Psalm 97:2 kjv
Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
Psalm 97:2 nkjv
Clouds and darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
Psalm 97:2 niv
Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Psalm 97:2 esv
Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Psalm 97:2 nlt
Dark clouds surround him.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Psalm 97 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 19:9 | Then the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud..." | God's appearance in cloud/darkness at Sinai |
| Exod 20:21 | And the people stood afar off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was. | The impenetrable nature of God's presence |
| Deut 4:11 | You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while the mountain burned with fire up to the heart of heaven, surrounded by darkness, cloud, and thick darkness. | Theophany at Sinai with darkness and cloud |
| 1 Kgs 8:12 | Then Solomon said, "The Lord has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud." | God's dwelling in unapproachable darkness |
| Psa 18:9,11 | He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and thick darkness was under His feet... He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters, thick clouds of the skies. | God's powerful manifestation, veiled by darkness |
| Psa 45:6 | Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. | God's eternal rule founded on righteousness |
| Psa 89:14 | Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face. | Direct parallel, stressing God's moral governance |
| Psa 99:4 | The strength of the King loves justice; You establish equity; You execute justice and righteousness in Jacob. | God's reign defined by justice and righteousness |
| Psa 119:142 | Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth. | God's character as eternal righteousness |
| Isa 45:15 | Truly You are God, who hide Yourself, O God of Israel, the Savior. | God's mysterious and hidden nature |
| Jer 9:24 | ...let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth... | God's character known through justice & righteousness |
| Rev 4:2-3 | Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne... | Vision of God's heavenly throne and glory |
| Rev 15:3 | Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! | God's works and ways are just and true |
| Dan 4:37 | Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and His ways justice; and those who walk in pride He is able to abase. | God's ways are truth and justice |
| Rom 1:17 | For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith... | God's righteousness revealed through the gospel |
| Rom 3:25-26 | ...to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed... so that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. | God's justice and righteousness in salvation |
| 1 Tim 6:16 | who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see... | God's unapproachable glory and hiddenness |
| Heb 1:8 | But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom." | The Son's divine rule based on righteousness |
| 2 Pet 3:13 | Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. | The eschatological reign of righteousness |
| Matt 6:33 | But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. | Seeking God's rule and His ethical character |
| John 1:18 | No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. | God's incomprehensibility and revelation through Christ |
| Acts 17:31 | because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained... | God will judge the world with perfect righteousness |
| Rev 19:11 | Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. | Christ's righteous judgment at His return |
Psalm 97 verses
Psalm 97 2 Meaning
Psalm 97:2 declares two fundamental truths about God's reign: His awe-inspiring and mysterious presence, and the immutable ethical character of His dominion. "Clouds and thick darkness surround him" portrays the inaccessibility and incomprehensibility of the Almighty, indicating His majesty and separation from human understanding. Simultaneously, "righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne" reveals that His divine authority is rooted in absolute integrity and equity, providing the unwavering basis for His rule over all creation.
Psalm 97 2 Context
Psalm 97 is a psalm of enthronement, celebrating Yahweh's reign as King over all the earth. It is part of a series (Psalms 93, 95-99) often referred to as "Yahweh Malakh" psalms, proclaiming "The Lord reigns!" The immediate context of verse 2 follows the declaration in verse 1, "The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of islands be glad!" Verse 2 then explains the nature of this reigning God.
Historically and culturally, ancient Near Eastern peoples understood divine kingship. However, their gods were often capricious, prone to injustice, and could be manipulated. The Hebrew Scriptures consistently present Yahweh as fundamentally different. The description of "clouds and thick darkness" surrounding Him evokes the powerful theophanies, particularly at Mount Sinai (Exod 19, Deut 4-5), where God's presence was revealed in awesome, unapproachable glory. This veiled presence simultaneously inspires fear and protects humans from direct exposure to His holiness. The foundation of "righteousness and justice" for His throne stands in stark contrast to the corrupt or arbitrary rule of human kings or the often morally ambiguous deities of pagan religions. This verse thus contains an inherent polemic against contemporary polytheistic beliefs by asserting Yahweh's unique, absolute moral authority.
Psalm 97 2 Word analysis
- Clouds (עָנָן - anan): This Hebrew term frequently refers to visible vapor in the sky but is strongly associated in the Bible with God's manifest presence, especially during theophanies. It often serves as a temporary covering or veil, signifying both His coming near and His unsearchable mystery (Exod 19:9, Psa 18:11).
- thick darkness (עֲרָפֶל - araphel): This word denotes deep, impenetrable gloom or darkness, even darker than choshekh (darkness). It highlights the intense and often terrifying nature of God's presence, indicating His transcendence and the limit of human perception (Exod 20:21, Deut 4:11). It emphasizes that God's ways are beyond full human comprehension.
- surround him (סְבִיבָיו - s'bivav): Implies His omnipresence, but also that this mysterious, awesome nature is intrinsic to who He is, His very being is cloaked in these elements. It indicates that His dwelling place is fundamentally inaccessible to human gaze.
- righteousness (צֶדֶק - tsedeq): A core attribute of God. It signifies adherence to a divine standard, moral rectitude, integrity, and ethical perfection. God's tsedeq means He acts in perfect accord with His holy nature and His covenant faithfulness.
- justice (מִשְׁפָּט - mishpat): This term often means "judgment," "equity," "ordinance," or "right rule." It refers to the application of righteousness in action, the upholding of what is right, fairness, and the protection of the vulnerable. Mishpat is tsedeq put into practice.
- are the foundation (מְכוֹן - m'khon): This Hebrew word implies a firm basis, a stable place, or the bedrock upon which something is built. It underscores that righteousness and justice are not incidental attributes but the fundamental, unwavering principles that uphold and define God's kingship and authority.
- of his throne (כִּסְאוֹ - kis'o): Refers to the seat of ultimate power and sovereignty. God's "throne" symbolizes His universal dominion and His authority as the supreme King. The implication is that His rule, unlike earthly rules, is utterly stable and reliable because its very base is moral perfection.
- Clouds and thick darkness surround him: This phrase points to God's inherent majesty, His unsearchable wisdom, and the holy awe that accompanies His revelation. It teaches humility before His profound mysteries.
- righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne: This powerful assertion reveals that God's dominion is not arbitrary power but is perfectly aligned with moral order and ethical truth. His reign is inherently good and equitable, providing ultimate stability and certainty for creation.
Psalm 97 2 Bonus section
The juxtaposition of the mysterious presence ("clouds and thick darkness") with the revealed moral character ("righteousness and justice") is crucial. It reminds believers that while God's nature and workings are often beyond full human comprehension (His hiddenness), His moral character is perfectly knowable and dependable. We may not always understand why God acts in certain ways, but we can always be certain that He acts with perfect righteousness and justice. This distinction helps bridge the gap between divine sovereignty and human suffering, asserting that despite appearances, God’s ultimate purposes are founded in perfect equity. It serves as a comfort for those seeking truth and fairness, assuring them that true justice ultimately emanates from and is upheld by the divine throne.
Psalm 97 2 Commentary
Psalm 97:2 profoundly encapsulates the dual nature of God's sovereign reign: His unapproachable mystery and His unwavering moral character. The "clouds and thick darkness" describe a divine presence so majestic and holy that it must remain veiled from direct human sight, a theme consistently present from Sinai to the unapproachable light mentioned in the New Testament. This doesn't imply absence, but an overwhelming, ineffable presence that humbles humanity and prevents comprehension of God's full glory. Yet, amidst this mystery, the Psalmist declares a clear and certain truth: God's authority is not arbitrary but is immutably established on "righteousness and justice." This foundational truth assures all creation that the ultimate power in the universe operates with perfect integrity and absolute equity. His rule is perfectly just, making His judgments trustworthy and His every action righteous. This provides an unshakeable ground for trust in His governance, despite His often-hidden ways.