Psalm 96:9
ESV
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!
NIV
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.
NASB
Worship the Lord in holy attire; Tremble before Him, all the earth.
CSB
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; let the whole earth tremble before him.
NLT
Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor. Let all the earth tremble before him.
KJV
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
NKJV
Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth.
What does Psalm 96:9 mean?
Please see our chapter commentary on Psalm 96, verse-level content coming soon!Psalm 96:7–13 adds details to an earlier call for worship (Psalm 96:1–6). Those praising the Lord should recognize His power, glory, and holiness. The psalmist emphasizes God's sovereignty over the entire world. This also implies His right to judge everyone and everything. The psalm ends with a hopeful look to the future when the Lord will rule the earth directly (Revelation 20:4).
The psalmist calls on all people—of the entire world—to give proper worship to God. Because of His divine nature and the miracles He has done, the Lord deserves to be praised. Other so-called "gods" are nothing. Those who worship the Lord should celebrate His holiness, power, and judgment. One day, the Lord will return and rule the entire earth in perfect justice.
