Psalm 99 6

Psalm 99:6 kjv

Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.

Psalm 99:6 nkjv

Moses and Aaron were among His priests, And Samuel was among those who called upon His name; They called upon the LORD, and He answered them.

Psalm 99:6 niv

Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel was among those who called on his name; they called on the LORD and he answered them.

Psalm 99:6 esv

Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon his name. They called to the LORD, and he answered them.

Psalm 99:6 nlt

Moses and Aaron were among his priests;
Samuel also called on his name.
They cried to the LORD for help,
and he answered them.

Psalm 99 verses

Psalm 99 6 Meaning

Psalm 99:6 presents three exemplary figures from Israel's early history—Moses, Aaron, and Samuel—to illustrate the nature of God's interaction with His people. It declares that Moses and Aaron served among His priests, and Samuel also called upon His name. The verse then affirms a central truth: these devoted leaders cried out to the Lord, and He consistently answered their prayers, demonstrating His accessibility and responsiveness despite His awe-inspiring holiness and kingly majesty, themes pervading the entire Psalm.

Psalm 99 6 Context

Psalm 99 is a royal psalm that extols the reign and holiness of YHWH, God of Israel, as the great King who is enthroned above the cherubim (v. 1). It commands all the earth to worship Him, recognizing His awesome power, justice, and righteousness (vv. 2-4). The psalm repeatedly emphasizes God's absolute holiness (vv. 3, 5, 9), urging His people to exalt Him and worship at His footstool and holy mountain. Against this backdrop of divine majesty and purity, verse 6 highlights specific historical figures—Moses, Aaron, and Samuel—who demonstrate how the holy King interacts with humanity. They are presented as prime examples of faithful leaders and intercessors who served and approached God, illustrating God's readiness to answer those who genuinely call upon Him within His established covenant relationship. Their historical actions validate the call to worship and trust in this holy and just God.

Psalm 99 6 Word analysis

• Moses (מֹשֶׁה, Moshe): Meaning "to draw out" (from water). Moses was the great law-giver, prophet, and covenant mediator for Israel. His inclusion "among his priests" is significant. While not an Aaronic priest by lineage, Moses performed priestly functions: he consecrated Aaron and the tabernacle (Ex 40), offered sacrifices during the covenant ratification (Ex 24), and functioned supremely as an intercessor for Israel, often standing in the "breach" to turn away God's wrath (Ps 106:23). He represents a foundational, authoritative spiritual leadership directly sanctioned by God, beyond mere hereditary office.
• Aaron (אַהֲרֹן, Aharon): Moses' elder brother and the first High Priest of Israel, from whom all subsequent legitimate priests descended (Levites of the house of Aaron). His office symbolized Israel's ordered approach to God, through atonement and ritual purity, in worship and service within the Tabernacle and later the Temple.
• were among his priests (בְּכֹהֲנָיו, bəḵōhanāyw): This phrase emphasizes the established spiritual service to YHWH. "Kohanim" refers specifically to priests. The context indicates roles of mediating, sacrificing, and ministering before God. Including Moses broadens the understanding of "priesthood" to encompass one who brings the people into covenant with God and intercedes on their behalf, a figure of supreme spiritual authority even if not from the priestly lineage of Aaron.
• Samuel (שְׁמוּאֵל, Shəmuʾel): Meaning "heard by God" or "name of God." Samuel was a prominent prophet, judge, and anointer of kings (Saul and David). Though a Levite, he was not of Aaronic lineage but frequently performed sacrifices and intercessory prayers, stepping into leadership during a period of spiritual decline in Israel. He demonstrates that prophetic anointing and the calling on God's name for divine intervention was powerful and heard by God, even when the formal Aaronic priesthood was at times corrupted or lacking in influence (1 Sam 7:9).
• also was among those who called upon his name (גַּם בְּקֹרְאֵי שְׁמוֹ, gam bəqōrʾēy šəmw): This signifies direct, intimate communication with God through prayer and invocation. "Calling on His name" implies appealing to God's character and covenant faithfulness, seeking His intervention and help. This phrase broadens the scope of those who could approach God effectively beyond just formal priests, encompassing prophets and spiritual leaders who served God directly through fervent prayer and righteous living.
• They called upon the LORD (יִקְרְאוּ אֶל יְהוָה, yiqrĕʾû ʾel YHWH): This reinforces the active prayer and supplication of these leaders. "YHWH" (the LORD) is God's covenant name, signifying His personal relationship with Israel. The repetition underscores the specific act of seeking God's divine favor and intervention.
• and he answered them (וְהוּא יַעֲנֵם, wəhûʾ yaʿanēm): This climactic declaration highlights God's attribute of responsiveness. The Hebrew verb ('anâ) means to answer or respond, confirming that God is not a distant, passive deity but one who actively engages with His people, hearing and responding to their cries. This phrase provides powerful affirmation of the efficacy of sincere prayer, particularly when offered by His chosen servants.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon his name": This group presents a spectrum of authorized access to God in Old Testament Israel. Moses represents the divine mediator and law-giver, Aaron the formal priestly office, and Samuel the prophetic-judicial voice that also interceded and offered sacrifice. It underscores the different legitimate pathways by which God’s people related to Him through chosen leaders, affirming divine order and varied functions in His service.
• "They called upon the LORD, and he answered them": This segment connects the exemplary lives of these figures to a core theological truth: God hears and responds. It validates their ministry and serves as an encouragement for all generations to pray, reinforcing the reliability of God’s covenant promise to hear His people. It implicitly counters any notion that God is unconcerned or unreachable.

Psalm 99 6 Bonus section

• A Precursor to the New Covenant Priesthood: The psalm's acknowledgment of both formal (Aaron) and functional/prophetic (Moses, Samuel) "priesthoods" or forms of divine access foreshadows the broader priesthood of all believers in the New Covenant (1 Pet 2:9) and the singular High Priesthood of Jesus Christ (Heb 4:14-16), through whom all may now "boldly approach the throne of grace."
• God's Sovereignty and Justice in Answering: While God answers, He does so according to His holy character and righteous will (Ps 99:4). His answers might include judgment, discipline, or further direction, not just the desired outcome, as seen in the lives of Moses and Samuel themselves. This emphasizes His sovereign discretion in answering prayers, always aligned with His divine purposes.
• A Polemic Against Idolatry: By highlighting the true God's active engagement and responsiveness through His appointed servants, the psalm implicitly contrasts YHWH with the false gods of surrounding nations, who were mute and lifeless, incapable of hearing or answering (Ps 115:5-7; Isa 44:9-20). The Living God answers; idols do not.

Psalm 99 6 Commentary

Psalm 99:6 provides historical proof points for the character of the holy King, YHWH, presented throughout the psalm. It uses the renowned figures of Moses, Aaron, and Samuel to exemplify active and effective spiritual service to God. Moses, serving in a foundational, priestly-like mediatorial role, and Aaron, the head of the institutional priesthood, represent structured worship and intercession before God's holy presence. Samuel, a prophet and judge, stands for direct, fervent prayer and invoking God's covenant name.

The core message lies in God's response: "He answered them." This powerfully affirms that the awesome, holy God who "sits enthroned above the cherubim" (Ps 99:1) is not remote but actively hears and answers the supplications of His chosen servants. It teaches that despite God's unapproachable holiness, He has provided ways for humanity to approach Him and for their petitions to be heard and responded to. The historical examples of these three demonstrate the efficacy of prayer, particularly from those dedicated to His service and reverent obedience. This divine responsiveness assures believers that genuine calls to the Lord, whether through formal means or direct invocation, do not go unheard, reinforcing His trustworthiness and the value of faithful leadership and intercession. This serves as a timeless call for reverence, reliance, and the practice of intercessory prayer.