Psalm 97 1

Psalm 97:1 kjv

The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

Psalm 97:1 nkjv

The LORD reigns; Let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad!

Psalm 97:1 niv

The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.

Psalm 97:1 esv

The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!

Psalm 97:1 nlt

The LORD is king!
Let the earth rejoice!
Let the farthest coastlands be glad.

Psalm 97 verses

Psalm 97 1 Meaning

Psalm 97:1 announces the absolute sovereignty of the Lord, Yahweh, over all creation. It declares His eternal kingship, which naturally calls for and evokes profound joy across the entire earth and its farthest reaches, signifying a universal celebration of His benevolent and righteous rule.

Psalm 97 1 Context

Psalm 97 is one of a series of "enthronement psalms" (Psalms 93, 96-99) that celebrate the sovereign rule of Yahweh as King over all the earth. These psalms often declare God's kingship as an eternal, present reality rather than a future event, though they also look forward to its full manifestation. This verse initiates a grand declaration of God's universal reign, setting the stage for descriptions of His awesome majesty, righteous judgment, and victory over idols and evil, which are elaborated in the subsequent verses of the chapter. Historically and culturally, this declaration directly challenged the surrounding pagan beliefs where numerous gods contended for localized power or were mere forces of nature. The assertion that "YHWH reigns" was a polemic against such limited or capricious deities, presenting Israel's God as the sole, true, and universal sovereign.

Psalm 97 1 Word analysis

• "The Lord" (YHWH): This is the covenant name of God, revealed to Moses (Exo 3:14-15), signifying His self-existent, eternal nature and His covenant faithfulness. Its use here immediately grounds the declaration of kingship in the unique identity of the God of Israel, distinct from all other deities.
• "reigns" (מָלָךְ, malakh): The Hebrew verb is in the perfect tense. This can imply an accomplished act (He has reigned, hence He is reigning) or a timeless, established truth (He is eternally King). It signifies not merely a title but an active, perpetual, and effective exercise of royal authority, power, and dominion. This is not a request for God to reign, but an exclamatory announcement that He indeed does.
• "let the earth rejoice" (תָּגֵל הָאָרֶץ, tagel ha'arets):
  • "let...rejoice" (תָּגֵל, tagel): This is a jussive or imperative, a command or strong exhortation. It's a call for universal joy, reflecting the appropriate response to such a powerful and benevolent ruler. The form implies that this joy is a natural, necessary, and delightful outcome of His reign.
  • "the earth" (הָאָרֶץ, ha'arets): Signifies the entire inhabited world, all humanity, and possibly even the non-human creation. It stresses the universal scope of God's sovereignty and the universality of the call to celebrate it.
• "let the many coasts and islands be glad!" (יִשְׂמְחוּ אִיִּים רַבִּים׃, yismeḥu 'iyyim rabbim):
  • "let...be glad" (יִשְׂמְחוּ, yismeḥu): Another jussive/imperative verb, intensifying and reinforcing the call for joy. It uses a different word for "joy," perhaps to vary expression or to denote a deep sense of gladness and pleasure.
  • "the many coasts and islands" (אִיִּים רַבִּים, 'iyyim rabbim): This is a poetic and emphatic way to convey the farthest, most remote, or gentile regions of the world, beyond the immediate land of Israel. It explicitly widens the circle of rejoicing to include all distant peoples and territories, anticipating the global reach of God's kingdom and the eventual inclusion of the Gentiles. The "many" emphasizes the vastness of this inclusion.

Psalm 97 1 Bonus section

• This verse serves as a crucial theological foundation, affirming divine providence and control even when circumstances seem chaotic or unjust to human eyes. It reminds believers that God's kingdom is a present reality, not just a future hope.
• The "enthronement psalms" likely had a liturgical use in ancient Israel, perhaps associated with harvest festivals or covenant renewal ceremonies, reminding the people of God's ongoing, active reign.
• The call for the earth to rejoice anticipates the Messianic age where the full glory of God's reign will be revealed, bringing universal peace, justice, and gladness. This connects directly to the Christian understanding of Jesus Christ's inaugurated and coming kingdom.
• The contrast with polytheism and idol worship is a powerful undertone. Unlike the fickle and localized deities of other nations, Yahweh's reign is absolute, comprehensive, and inherently brings about conditions that elicit universal joy and worship, not fear or uncertainty from chaotic powers.

Psalm 97 1 Commentary

Psalm 97:1 opens with a grand theological statement, "The Lord reigns," which forms the bedrock of biblical theology. This is not merely a declaration of God's current authority but an announcement of an established, eternal truth: Yahweh is King, sovereign over all creation and all of history. His rule is not a chaotic struggle for power, as portrayed in pagan myths, but a stable and just dominion. This reality inherently calls forth a universal response of joy. The command "let the earth rejoice" is both an exhortation and an expectation; God's reign is so perfectly ordered, just, and benevolent that joy is the only fitting and natural reaction from all of creation. The specific mention of "many coasts and islands" highlights the expansive, inclusive nature of this kingship. It signifies that God's authority extends beyond Israel, embracing all nations and geographical boundaries. This anticipates the future realization of God's global dominion and the worldwide participation in His kingdom. It offers profound assurance: even amidst human turmoil and apparent chaos, a divine, unchanging King is on the throne, ruling all things, past, present, and future, leading His creation towards its ultimate joyful consummation.