O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
Read it in contextA Call to Worship the LORD, the Coming Judge
Start reading at Psalms 96:1 (Psalms 96:1 to Psalms 96:13).
The verse belongs to the entire Psalm 96, which is a complete poetic and prophetic unit.
96:1O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
96:2Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
96:3Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
96:4For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
96:5For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
96:6Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
96:7Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
96:8Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
96:9O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
96:10Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
96:11Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
96:12Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
96:13Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Multiple writers contributed to Psalms, including David, Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and Moses; some psalms have no named attribution. The traditional Hebrew headings distinguish many of these contributions. Biblical references: Acts 2:25; Acts 4:25. book background
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Psalms 96:1–96:13): All the earth and the families of the peoples are called to worship the LORD and proclaim His reign. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Israel's worshipping community, including individuals and assemblies using the psalms for prayer, praise, lament, and instruction. A particular psalm may speak directly to God, to the congregation, or to another group. Biblical references: Psalms 22:22; Psalms 78:1; Psalms 100:1. book background
What
What is the main event or theme? The main theme is a universal call to worship the LORD, acknowledging His greatness, His role as Creator, and His coming to judge the earth righteously.
What is God revealing? God is revealing His supreme greatness above all other gods, His power as the Creator of the heavens, His majesty and strength, and His future role as the righteous Judge of all the earth.
What is the literary style? The literary style is Hebrew poetry, characterized by a call to worship, praise, and prophetic declaration.
When
When was it written? The book of Psalms was collected over centuries, approximately from 1400 to 450 B.C.
When does the event take place? The call to worship is an ongoing command for all time, while the judgment of the earth by the LORD is a future event.
Where
Where did it happen? The call to worship is directed to 'all the earth' (Psalms 96:9), and God's 'sanctuary' is mentioned as a place of strength and beauty (Psalms 96:6).
Where was the author located? The Psalms were written in Israel.
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in A Call to Worship the LORD, the Coming Judge (Psalms 96:1 to Psalms 96:13).
Start reading at Psalms 96:1. The verse belongs to the entire Psalm 96, which is a complete poetic and prophetic unit.
How
How does it fit the broader context? Psalm 96 is a psalm of praise and prophecy, fitting within the broader context of the Psalms as a collection of songs and prayers that exalt the LORD, declare His attributes, and anticipate His future reign and judgment over all creation. It emphasizes the universal scope of God's sovereignty and the worship due to Him. interpretation
How does it point to Christ? The passage speaks of the LORD coming to judge the earth with righteousness and truth (Psalms 96:13). This points to the future coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, through whom God will execute His righteous judgment upon the world. interpretation
How do I apply it today? Believers today are called to worship the LORD with reverence and in a manner that reflects His holiness, recognizing His supreme sovereignty over all creation and anticipating His righteous return to judge the world. This worship should be declared among all people, showing forth His salvation and wonders. interpretation
David and others, including Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and MosesNamed in Scripture
What Scripture saysThe superscriptions name their writers: David most often, and also Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and Moses. The New Testament quotes psalms as David's words. Psalm 3:1Psalm 90:1Acts 2:25Acts 4:25
Early traditionJewish and Christian tradition preserves the superscriptions as ancient.
What is debatedSome scholars regard certain superscriptions as later additions. The collection was assembled over centuries.
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Psalms 96
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Psalms is a collection of prayers and songs with multiple attributed writers and many unspecified occasions. Read each psalm as a poetic unit and distinguish a speaker's lament, petition, vow, and praise. The five-book arrangement does not make all psalms one continuous speech. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement. A quoted heading uses the opening KJV words of that stanza; the speaker and the psalm as a whole still govern its meaning.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. These psalms include reflection on human frailty, the LORD's kingship, worship, and Israel's history, and close with a doxology.
Connection to the wholeThese psalms include reflection on human frailty, the LORD's kingship, worship, and Israel's history, and close with a doxology.
Connection to the wholeThese psalms include reflection on human frailty, the LORD's kingship, worship, and Israel's history, and close with a doxology.
interpretation
“Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the…”
Connection to the wholeThese psalms include reflection on human frailty, the LORD's kingship, worship, and Israel's history, and close with a doxology.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. These psalms include reflection on human frailty, the LORD's kingship, worship, and Israel's history, and close with a doxology.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Psalms
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Psalms is a collection of prayers and songs with multiple attributed writers and many unspecified occasions. Read each psalm as a poetic unit and distinguish a speaker's lament, petition, vow, and praise. The five-book arrangement does not make all psalms one continuous speech.
Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
Connection to the wholeThe second collection continues varied prayers and songs and closes with royal prayer and a doxology; its individual psalms retain distinct voices and occasions.
FocusThe sanctuary, the nation, and covenant questions
Connection to the wholeThis collection gives prominent space to communal distress and worship, ending with the tension between the Davidic promise and the king's humiliation.
Connection to the wholeThese psalms include reflection on human frailty, the LORD's kingship, worship, and Israel's history, and close with a doxology.
FocusThanksgiving, pilgrimage, and concluding praise
Connection to the wholeThe final collection gathers varied songs, the songs of degrees, and concluding calls to praise. Each psalm should first be read in its own poetic movement.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.