Psalm 96:9 kjv
O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
Psalm 96:9 nkjv
Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth.
Psalm 96:9 niv
Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.
Psalm 96:9 esv
Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!
Psalm 96:9 nlt
Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor.
Let all the earth tremble before him.
Psalm 96 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 29:2 | Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness. | Echoes "splendor/beauty of holiness." |
| 1 Chr 16:29 | Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness. | Parallel passage, liturgical context. |
| Psa 50:2 | From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth. | God's radiating beauty/perfection. |
| Psa 33:8 | Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! | Universal awe and fear of God. |
| Psa 97:4 | His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. | Earth trembles before divine power. |
| Psa 99:5 | Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he! | Connects worship with God's holiness. |
| Psa 114:7 | Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob. | Earth trembling before God. |
| Jer 5:22 | Do you not fear me? declares the Lord. Do you not tremble before me? | God asks why there isn't trembling. |
| Hab 2:20 | But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him. | Reverence and awe in God's presence. |
| Heb 12:28 | Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe. | NT emphasis on worship with reverence. |
| Isa 6:3 | Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory! | God's absolute holiness and glory. |
| Rev 15:4 | Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you... | Nations fear and worship the holy God. |
| Phi 2:12 | Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling... | Fear and trembling in obedience. |
| Jn 4:23-24 | But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. | Spiritual worship and God's nature. |
| Psa 2:11 | Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. | Service to God with fear and joy. |
| Psa 96:13 | for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness. | Connects trembling with coming judgment. |
| Rom 12:1 | I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. | Life as an act of worship. |
| Psa 66:4 | All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name. Selah. | Universal worship theme. |
| Psa 98:4 | Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! | Call to universal joyous worship. |
| Rev 4:10-11 | the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever... worthy are you, our Lord and God... | Heavenly worship, glorifying God. |
| Psa 24:3-4 | Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart... | Purity required for approach to God. |
Psalm 96 verses
Psalm 96 9 Meaning
Psalm 96:9 is a resounding call to global adoration and reverence for the Lord. It commands all people on Earth to worship Yahweh, the one true God, not merely through outward actions but by aligning their worship with His intrinsic purity, splendor, and majestic sacredness. The "beauty of holiness" refers to the awe-inspiring glory inherent in God's perfect moral character and separateness from all that is common or defiled. The command to "tremble before Him" emphasizes the profound reverence, awe, and humbling fear that should accompany recognition of His immeasurable power and sovereignty. It signifies a respectful dread that acknowledges His holy nature and coming judgment, fostering humility and obedience in His presence.
Psalm 96 9 Context
Psalm 96 is a universal call to worship Yahweh, the God of Israel, proclaiming His unparalleled glory and sovereignty over all other gods. It opens with an imperative for the whole earth to sing a new song to the Lord, declare His glory, and publish His marvelous works (v. 1-3). The Psalm strongly contrasts the greatness of Yahweh, who made the heavens, with the worthlessness of idols worshipped by other nations (v. 4-5). It envisions a time when God’s reign will be fully established, bringing judgment and righteousness to the world (v. 10, 13). Verse 9 serves as a central exhortation within this global, eschatological, and doxological context, detailing the manner of worship due to such a majestic and holy King. Historically, this psalm could have been used in temple worship, possibly during processions or festivals that celebrated Yahweh's kingship, directly countering the prevailing polytheism of the ancient Near East by asserting God's sole creatorship and judicial authority.
Psalm 96 9 Word Analysis
- Oh, worship (הִשְׁתַּחֲו֖וּ - hishtachavu): This Hebrew verb signifies to bow down, prostrate oneself, to do homage, or to revere. It denotes a physical act of humble submission, but more deeply, represents an inner spiritual posture of acknowledging superior authority and worth. The "Oh" or imperative form indicates an urgent, direct command, not a mere suggestion. It implies an act of honor and adoration.
- the Lord (לַֽיהוָה֙ - la-YHWH): Refers to Yahweh, the personal covenant name of God revealed to Israel. This identifies the one true God who is to be worshipped, distinct from all pagan deities. His name emphasizes His eternal, self-existent nature.
- in the beauty (בְּהַדְרַת־ - be-hadrat-): The Hebrew word hadrah (derived from hadar) means splendor, glory, majesty, adornment, or honor. It is not merely aesthetic prettiness but conveys magnificent brilliance, often associated with royal or sacred attire. It denotes something that evokes awe and admiration due to its intrinsic quality.
- of holiness! (קֹ֖דֶשׁ - qodesh): The Hebrew word qodesh signifies sacredness, separateness, purity, and absolute otherness. It describes God's inherent nature—He is utterly distinct from all creation, morally perfect, and without blemish. When paired with hadrah, "beauty of holiness" becomes a profound concept.
- in the beauty of holiness! (בְּהַדְרַת־קֹֽדֶשׁ - be-hadrat-qodesh): This phrase calls for worship that reflects and honors God’s glorious purity and majestic sacredness. It implies worship offered from a pure heart and spirit (internal holiness), as well as worship conducted in a manner befitting His holy and glorious presence (external holiness/splendor), reminiscent of the holy garments of priests or the reverence in the sanctuary. It’s the intrinsic splendor and attractiveness of God’s perfect, separate nature. This is a direct polemic against pagan worship which was often characterized by impurity and moral corruption.
- Tremble (חִ֤ילוּ - chilu): This Hebrew verb (chûl) implies to writhe, be in dread, or in anguish; to stand in awe, to be deeply moved with fear or reverence. It expresses a visceral reaction to an overwhelming presence or power, signaling extreme respect, humility, and submission, acknowledging divine majesty and judgment.
- before Him (מִפָּנָיו֙ - mippānāyw): Literally "from His face" or "in His presence." It indicates direct proximity and confrontation with God’s unmediated majesty, suggesting that this trembling is a personal response to experiencing His glory.
- all the earth. (כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ - kōl-hā’āreṣ): This encompasses all the peoples, nations, and even the physical world. It emphasizes the universal scope of the command and the Lord's absolute sovereignty over every created thing. No one is exempt from this call to worship and reverence.
Psalm 96 9 Bonus section
- Purity in Worship: The phrase "beauty of holiness" strongly resonates with the New Testament concept of God seeking true worshipers who worship Him "in spirit and truth" (Jn 4:24). This requires an internal state of purity and sincerity, free from hypocrisy, recognizing that God's essence is holy and pure.
- Priestly Connotation: In the Old Testament, the priests wore "holy garments for glory and for beauty" (Ex 28:2, 40), suggesting that the proper presentation of worship, whether by individuals or collective assemblies, should reflect the sacredness and magnificence of the One being worshipped. It speaks to both the integrity of the worshipper and the dignity of the worship service.
- Eschatological Horizon: This psalm, particularly its latter verses (96:10, 13), positions itself with an eye toward the future establishment of God's universal reign. Therefore, the trembling commanded in verse 9 is not just in light of God's past works or present reality, but also in anticipation of His glorious, righteous return as King and Judge over all the earth. This adds urgency and profound meaning to the call for universal reverence.
- Contrast to Idolatry: Psalm 96:9 stands in stark contrast to the idolatrous worship of the nations. While pagan gods often represented unholy passions or immoral practices, Yahweh's holiness defines His identity and demands worship that mirrors His pure and sacred nature, underscoring His distinctiveness as the true and living God.
Psalm 96 9 Commentary
Psalm 96:9 presents a multifaceted call to worship God, emphasizing both His intrinsic nature and the appropriate human response. The directive to "worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness" moves beyond mere external ritual, inviting worshipers into a deep engagement with God's very being. The "beauty of holiness" refers to the splendor of God's perfect moral character—His glorious purity and sacredness that transcend human comprehension. It implies that true worship is not based on human aesthetics or preference, but on an acknowledgement of who God fundamentally is: Holy, separated, and magnificent in His perfect righteousness. This holiness, rather than being unapproachable, is presented as "beautiful," drawing creation into awe-filled adoration.
Furthermore, this phrase often echoes the holy garments worn by priests in the tabernacle/temple, signifying that approach to God requires a sanctified presentation, reflecting the purity and glory of God Himself. For believers today, this translates to worship offered not through outward show alone, but from hearts made pure through faith in Christ and lived out in holiness, as a spiritual sacrifice (Rom 12:1).
The second imperative, "Tremble before Him, all the earth," underscores the element of reverence and holy fear. It's not a cowering dread of an arbitrary tyrant, but a profound awe stemming from the realization of God’s omnipotence, unapproachable glory, and ultimate judicial authority. This trembling acknowledges His impending return to judge the world righteously, as hinted at later in the psalm (v. 10, 13). This sense of awe guards against flippant or casual approaches to the Divine, fostering humility and respectful submission. The universality of the call, "all the earth," signifies that God’s claim extends to all humanity and creation. His worship is not confined to one nation but is the rightful due of the sovereign King of the cosmos.