Psalm 96:4-6

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 96:5

For all the gods of the nations are idols ,.... Or are "nothings" F15 אלילים "nihila", Tigurine version, Cocceius, Michaelis. , nonentities; such as have not, and never had, any being, at least many of them, but in the fancies of men; and all of them such as have no divinity in them; an idol is nothing in the world , 1 Corinthians 8:4 , but the Lord made the heavens ; and all the hosts of them, the sun, moon, and stars; these are the curious workmanship of his fingers, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 96:6

Honour and majesty are before him ,.... He being set down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, and having honour and majesty laid upon him; being arrayed in robes of majesty, crowned with glory and honour, sitting on the same throne of glory with his Father, and having a sceptre of righteousness in his hand, and all the forms and ensigns of royalty and majesty about him; rays of light and glory darting from him; as well as those glorious and bright forms before him;... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 96:5

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 96:6

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

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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 96:6

Verse 6 6Strength and honor are before him I translate the Hebrew word הוד , hod, by strength, and think those interpreters who render it glory have not duly considered the context. It is evident that the next member of the verse is a repetition, and there it reads, Power and Glory are in his sanctuary. The Psalmist means that we cannot be said to know God if we have not discovered that there is in him an incomparable glory and majesty. He first takes notice of his power and strength, as that... 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

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