Psalm 98 4

Psalm 98:4 kjv

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

Psalm 98:4 nkjv

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.

Psalm 98:4 niv

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;

Psalm 98:4 esv

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

Psalm 98:4 nlt

Shout to the LORD, all the earth;
break out in praise and sing for joy!

Psalm 98 verses

Psalm 98 4 Meaning

Psalm 98:4 is a fervent exhortation for all inhabitants of the earth to offer exuberant praise to the Lord. It commands a multi-faceted vocal and instrumental response of joy, demonstrating universal recognition and celebration of God's wondrous acts and righteous reign.

Psalm 98 4 Context

Psalm 98 is a "New Song" Psalm, echoing themes found in Psalms 96 and 97. The immediate context, particularly Psalm 98:1-3, highlights the Lord's "marvelous things," His powerful "right hand and holy arm" that have "worked salvation," and His remembrance of "His love and faithfulness to Israel," making His "salvation known to the nations." Verse 4 then serves as the natural response to this divine activity: a global, unreserved expression of praise. Historically, these Psalms anticipated the universal revelation of God's reign and salvation, moving beyond Israel's boundaries to encompass all humanity. They also functioned in Temple worship, calling for celebratory communal acclamation of Yahweh as the true, reigning King over all lesser gods and human empires, thus expressing a polemic against the territorial deities and polytheistic practices prevalent in the ancient Near East.

Psalm 98 4 Word analysis

• הָרִ֫יעוּ (Hāriʿu): "Shout for joy!" or "Raise a loud cry!" This is an imperative verb often used in military contexts for a battle cry, or in religious settings for a cry of triumph or acclamation, such as when hailing a king. It signifies a public, exuberant, and unrestrained outburst of sound, marking an event of great significance.
• לַיהוָה (la-YHWH): "to the LORD." This specifies the unique recipient of the praise – Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God of Israel. It emphasizes that this universal praise is directed solely toward the one true God, distinct from any false deities.
• כָּל־הָאָרֶץ (kol-hā'āreṣ): "all the earth." This phrase signifies comprehensive universality, encompassing all peoples and nations inhabiting the globe. It stands in stark contrast to the common ancient belief in national or territorial gods, proclaiming Yahweh's undisputed sovereignty over every corner of the world. It may also extend to the whole of creation itself.
• פִּצְח֖וּ (Piṣəḥu): "Burst forth!" or "Break into song!" This imperative verb suggests a sudden, spontaneous, and powerful eruption of sound or emotion. It's an unrestrained and often overwhelming expression, as if one cannot contain the joy.
• וְרַנְּנ֣וּ (wəRannənū): "and sing joyfully!" or "rejoice!" This is a widely used verb for joyous vocal expression, whether singing or shouting. It signifies an audible, melodious, and often sustained vocalization of gladness.
• וְזַמֵּֽרוּ (wəZammērū): "and make music!" or "sing praise with instruments!" This imperative explicitly includes instrumental music alongside vocalization. It implies a prepared, intentional musical offering as part of worship, demonstrating the full scope of joyous expression in praising God.

Words-group analysis:

• "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth;": This opening clause establishes the universal command and the sole object of worship. It calls for an initial, powerful vocal declaration of allegiance and celebration. The widespread nature of this command signifies God's boundless dominion and the scope of His anticipated glory among all peoples.
• "burst into jubilant song and make music.": This sequence describes escalating forms of praise. From an initial explosive burst of song to sustained joyous singing and accompanying instrumental music, the verbs present a holistic and escalating cascade of exuberant worship. It suggests that praise to God should be diverse, dynamic, and engage every available form of joyful expression, reflecting the totality of the worshipers' beings and God's multifaceted wonders.

Psalm 98 4 Bonus section

• The progression of verbs in Psalm 98:4 (shouting, bursting into song, singing, making music) illustrates a comprehensive and escalating form of worship, encompassing raw, spontaneous cries and more structured, artistic expressions. This indicates that God delights in a variety of genuine expressions of praise.
• The concept of "all the earth" praising the Lord connects this Psalm to prophetic visions in Isaiah and Zechariah concerning the future ingathering of nations to Jerusalem and their participation in the worship of the one true God, pointing toward the New Covenant era.
• This verse underscores God's sovereignty over creation itself, implying that the entire created order, not just humanity, implicitly responds to His dominion and saving power. This echoes other Psalms where elements of nature are depicted as praising God.
• The passionate and loud nature of the commanded praise serves as an affirmation of Yahweh's victory over all opposing forces, both spiritual and temporal. It is a triumphal chorus, an anthem for the King who reigns universally.

Psalm 98 4 Commentary

Psalm 98:4 serves as a global summons for uninhibited, audible praise to the Lord, prompted by His mighty acts of salvation detailed earlier in the chapter. It's a forceful directive, indicating that the appropriate response to the universal reign and saving work of God is not quiet contemplation but an outward eruption of joy. The four distinct, yet complementary, verbs – "shout for joy," "burst forth," "sing joyfully," and "make music" – paint a vivid picture of multi-faceted, enthusiastic worship. This call extends to "all the earth," dismantling any geographical or nationalistic boundaries to God's deserved praise. It foreshadows a future when all nations will acknowledge and laud Yahweh as King and Redeemer, a vision progressively realized in the global spread of the Gospel. Practically, this verse encourages believers to engage fully and openly in worship, using their voices, instruments, and entire being to declare God's glory with unreserved delight.