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- Verse 7
Verse
Context
Sermons
Henry Law
G. Campbell Morgan
Thomas BrooksSummary
Commentary
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
When the glory of Jahve becomes manifest, everything that is opposed to it will be punished and consumed by its light. Those who serve idols will become conscious of their delusion with shame and terror, Isa 42:17; Jer 10:14. The superhuman powers (lxx ἄγγελοι), deified by the heathen, then bow down to Him who alone is Elohim in absolute personality. השׁתּחווּ is not imperative (lxx, Syriac), for as a command this clause would be abrupt and inconsequential, but the perfect of that which actually takes place. The quotation in Heb 1:6 is taken from Deu 32:43, lxx. In Psa 97:8 (after Psa 48:12) the survey of the poet again comes back to his own nation. When Zion hears that Jahve has appeared, and all the world and all the powers bow down to Him, she rejoices; for it is in fact her God whose kingship has come to the acknowledge. And all the daughter-churches of the Jewish land exult together with the mother-church over the salvation which dawns through judgments.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Idolaters are utterly put to shame, for if angels must worship Him, how much more those who worshipped them. all ye gods--literally, "all ye angels" (Psa 8:5; Psa 138:1; Heb 1:6; Heb 2:7). Paul quotes, not as a prophecy, but as language used in regard to the Lord Jehovah, who in the Old Testament theophania is the second person of the Godhead.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Confounded be all they that serve graven images,.... Images of gold, silver, and stone, graven by art and man's device; to serve and worship which must be the grossest ignorance and stupidity, which, when convinced of, must fill with shame and confusion: this may be considered either as a prayer, that the idolatrous Gentiles might be enlightened to see the vanity of their idols, and their worship of them, and turn to the living God; or as a prophecy that it should be; for it may be rendered, "they are" or "shall be confounded", or "ashamed" (t), as the Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi; which had its accomplishment in the first times of the Gospel; when, being preached in the Gentile world, multitudes forsook their idols and served the true God; and especially at the opening of the sixth seal, when Pagan worship was abolished throughout the Roman empire; and when the kings and great men in it, through shame, confusion, and dread, fled to the rocks and mountains, to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb, Rev 6:12, and will have a further accomplishment, when the Papists, the worshippers of the beast, shall be ashamed of their graven images, of the Virgin Mary, and other saints; which will be when the Gospel shall be published throughout the world, Rev 14:6, that boast themselves of idols; as their saviours and deliverers, which yet are nothing, as the word (u) signifies; that praise and extol them, as the givers of good things to them, or the procurers of them for them; that glory in them, and in their worship of them, than which nothing can be a greater instance of folly and madness: worship him, all ye gods; those that are so called, the graven images and idols before mentioned; let them bow down, and be prostrate before the Lord, as Dagon before the ark; or they that serve other gods, as Kimchi; so the Targum, "and all the nations that serve idols shall worship before him;'' rather kings and princes, civil magistrates, who are sometimes called gods, are meant, Psa 95:3, and who, in the latter day especially, shall serve and worship the Messiah, Psa 72:10 though it is best of all to interpret it of angels, as this word Elohim is rendered in Psa 8:5, and Aben Ezra says there are some of their interpreters that understand it of angels: the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions, and so Apollinarius, render it, "worship him, all his angels": Gussetius (w) interprets it, "all that is God's"; all that belong to him, angels and men, and all creatures; particularly angels, the most noble of all: and this sense is confirmed by an inspired writer, who manifestly refers to and quotes this passage, and applies it to the angels worshipping Christ, the first begotten Son of God, when he came into the world, Heb 1:6, with which compare Luk 2:13, from whence it appears not only that Christ is superior to angels, for the proof of which it is produced by the apostle; but that he is truly God, since God only is the object of religions worship; and that, if he is worshipped by angels, he ought to be worshipped by men; and that angels are not the proper objects of worship, since they are worshippers. (t) "pudefiunt", Cocceius; "erubescent", Gejerus. (u) "in diis nihili"; Tigurine version; so some in Vatablus, Cocceius. (w) Ebr. Comment. p. 386.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
97:7 At the Lord’s coming, when every god must bow to him, those who worship other gods will face their own folly (see 95:3-5).
Let the Earth Rejoice
6The heavens proclaim His righteousness; all the peoples see His glory. 7All worshipers of images are put to shame— those who boast in idols. Worship Him, all you gods! 8Zion hears and rejoices, and the towns of Judah exult because of Your judgments, O LORD.
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- Commentary
Psalm 97
By Henry Law0PSA 97:1PSA 97:7PSA 97:10Henry Law preaches about the encouragement of faith to joyfully contemplate Christ's kingdom, which may be hidden from the world but is dreadful to all adversaries. Believers are exhorted to abound in holy joy, recognizing that the Lord reigns over all events and His righteousness and judgment are the foundation of His throne. The sermon emphasizes the solemnity of God's rule, the manifestation of His glory through His righteous decrees, and the impending wrath against unrighteousness in Christ's kingdom.
The Message of Psalms
By G. Campbell Morgan0WorshipThe Nature of GodPSA 22:27PSA 29:2PSA 46:10PSA 86:9PSA 95:6PSA 97:7PSA 100:2PSA 132:7PSA 138:2PHP 4:4G. Campbell Morgan emphasizes the profound truths about worship as revealed in the Psalms, highlighting the conception of God as Jehovah, Elohim, and Adonahy, which compels worship. He discusses the attitudes of man in worship—submission, trust, and joy—as responses to God's sovereignty, might, and grace. Morgan illustrates that worship is initiated by God's self-revelation, prompting man to lay bare his soul and offer praise. The ultimate message of the Psalter is to worship God in all circumstances, transforming every moment into an opportunity for worship. He concludes with a New Testament affirmation of this message, urging believers to rejoice and present their requests to God.
To the Moles and to the Bats!
By Thomas Brooks0IdolatryTransformation in ChristPSA 97:7ISA 2:20EZK 14:6MAT 6:24ROM 12:22CO 6:17GAL 5:24COL 3:5JAS 4:41JN 5:21Thomas Brooks emphasizes the transformative power of God in the lives of His people, illustrating how, in a day of divine exaltation, believers will reject their idols—symbolized by silver and gold—with such fervor that they will cast them away into dark and filthy places, akin to the homes of moles and bats. This act signifies a deep disdain for their former sins and a desire to abandon all that distracts from holiness and grace. The sermon calls for a radical rejection of anything that stands in the way of a true relationship with Christ, urging believers to embrace purity and righteousness.
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
When the glory of Jahve becomes manifest, everything that is opposed to it will be punished and consumed by its light. Those who serve idols will become conscious of their delusion with shame and terror, Isa 42:17; Jer 10:14. The superhuman powers (lxx ἄγγελοι), deified by the heathen, then bow down to Him who alone is Elohim in absolute personality. השׁתּחווּ is not imperative (lxx, Syriac), for as a command this clause would be abrupt and inconsequential, but the perfect of that which actually takes place. The quotation in Heb 1:6 is taken from Deu 32:43, lxx. In Psa 97:8 (after Psa 48:12) the survey of the poet again comes back to his own nation. When Zion hears that Jahve has appeared, and all the world and all the powers bow down to Him, she rejoices; for it is in fact her God whose kingship has come to the acknowledge. And all the daughter-churches of the Jewish land exult together with the mother-church over the salvation which dawns through judgments.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Idolaters are utterly put to shame, for if angels must worship Him, how much more those who worshipped them. all ye gods--literally, "all ye angels" (Psa 8:5; Psa 138:1; Heb 1:6; Heb 2:7). Paul quotes, not as a prophecy, but as language used in regard to the Lord Jehovah, who in the Old Testament theophania is the second person of the Godhead.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Confounded be all they that serve graven images,.... Images of gold, silver, and stone, graven by art and man's device; to serve and worship which must be the grossest ignorance and stupidity, which, when convinced of, must fill with shame and confusion: this may be considered either as a prayer, that the idolatrous Gentiles might be enlightened to see the vanity of their idols, and their worship of them, and turn to the living God; or as a prophecy that it should be; for it may be rendered, "they are" or "shall be confounded", or "ashamed" (t), as the Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi; which had its accomplishment in the first times of the Gospel; when, being preached in the Gentile world, multitudes forsook their idols and served the true God; and especially at the opening of the sixth seal, when Pagan worship was abolished throughout the Roman empire; and when the kings and great men in it, through shame, confusion, and dread, fled to the rocks and mountains, to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb, Rev 6:12, and will have a further accomplishment, when the Papists, the worshippers of the beast, shall be ashamed of their graven images, of the Virgin Mary, and other saints; which will be when the Gospel shall be published throughout the world, Rev 14:6, that boast themselves of idols; as their saviours and deliverers, which yet are nothing, as the word (u) signifies; that praise and extol them, as the givers of good things to them, or the procurers of them for them; that glory in them, and in their worship of them, than which nothing can be a greater instance of folly and madness: worship him, all ye gods; those that are so called, the graven images and idols before mentioned; let them bow down, and be prostrate before the Lord, as Dagon before the ark; or they that serve other gods, as Kimchi; so the Targum, "and all the nations that serve idols shall worship before him;'' rather kings and princes, civil magistrates, who are sometimes called gods, are meant, Psa 95:3, and who, in the latter day especially, shall serve and worship the Messiah, Psa 72:10 though it is best of all to interpret it of angels, as this word Elohim is rendered in Psa 8:5, and Aben Ezra says there are some of their interpreters that understand it of angels: the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions, and so Apollinarius, render it, "worship him, all his angels": Gussetius (w) interprets it, "all that is God's"; all that belong to him, angels and men, and all creatures; particularly angels, the most noble of all: and this sense is confirmed by an inspired writer, who manifestly refers to and quotes this passage, and applies it to the angels worshipping Christ, the first begotten Son of God, when he came into the world, Heb 1:6, with which compare Luk 2:13, from whence it appears not only that Christ is superior to angels, for the proof of which it is produced by the apostle; but that he is truly God, since God only is the object of religions worship; and that, if he is worshipped by angels, he ought to be worshipped by men; and that angels are not the proper objects of worship, since they are worshippers. (t) "pudefiunt", Cocceius; "erubescent", Gejerus. (u) "in diis nihili"; Tigurine version; so some in Vatablus, Cocceius. (w) Ebr. Comment. p. 386.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
97:7 At the Lord’s coming, when every god must bow to him, those who worship other gods will face their own folly (see 95:3-5).