Psalm 98 7

Psalm 98:7 kjv

Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

Psalm 98:7 nkjv

Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell in it;

Psalm 98:7 niv

Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.

Psalm 98:7 esv

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!

Psalm 98:7 nlt

Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
Let the earth and all living things join in.

Psalm 98 verses

Psalm 98 7 Meaning

Psalm 98:7 is a vibrant summons for the entire created order to join in a thunderous acclamation of God’s redemptive power and coming reign. It depicts the sea, with all its inhabitants, roaring in a magnificent crescendo, while the whole inhabited earth and its peoples respond in unison. This verse paints a picture of cosmic praise, where inanimate elements and humanity alike acknowledge the sovereign King who has brought salvation and will justly rule the world.

Psalm 98 7 Context

Psalm 98 is one of the "Enthronement Psalms" (alongside Ps 93, 96, 97, 99), proclaiming God’s universal kingship and His decisive act of salvation. This chapter specifically celebrates God's "new song" of salvation (v. 1-3), a past yet prophetically future victory. It moves from Israel's experience to a universal call to worship (v. 4-6), culminating in the natural world and its inhabitants joining the praise (v. 7-8) because God is coming to judge the earth with righteousness (v. 9). The historical context aligns with the post-exilic period, where a renewed hope in God's universal dominion and the triumph of His righteous rule brought comfort and vision to the Israelite people, emphasizing that the God of Israel is the King of all creation, and all will eventually acknowledge His just reign. The call for the sea and world to "roar" or "be loud" (v. 7) emphasizes a divine mandate for creation to participate in recognizing God's ultimate victory and impending righteous judgment, contrasting with ancient pagan beliefs that often deified or feared nature; here, nature is an active, willing participant in worshiping its Creator.

Psalm 98 7 Word analysis

• Let: An imperative, expressing a divine command or a fervent wish and invitation for creation to actively participate. It's a call to join the chorus of praise that humans are already encouraged to offer.
• the sea: Hebrew yam (ים). This powerful and vast natural element, often seen in ancient cosmology as embodying untamed forces or chaos, is here called upon to offer praise. Its very immensity signifies the grandeur of the Creator it is called to glorify.
• roar: Hebrew yir'am (ירעם), derived from ra'am (רעם), meaning "to thunder," "roar," or "tremble." It conveys a mighty, resonant, and awe-inspiring sound. Unlike a whisper or gentle lapping, the sea's "roaring" implies a powerful, demonstrative, and perhaps tumultuous expression of praise that resonates with the Creator's own power.
• and all: An inclusive term, emphasizing totality and comprehensiveness.
• that fills it: Hebrew umlo'o (ומלואו). Refers to everything within the sea—its vast waters, all forms of marine life, its deep currents, and potentially even human activities upon it. This signifies that not just the physical body of water but all its contents are called to praise.
• the world: Hebrew tevel (תֵבֵל). Distinct from eretz (land/earth), tevel often specifically denotes the "inhabited world" or "dry land." This expands the scope of praise beyond the sea to include all continental landmasses, signifying God's sovereignty over every corner where life exists.
• and those who dwell in it: Hebrew wĕyōšĕḇê-ḇāh (וְיֹשְׁבֵי בָהּ). This refers to all humanity, without distinction of tribe or nation. It broadens the cosmic praise to include every individual person residing on earth, aligning their worship with the grand chorus of creation.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:
• "Let the sea roar and all that fills it": This phrase directly addresses the inanimate yet powerful aspects of creation. It demonstrates God's sovereignty over nature's most formidable elements, showing them not as entities to be worshipped, but as instruments that participate in worshipping the true God. The roaring of the sea becomes a majestic sound of homage.
• "the world and those who dwell in it": This expands the call to praise from specific natural elements to the entire inhabited globe and all of humankind. It merges the praise of creation with the praise of humanity, presenting a unified, global chorus acknowledging God’s supreme rule. This highlights God’s dominion not only over physical creation but also over all its sentient inhabitants.

Psalm 98 7 Bonus section

This verse offers profound insights into the theological truth that all of creation is interconnected in its purpose to glorify God. It moves beyond merely human worship, envisioning a cosmic liturgy where the natural world actively participates, not passively existing. This speaks to the teleological purpose of creation – it exists for the glory of God. The anthropomorphism of the sea "roaring" and the world's inhabitants "dwelling" in unison underscores the deep harmony that will prevail when God's kingdom fully arrives. In the New Testament, this future reality finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, through whom all things in heaven and on earth were created and reconciled, leading to every knee bowing and every tongue confessing Him as Lord, ensuring that both human and non-human creation will indeed bring ultimate praise to God.

Psalm 98 7 Commentary

Psalm 98:7 serves as a crescendo in a psalm that already celebrates God's mighty acts of salvation and His impending reign as righteous Judge. After human beings are called to make a "joyful shout" (v. 4) and use musical instruments in worship (v. 5-6), this verse commands the very fabric of creation to respond. The "sea" with its thunderous "roar" represents the formidable and vast natural world, while "all that fills it" signifies its every creature and aspect. This command then extends to "the world," specifically the inhabited earth, and "those who dwell in it," clearly pointing to humanity. This collective roar and participation illustrate that God's triumph is so absolute, His sovereignty so complete, and His righteousness so undeniable, that every created entity, both sentient and seemingly inanimate, is compelled to acknowledge and praise Him. It foreshadows a time when all rebellion will cease, and creation will joyfully conform to the will of its King, echoing a truth found throughout Scripture that the universe itself witnesses to its Creator.