He is to be feared above all gods - I think the two clauses of this verse should be read thus: - Jehovah is great, and greatly to be praised. Elohim is to be feared above all. I doubt whether the word אלהים Elohim is ever, by fair construction, applied to false gods or idols. The contracted form in the following verse appears to have this meaning. read more
All the gods of the nations are idols - אלהי elohey . All those reputed or worshipped as gods among the heathens are אלילים elilim , vanities, emptinesses, things of nought. Instead of being Elohim, they are elilim; they are not only not God, but they are nothing." "Jehovah made the heavens." He who is the creator is alone worthy of adoration. read more
Honour and majesty are before him - Does this refer to the cloud of his glory that preceded the ark in their journeying through the wilderness? The words strength and beauty, and glory and strength, Psalm 96:7 , are those by which the ark is described, Psalm 78:61 . read more
Ye kindreds of the people - Ye families, all the tribes of Israel in your respective divisions. read more
Come into his courts - Probably referring to the second temple. The reference must be either to the tabernacle or temple. read more
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness - I think קדש בהדרת behadrath kodesh , signifies holy ornaments, such as the high priest wore in his ministrations. These were given him for glory and beauty; and the psalmist calls on him to put on his sacerdotal garments, to bring his offering, מנחה minchah , and come into the courts of the Lord, and perform his functions, and make intercession for the people. read more
Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth - Justin Martyr, in his dialogue with Trypho the Jew, quotes this passage thus: Ειπατε εν τοις εθνεσι, ὁ Κυριος εβασιλευσε απο του ξυλου , "Say among the nations, the Lord ruleth by the wood," meaning the cross; and accuses the Jews of having blotted this word out of their Bibles, because of the evidence it gave of the truth of Christianity. It appears that this reading did exist anciently in the Septuagint, or at least in some ancient copies... read more
Let the heavens rejoice - The publication of the Gospel is here represented as a universal blessing; the heavens the earth, the sea, and its inhabitants, the field, the grass, and the trees of the wood, are all called to rejoice at this glorious event. This verse is well and harmoniously translated in the old Psalter: - Fayne be hevenes - and the erth glad; Styrde be the see, - and the fulnes of it; Joy sal feldes, - and al that ere in thaim. read more
Verse 1 1Sing unto Jehovah a new song This commencement shows that, as I have already observed, the Psalmist is exhorting the whole world, and not the Israelites merely, to the exercise of devotion. Nor could this be done, unless the gospel were universally diffused as the means of conveying the knowledge of God. The saying of Paul must necessarily hold true, “How shall they call upon him in whom they have not believed?” (Romans 10:14.) The same Apostle proves the calling of the Gentiles, by... read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 96:3
Declare his glory among the heathen - The heathen do not know the true God: as his being and attributes are at the foundation of all religion, these are the first subjects of instruction for the Gentile world. Declare, ספרו sapperu , detail, number out his glory, כבודו kebodo , his splendor and excellence. His wonders among all people - Declare also to the Jews his wonders, נפלאותיו niphleothaiv , his miracles. Dwell on the works which he shall perform in Judea. The miracles... read more