before the psalm explicitly states the reason for this universal celebration in verse 13: "for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in His truth." The historical context likely involves a time of celebrating Yahweh's reign, perhaps linked to a liturgical festival.
Psalm 96 11 Word analysis
- Let the heavens rejoice (יִשְׂמְחוּ שָׁמַיִם - yism'chu shamayim):
- Heavens (שָׁמַיִם - shamayim): A dual form noun, signifying the upper regions, sky, or even the abode of God. Here, it refers to the celestial realm, including sun, moon, and stars, personified as responding to God.
- Rejoice (יִשְׂמְחוּ - yism'chu): An active, outward expression of gladness and delight. The verb signifies exuberant joy, a profound response to God's manifest kingship. The call implies a perfect order where the creation reflects its Creator's glory.
- and let the earth be glad (וְתָגֵל הָאָרֶץ - v'tagel ha'aretz):
- Earth (אָרֶץ - aretz): Refers to the physical land, the world, its inhabitants, and all its features. It complements "heavens," creating a full scope of created reality.
- Be glad (תָּגֵל - tagel): Similar to "rejoice," this verb also denotes exultation, jubilation, often with a connotation of dancing or leaping for joy. It signifies the entire terrestrial sphere's joyous acknowledgement of God.
- let the sea roar (יִרְעַם הַיָּם - yir'am hayam):
- Sea (יָם - yam): Represents the vast and powerful oceans. In ancient Near Eastern (ANE) cosmology, the sea often symbolized chaotic, rebellious, or uncontrollable forces, and was sometimes deified (e.g., Yam in Ugaritic mythology).
- Roar (יִרְעַם - yir'am): Literally "to thunder" or "to make a tumultuous sound." Here, the powerful, awe-inspiring sound of the ocean is reinterpreted as an expression of praise, transforming its raw power into a form of worship.
- Significance: This particular phrase is a strong polemic. By commanding the sea—a chaotic, often feared entity and even a rival deity in ANE paganism—to "roar" in praise to Yahweh, the psalm emphatically asserts God's absolute sovereignty and control over all perceived hostile forces. The sea, usually chaotic, becomes an instrument of obedient praise, demonstrating Yahweh’s supreme authority.
- and all that fills it (וּמְלֹאֹו - u'mlo'o):
- All that fills it: This refers to the vast contents of the sea—its marine life, its depths, and all its waves. It ensures comprehensive inclusion of everything within the maritime domain.
- Significance: This emphasizes the total participation of creation in God's praise, leaving no part or being excluded from acknowledging His supreme reign.
Psalm 96 11 Bonus section
The profound anthropomorphic language in Psalm 96:11 is not to suggest that inanimate objects possess human emotions or consciousness, but rather serves as a powerful poetic device. It vividly expresses the absolute majesty of God and the inherent tendency of all creation, by its very existence, to manifest and declare His glory. It speaks to an underlying order where creation inherently points to its Creator. This psalm acts as a bridge between the present and future; a present call to worship is propelled by the unshakeable certainty of God's coming reign, implying an eschatological hope where creation fully restored will forever exult in His presence. It also powerfully demonstrates God's universal claim, transcending not only Israel but embracing all nations and all of creation under His undisputed sovereignty.
Psalm 96 11 Commentary
Psalm 96:11 delivers a magnificent vision of cosmic praise, calling forth the entirety of creation—from the celestial spheres to the deepest oceanic expanses—to express joyous acclaim. This grand invitation is rooted in the reality of Yahweh's unparalleled kingship and the certain expectation of His coming to judge the earth with absolute righteousness and truth. The personification of natural elements allows the psalmist to paint a picture of universal harmony, where even seemingly inanimate objects and the untamed forces of nature are brought into alignment with God's purpose, compelled to acknowledge His glorious presence and reign. It serves as a reminder that worship is not limited to humanity, but resonates through every aspect of the divine creation, awaiting a full liberation and submission to its Creator.
This verse can encourage believers to perceive God's glory in the natural world around them, inspiring awe and worship. It also reminds us that our personal worship is part of a grander, universal chorus that testifies to God's supreme authority, prompting us to align our lives with His righteous kingdom.