Psalm 98 8

Psalm 98:8 kjv

Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together

Psalm 98:8 nkjv

Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the hills be joyful together before the LORD,

Psalm 98:8 niv

Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy;

Psalm 98:8 esv

Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together

Psalm 98:8 nlt

Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!
Let the hills sing out their songs of joy

Psalm 98 verses

Psalm 98 8 Meaning

Psalm 98:8 is a poetic call for the natural world—specifically the dynamic rivers and the steadfast mountains—to participate in a joyful chorus of praise to the Lord. This act of adoration is in response to God's demonstrated salvation and righteous reign over all the earth, inviting all creation to acknowledge His sovereignty and justice with triumphant celebration.

Psalm 98 8 Context

Psalm 98 is one of the "New Song" psalms, belonging to a group often referred to as Enthronement Psalms (Psalms 93, 95-99). These psalms celebrate God's kingship and His redemptive work on earth. The psalm opens with a call to "Sing to the Lord a new song" because of the "marvelous things" He has done, specifically His salvation revealed to the nations (Ps 98:1-3). It emphasizes God's justice and faithfulness, which extend to all the ends of the earth. Verse 8 expands this universal praise from humanity to include inanimate creation, envisioning a cosmic response to God's manifest rule, leading up to His just judgment of the world in verse 9. In the ancient Near Eastern cultural context, rivers and mountains were often seen as divine or as homes for deities. Psalm 98, by commanding them to "clap their hands" and "sing for joy" to Yahweh, implicitly asserts the supremacy of the one true God over all of creation, refuting any notion of their inherent divinity or association with pagan gods.

Psalm 98 8 Word analysis

• Let the rivers (נהרות - neharot):
  • Word: Neharot (plural of nahar) refers to rivers or streams.
  • Significance: Represents the dynamic, ever-flowing, and moving aspects of the natural world. Rivers are vital for life and commerce, symbols of bounty and power. Their movement and sound can evoke a living quality.
• clap their hands (מחאו-כף - mahau-kaph):
  • Word: Mahau (strike, clap) and kaph (palm of the hand).
  • Significance: A striking anthropomorphism. "Clapping hands" is a human gesture of enthusiastic approval, applause, celebration, triumph, or agreement. It is an outward expression of intense joy and acclamation. Poetically, the sound of rushing, crashing waves or cataracts in rivers might evoke a "clapping" sound, as if the water itself is celebrating.
• let the mountains (הרים - harim):
  • Word: Harim (plural of har), referring to mountains.
  • Significance: Represents the massive, fixed, and eternal elements of the earth. Mountains symbolize strength, permanence, majesty, and grandeur. They are immovable and ancient witnesses to creation's history.
• sing for joy (יחדו ירננו - y’ranenu):
  • Word: Y’ranenu (from ranan) means to shout for joy, utter a joyful sound, exult, ring out.
  • Significance: Another vivid personification. "Singing for joy" expresses loud, audible, and unreserved praise and rejoicing. It is an outpouring of gladness, signifying that creation itself finds deep satisfaction and delight in the Lord's character and actions.
• together (יחד - yahad):
  • Word: Yahad means together, at the same time, in unity.
  • Significance: This word emphasizes the collective, harmonious, and universal nature of the praise. It signifies that all elements of creation, from the flowing rivers to the stationary mountains, are envisioned joining as one vast, unified choir in acknowledging God's reign and salvation. It highlights the cosmic scope of this commanded worship.

Psalm 98 8 Bonus section

The profound imagery of Psalm 98:8 can be seen as foreshadowing the eschatological liberation of creation described in Rom 8:19-22, where creation groans in anticipation of its freedom from futility and its participation in the glorious liberty of the children of God. Thus, this verse carries a prophetic resonance, painting a picture of a renewed heaven and earth where creation is not just a passive stage but an active participant in God's redeemed cosmos. It challenges us to perceive creation not merely as resources for human use but as entities that bear witness to the Creator's glory and are called to respond to His truth. This perspective can encourage a deeper reverence for the natural world as a part of God's worshipping ensemble, urging humans to recognize and align their worship with this grand, cosmic liturgy.

Psalm 98 8 Commentary

Psalm 98:8 is a powerful and poetic verse that calls upon the entirety of God's physical creation—from the rushing rivers to the majestic mountains—to join in celebratory worship. This is a dramatic use of anthropomorphism and personification, where inanimate elements are endowed with human characteristics and emotions. The rivers are pictured as clapping their "hands" in joyous applause, a gesture of enthusiastic affirmation, while the mountains are invited to burst into a unified song of exultation. This imagery powerfully conveys the message that God's sovereignty extends over all things, both living and non-living, and that all creation intrinsically responds to His presence and actions. It reflects an ultimate longing for a cosmic symphony of praise, acknowledging that every part of existence, by its very nature and origin, points to the glory of its Creator. It anticipates a future time when God's reign will be fully established, His righteousness undeniably displayed, prompting even the "senseless" elements of the world to respond with overwhelming joy. For humans, this verse serves as a profound inspiration: if even inanimate nature is called to "praise" God, how much more should humanity, created in His image and recipients of His direct salvation, offer deliberate and joyful worship? It reminds us that our worship is not an isolated human act but is meant to join an ongoing, creation-wide chorus that constantly declares God's wonders.