Psalm 96 6

Psalm 96:6 kjv

Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Psalm 96:6 nkjv

Honor and majesty are before Him; Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.

Psalm 96:6 niv

Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

Psalm 96:6 esv

Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Psalm 96:6 nlt

Honor and majesty surround him;
strength and beauty fill his sanctuary.

Psalm 96 verses

Psalm 96 6 Meaning

Psalm 96:6 declares the intrinsic attributes of God: His overwhelming glory and inherent dignity are perpetually present before Him, and His supreme power and resplendent beauty are made manifest within His holy dwelling place. It asserts that these divine qualities are not external adornments but are fundamental to His very essence and are truly encountered in His divine presence and consecrated sanctuary.

Psalm 96 6 Context

Psalm 96 is a universal call to worship Yahweh, the Lord, as the rightful sovereign over all the earth. It is an eschatological psalm, anticipating God's ultimate reign when He will judge the nations with equity and truth. This verse contributes to the psalm's central argument: because God possesses these intrinsic divine attributes—splendor, majesty, strength, and beauty—in His very presence and sanctuary, He is incomparably superior to all the false, powerless gods of the nations. Historically, this psalm functions as a polemic against the pervasive idolatry of the ancient Near East, challenging the notion that any material idol or regional deity could possess such true, living power and glory as Yahweh. It highlights the God of Israel's unique status as the Creator and Ruler of all, deserving the worship of the entire world, not solely His chosen people.

Psalm 96 6 Word analysis

• Splendor (הוֹד, hod): Signifies magnificence, glory, honor, and majesty. It refers to an awe-inspiring presence, a radiance that evokes profound reverence. In the biblical sense, it is an attribute uniquely belonging to God, expressing His inherent greatness and kingly power that causes all who encounter it to bow in worship.

• and majesty (וְהָדָר, və-hādār): Often paired with hod, this word emphasizes dignity, beauty, and resplendence. While hod focuses on the awe-inspiring, hadar highlights the impressive and glorious beauty. It describes the divine excellence that is both commanding and attractive.

• are before Him (לְפָנָיו, lə-phānāyw): This phrase indicates immediate proximity and direct presence. It means these attributes are not merely outwardly displayed by God but constantly exist in His direct presence. They are an intrinsic part of His very being and person, ever-present to behold and experience.

• strength (עֹז, oz): Refers to powerful might, prevailing power, and unshakeable fortitude. It signifies God's absolute ability to create, sustain, govern, and execute His will without opposition. This strength is active, dynamic, and effectually achieves His purposes.

• and beauty (וְתִפְאֶרֶת, və-tif’erret): Encompasses glory, splendor, and adornment. While similar to hadar, tif'eret often conveys a more ornate, majestic beauty, specifically associated with the glory of God, especially as manifested in His temple or through His creation. It speaks of divine excellence that elicits praise and wonder.

• are in His sanctuary (בְּמִקְדָּשׁוֹ, bə-miqdāshō): Refers to the holy place, the consecrated dwelling of God, most notably the Tabernacle or Temple in Jerusalem. This signifies that God's strength and beauty are specifically localized and made manifest where He chooses to dwell among His people. It is a sacred place where these divine attributes can be experienced and encountered in a unique, tangible way, inspiring worship and reverence.

• "Splendor and majesty": This pairing emphasizes the combined impact of God's glorious presence and His kingly dignity. It speaks to the awe-inspiring radiance and inherent regal quality that defines Him, suggesting an overflowing glory that is both transcendent and evident.

• "are before Him": This signifies that these attributes are part of God's immediate, continuous reality. They are not merely displayed or external, but originate from and are always present with Him. This implies direct access to His essence for those who truly come into His presence.

• "strength and beauty": This coupling highlights the harmonious balance in God's nature: His invincible power (oz) is perfectly united with His inherent, glorious attractiveness (tif'eret). It suggests that His might is not raw or chaotic, but perfectly ordered and manifested in a way that is also beautiful and worthy of utmost praise.

• "in His sanctuary": This phrase pinpoints the location where these powerful and glorious attributes are particularly concentrated and made manifest. The sanctuary (Tabernacle or Temple) served as the focal point for Israel's worship, the earthly place where God condescended to dwell and where His people could directly encounter His unique strength and beauty, setting Him apart from any pagan shrine. It underscores the sacredness of His chosen dwelling.

Psalm 96 6 Bonus section

This verse illustrates God's comprehensive perfection, embracing both overwhelming power and sublime aesthetic excellence. The careful pairing of attributes (splendor with majesty; strength with beauty) is a common technique in Hebrew poetry used to convey a full and rich understanding of God's multi-faceted character. The specific mention of "sanctuary" in conjunction with strength and beauty points to the idea that worship should inherently reflect these divine attributes: it should be conducted with the profound reverence or "fear of the LORD" (Psa 96:9) due to His splendor and majesty, and it should joyfully celebrate His inherent strength and the glorious "beauty of holiness" (Psa 96:9). In the broader biblical narrative, particularly the New Testament, the concept of God's "sanctuary" extends beyond a physical building. It encompasses Christ Himself (Jn 2:21), the community of believers who become God's spiritual temple (1 Cor 3:16, Eph 2:21-22), and the ultimate heavenly temple where God truly dwells (Heb 8:2, Rev 11:19). Therefore, the declaration of this verse applies wherever God's true presence is encountered—His divine attributes are not confined by earthly structures but are revealed wherever His Spirit dwells and is worshipped.

Psalm 96 6 Commentary

Psalm 96:6 succinctly expresses the glorious character of God, proclaiming that His supreme attributes of splendor, majesty, strength, and beauty are eternally present with Him and notably manifested within His consecrated dwelling. These are not superficial or temporary attributes; they are inherent, timeless qualities of the divine being. "Splendor and majesty are before Him" speaks to God's transcendent, ever-present glory and regal dignity that envelop and define His very being. It is an awe-inspiring radiance and intrinsic authority that command universal reverence. "Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary" highlights God's immanence—His deliberate choice to reveal His powerful might and glorious perfection in a specific, holy space accessible to humanity. The sanctuary becomes the focal point where His irresistible power and aesthetic perfection are not abstract concepts but tangible realities for worshipers. This verse declares that within the very act of divine worship, true power and magnificent excellence are not just acknowledged but deeply experienced. It stands as a clear contrast between the inertness of idols and the dynamic, living, and glorious presence of the True God.