Psalm 99 4

Psalm 99:4 kjv

The king's strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.

Psalm 99:4 nkjv

The King's strength also loves justice; You have established equity; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.

Psalm 99:4 niv

The King is mighty, he loves justice? you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right.

Psalm 99:4 esv

The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.

Psalm 99:4 nlt

Mighty King, lover of justice,
you have established fairness.
You have acted with justice
and righteousness throughout Israel.

Psalm 99 verses

Psalm 99 4 Meaning

Psalm 99:4 describes the foundational characteristics of God's rule as King. It proclaims that His strength is intrinsically linked with His deep affection for justice, implying that His immense power is always wielded in righteous ways. He has firmly established uprightness and fairness, making them the unwavering standard of His governance. Furthermore, the verse testifies to His historical and ongoing active implementation of justice and righteousness specifically among His people, Israel (represented by Jacob), demonstrating that His attributes are not theoretical but are concretely expressed in His dealings with humanity.

Psalm 99 4 Context

Psalm 99 is an "enthronement psalm" (Ps 93, 95-99), celebrating Yahweh as the divine King, often imagined reigning from His sanctuary in Jerusalem. This particular psalm emphasizes God's kingship through three distinct refrains highlighting His holiness ("Holy is He" or "Holy are You"), serving as a powerful declaration of His sovereign reign over all creation. Verses 1-3 extol His majesty and awe-inspiring power that commands the respect of the nations. Verse 4 elaborates on the nature of this powerful rule, emphasizing that His strength (as King) is not tyrannical but is inextricably bound to His character of justice. It speaks to how His kingship operates specifically in the practical administration of His people, "Jacob." Historically, for the original audience, this would have affirmed that despite political uncertainties or human rulers, their true King, the LORD, was absolutely just and had consistently acted with equity among them, particularly through the establishment of the Law and His interventions. The psalm collectively served to encourage the worship of such a righteous and holy King, providing assurance and calling for humble reverence.

Psalm 99 4 Word analysis

• The King's strength also loves justice (`וְעֹז מֶלֶךְ מִשְׁפָּט אָהֵב`, v'oz melekh mishpat ahev):
• strength (`עֹז`, oz): Refers to divine might, power, and sovereignty. This isn't raw, uncontrolled power, but the formidable, kingly might that is purposefully directed. Its placement implies that this immense power is characterized by its love for justice, rather than operating independently. It suggests God's strength is a guarantee that justice will prevail.
• King's (`מֶלֶךְ`, melekh): Refers to Yahweh, the supreme Ruler and sovereign Lord, the focus of the enthronement psalms. His kingship is central to understanding His actions described here.
• loves (`אָהֵב`, ahev): Denotes a deep, abiding affection, a volitional inclination. It's not mere approval, but active delight in justice. This attributes a moral will to God, showing that justice is intrinsic to His very being and not a mere preference or a legalistic adherence. It contrasts sharply with the arbitrary power often associated with pagan deities or tyrannical earthly rulers.
• justice (`מִשְׁפָּט`, mishpat): A comprehensive term meaning "judgment," "justice," "equity," or "legal right." It implies what is right according to God's standard, often pertaining to the administration of law, fairness in dealings, protection of the weak, and the rightful order of society. It encompasses both judicial decrees and the implementation of righteousness. God doesn't just know justice; He loves its execution.
• You established equity (`אַתָּה כּוֹנַנְתָּ מֵישָׁרִים`, ata khonanta meisharim):
• You established (`כּוֹנַנְתָּ`, konanta): Implies setting firmly in place, making stable, founding, or making ready. It signifies a deliberate and enduring act of institution. God isn't merely observant of justice, but He is the active origin and sustainer of what is right. This points to divine legislation and the very order of the created world.
• equity (`מֵישָׁרִים`, meisharim): Literally "uprightnesses" or "straight things," conveying fairness, impartiality, and righteousness. It is closely tied to mishpat (justice) and tzedeq (righteousness), emphasizing moral rectitude and balanced judgment in all matters. It speaks of the path that is truly right, aligning with God's perfect standards.
• You executed justice and righteousness in Jacob (`צֶדֶק וּמִשְׁפָּט בְּיַעֲקֹב אַתָּה עָשִׂיתָ`, tzedeq u'mishpat b'ya'akov ata asita):
• You executed (`עָשִׂיתָ`, asita): This verb means "You did," "You made," or "You performed." It emphasizes the active, demonstrable, and historical implementation of God's character. His justice is not passive but tangibly expressed. It's about practical outworking and administration.
• justice (`מִשְׁפָּט`, mishpat): Reiterated here to show its application.
• and righteousness (`צֶדֶק`, tzedeq): Ethical correctness, moral rectitude, conformity to an ethical standard. While mishpat often implies action in a judicial context, tzedeq is the underlying moral quality. God's tzedeq ensures that His mishpat is never arbitrary but is always rooted in perfect goodness and ethical consistency.
• in Jacob (`בְּיַעֲקֹב`, b'ya'akov): A poetic designation for Israel, the covenant people of God. This specifies the sphere of God's most intimate and manifest justice. It points to His faithfulness to His covenant, His giving of the Law, His leading them in the wilderness, His provision, and His judgments—all manifestations of His just character within the community He chose.

• The King's strength also loves justice: This phrase establishes God's power as fundamentally aligned with moral uprightness. His omnipotence is always governed by His righteous character; it is never exercised capriciously or arbitrarily, unlike the gods of surrounding pagan nations whose power might be linked to chaotic forces or personal whims. It assures the worshiper that the most powerful being in the universe delights in fairness and truth.
• You established equity; You executed justice and righteousness in Jacob: These two clauses transition from God's intrinsic character to His active and historical involvement in the lives of His people. The "establishing" of equity speaks to God's legislative and foundational work (e.g., the Torah, the Mosaic covenant), providing clear principles for living. The "executing" demonstrates that He actively administers and judges based on these principles within the Israelite community, validating their historical experiences of His consistent dealings. This highlights God as both the law-giver and the judge, showing a continuity between His being and His doing.

Psalm 99 4 Bonus section

This verse implies a strong polemic against the arbitrary power associated with pagan deities in the ancient Near East. Unlike gods of chaos or personal caprice, Yahweh's reign is morally absolute, stable, and benevolent. His "love" for justice signifies that His divine will is perfectly aligned with moral rectitude, establishing a reliable moral order in creation. The use of "Jacob" specifies that while God is the universal King, His demonstration of justice began intimately within His covenant people, forming them as a society based on His just decrees. This also sets a divine standard for earthly kings: their rule should mirror God's in its unwavering commitment to justice and righteousness. The steadfastness implied by "established" (כּוֹנַנְתָּ, konanta) conveys that God's commitment to equity is not fluctuating, but is foundational and permanent to His governance.

Psalm 99 4 Commentary

Psalm 99:4 offers a profound theological statement on the nature of God's kingship. It asserts that Yahweh's immense strength and authority are not self-serving but are dedicated to His passionate love for justice. This means that God's power is the very engine for the establishment and execution of righteousness. He is not merely an observer of justice but its ultimate source and active implementer, having firmly set in place principles of uprightness. This is profoundly evident in His direct involvement with Israel, "Jacob," where He consistently brought forth both righteous judgment and saving justice, illustrating His character not just in abstract terms, but in the practical, lived experiences of His covenant people through the giving of His laws and His providential guidance. This verse reassures believers that their sovereign King is impeccably fair, trustworthy, and actively upholds what is right, serving as the bedrock for true worship and security.

• Example 1: When a believer faces an injustice, this verse reminds them that their ultimate King not only sees their plight but actively loves and executes justice.
• Example 2: In times of national struggle or societal decay, the verse points to God as the One who has established principles of equity and who can (and will) intervene with justice and righteousness.