Psalm 96:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 96:1-9

These verses will be best expounded by pious and devout affections working in our souls towards God, with a high veneration for his majesty and transcendent excellency. The call here given us to praise God is very lively, the expressions are raised and repeated, to all which the echo of a thankful heart should make agreeable returns. I. We are here required to honour God, 1. With songs, Ps. 96:1, 2. Three times we are here called to sing unto the Lord; sing to the Father, to the Son, to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 96:4

For the Lord is great ,.... In the perfections of his nature; in the works of his hands, of creation, providence, and redemption; and in the several offices he bears and executes: and greatly to be praised ; because of his greatness and glory; See Gill on Psalm 48:1 , he is to be feared above all gods ; the angels by whom he is worshipped; civil magistrates, among whom he presides, and judges; and all the fictitious deities of the Gentiles, who are not to be named with him, and to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 96:4

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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 96:4

Verse 4 4.For Jehovah is great, and greatly to be praised. He particularly describes that God, whom he would have men to celebrate, and this because the Gentile nations were prone to merge into error upon this subject. That the whole world might abjure its superstitions, and unite in the true religion, he points out the one only God who is worthy of universal praise. This is a point of the greatest importance. Unless men are restrained by a due respect to it, they can only dishonor him the more... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 96:1-13

Metrically, the psalm consists of four stanzas, the first three of three verses each, and the last of four. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 96:1-13

How and why Jehovah is to be worshipped. I. WITH A NEW SONG . ( Psalms 96:1 .) Praise that shall celebrate the new revelation of himself, which he is about to make in a new era of the world. Constantly new revelation. II. BY CELEBRATING THE SAVING WORK WHICH GOD IS DOING IN THE WORLD . ( Psalms 96:2 .) His coming to judge the people righteously, and thus to save them. Saving men every day. III. BY PUBLISHING HIS CHARACTER AND WORK ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 96:4

For the Lord is great (comp. Psalms 95:3 ), and greatly to be praised. Whatever is "great" excites our admiration, and naturally calls forth our praise. God's greatness is such that he needs to be " greatly praised." He is to be feared above all gods (comp. Psalms 95:3 , and the comment ad loc. ) . read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 96:4

For the Lord is great - Yahweh is great. See the notes at Psalms 77:13. This verse is taken literally from 1 Chronicles 16:25.And greatly to be praised - Worthy of exalted praise and adoration.He is to be feared above all gods - He is to be reverenced and adored above all that are called gods. Higher honor is to be given him; more lofty praise is to be ascribed to him. He is Ruler over all the earth, and has a claim to universal praise. Even if it were admitted that they were real gods, yet it... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 96:4-6

Psalms 96:4-6. For the Lord Hebrew, Jehovah, is great Infinite in his nature and attributes; and greatly to be praised All our most exalted praises fall infinitely short of his greatness. He is to be feared above all gods The gods of the heathen, as the next words expound it. For all the gods of the nations are idols Or, nothing, as they are called 1 Corinthians 8:4; 1 Corinthians 10:19; and, as אלילים , elilim, here rendered idols, signifies; or, vain things, as others... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 96:1-13

Psalms 95-96 God the creator of the universeSix psalms, 95 to 100, are grouped so as to form a series for use in temple worship. The first psalm opens by calling people to worship God because he is the saviour (95:1-2), the great God (3), the creator and controller of the universe (4-5), the maker of the human race (6) and, above all, the covenant Lord and shepherd of his people (7). Worship, however, must be joined to obedience. Israel’s experiences in the wilderness show that people might... read more

Group of Brands