Psalms 98:8 — Word Study
WLCנְהָר֥וֹת יִמְחֲאוּ־ כָ֑ף יַ֝֗חַד הָרִ֥ים יְרַנֵּֽנוּ׃
BSA◂Let the riversnâhâr [floods, streams] clapmâchâʼ▸ their handskaph [palms] ◂let the mountainshar [hills] sing togetheryachad [unitedly, in harmony] for joyrânan▸ [shout for joy, overcome with praise]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| נְהָר֥וֹת | rivers | Noun common, feminine plural absolute |
| יִמְחֲאוּ־ | let them clap | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine plural |
| כָ֑ף | a palm | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| יַ֝֗חַד | together | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| הָרִ֥ים | mountains | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| יְרַנֵּֽנוּ׃ | let them sing for joy | Verb, Piel, imperfect third person masculine plural |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy |
| KJV | Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together |
| ASV | Let the floods clap their hands; Let the hills sing for joy together |
| YLT | Floods clap hand, together hills cry aloud, |
| WEB | Let the rivers clap their hands. Let the mountains sing for joy together. |
| BBE | Let the streams make sounds of joy with their hands; let the mountains be glad together, |
Where they part company is in the translation of יִמְחֲאוּ — see How Translations Differ.
The verse contains two main actions, inviting both rivers and mountains to express joy.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
subjectנָהָר
verbמָחָא
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 98:8
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Call to Joyful Praisegenerated
Psalm 98:8 invites the rivers and mountains to join in a joyful celebration. This psalm emphasizes the joy of creation as it responds to God's greatness and His coming judgment. The entire creation is depicted as participating in this praise, highlighting the unity of nature in worship.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 47:1 | Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout unto God with a voice of triumph. |
| 2 | 2 Kings 11:12 | Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, presented him with the Testimony, and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and declared, “Long live the king!” |
| 3 | Isaiah 55:12 | You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. |
| 4 | Psalm 65:12–13 | The pastures of the wilderness overflow; the hills are robed with joy. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יִמְחֲאוּ, yim.cha.'u-generated
The verb מָחָא (macha') means to clap, specifically expressing joy or celebration. It is a Qal imperfect form, indicating an ongoing action, suggesting that the rivers are actively engaging in this joyful clapping.
This word captures the essence of excitement and gratitude, as seen in contexts where people clap in celebration of God's deeds. The call for the rivers to clap their hands emphasizes the anthropomorphic portrayal of nature responding to the divine.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of two main clauses: the first clause, led by יִמְחֲאוּ (let them clap), focuses on the rivers, while the second clause, led by יְרַנֵּֽנוּ (let them sing for joy), addresses the mountains. The structure emphasizes the simultaneous action of both elements of nature.
The Hebrew word order places the subjects first, highlighting the rivers and mountains as active participants in the joyful celebration.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew נְהָר֥וֹת is rendered as ποταμοὶ (potamoi), meaning 'rivers.' This choice maintains the imagery of flowing water and emphasizes the natural elements' participation in praise.
The verb יִמְחֲאוּ corresponds to κροτήσουσιν (krotēsousin), which also conveys the action of clapping, thus preserving the joyful intent of the original Hebrew.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 98:8 calls for rivers to clap their hands and mountains to sing together for joy. This verse shows how all of creation is invited to celebrate and express joy in response to God.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It symbolizes joy and celebration, as if nature itself is responding to God's greatness.
Mountains represent stability and strength, and their singing adds to the imagery of nature rejoicing.
The psalm celebrates God's reign and His coming judgment, inviting all creation to participate in joyful praise.
It highlights the belief that all creation acknowledges God's sovereignty and power.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see nature reflecting joy and praise in my surroundings?
- How can I express my joy and gratitude to God in my daily life?
- What does it mean for me to participate in the celebration of God's goodness?
- How can I encourage others to recognize and join in the joy of creation?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 98:8 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleLet the floods clap their hands,.... Or "rivers" (e), dashing against their banks, as they pass along; a prosopopoeia, as the preceding and following, expressing great joy on account of the Messiah, the reigning King.
Read John Gill on Psalms 98 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryLet the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. -As in the preceding strophe the intensity of the joy at the Lord's coming is set forth, so in this strophe its extent.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 98 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 98:8 Let the floods clap [their] hands: let the hills be joyful together Ver. 8.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 98 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(8) Clap their hands.—This expression, descriptive of the lapping sound of waves, occurs also in Isaiah 55:12. Let the hills be joyful together.— “Far along, From peak to peak, the rattling crags among, Leaps the live thunder! Not from one long cloud, But every mountain now hath found a tongue, And Jura answers through her misty shroud Back to the joyous Alps who call to her aloud.” BYRON: Childe Harold, canto iii.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 98 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 8. Let the floods clap their hands] נהרות neharoth, properly the rivers-possibly meaning immense continents, where only large rivers are found; thus including inland people, as well as maritime nations, and those on the sea-coasts generally; as in those early times little more than the coasts of the sea were known. The Gospel shall be preached in the most secluded nations of the world. Let the hills be joyful] All the inhabitants of rocky and mountainous countries.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 98 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges8. Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the mountains sing for Joy together. Cp. Isaiah 55:12; and for the prosopopoeia, Habakkuk 3:10.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 98 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleLet the floods clap their hands - The rivers. Let them join in the universal praise.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 98 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible8. The floods—Hebrew, the rivers. See on Psalms 93:3. Clap their hands—The clapping of the rivers is a figure which differs from Isaiah 55:12, and occurs nowhere else, but finds its origin in the
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 98 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy
Let the rivers clap their hands. Let the mountains sing for joy together.
Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy
Let the rivers clap their hands! Let the mountains sing in unison
Tyndale line
Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together
Let the floods clap their hands; Let the hills sing for joy together
Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together;
Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together
Let the floods clap their hands, and let the mountaines reioyce together
Strictly literal
Let the floods clap [their] hands; let the mountains sing for joy together,
Floods clap hand, together hills cry aloud,
Floods clap hand, together hills cry aloud,
Let the rivers clap their hands; let the mountains be joyful together,
Let the rivers clap their hands, and let the mountains shout for joy.
From the Latin
Thou didst hear them, O Lord our God: thou wast a merciful God to them, and taking vengeance on all their inventions.
Simplified
Let the rivers celebrate, let the hills join in the celebration
Let the streams make sounds of joy with their hands; let the mountains be glad together,
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text of Psalms 98:8 reads, "נְהָר֥וֹת יִמְחֲאוּ־ כָ֑ף יַ֝֗חַד הָרִ֥ים יְרַנֵּֽנוּ׃" which translates to, "Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy." The Septuagint corresponds closely, with five out of six words matching the Hebrew, though it presents them in a different order and structure. The Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q94) contain a fragment that includes five words from the verse, but four of these are supplied by an editor, indicating some variation in preservation. Overall, the main ideas are consistent across these witnesses, but the exact wording and arrangement differ, particularly in the Septuagint and the fragmentary nature of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
נְהָר֥וֹת יִמְחֲאוּ־ כָ֑ף יַ֝֗חַד הָרִ֥ים יְרַנֵּֽנוּ׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[נהרות] [ימחאו] כף [יחד] [הרים]
5 words of the verse are on this fragment — 4 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 98:8
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
נָהָר (nahar) means 'stream' or 'river' and can refer to various water bodies, including the Nile and Euphrates. It also has a figurative sense of prosperity. The word is derived from a root meaning related to flowing water and has an Aramaic equivalent, נְהַר (ne.har).
נָהָר 120 n.m. stream, river
base
H5104 נָהָר stream, river
5104 nahar naw-hawr'
from 5102; a stream (including the sea; expec. the Nile,
Euphrates, etc.); figuratively, prosperity:--flood, river.
see HEBREW for 05102
נָהָר (na.har) — River.
This name means stream, river
Another name of pe.rat (פְּרָת "Euphrates" H6578)
נָהָר (na.har) — river.
1) stream, river
1a) stream, river
1b) (underground) streams
Aramaic equivalent: ne.har (נְהַר "river" H5103H)
N-mp — Noun common · feminine plural absoluteHNcfpa
The Hebrew word מָחָא (*macha'*) means to strike or clap, specifically referring to clapping hands in joy or exultation. It is a primitive root that conveys the action of rubbing or striking hands together, often in a celebratory context. The entries indicate its use in both Qal and Piel forms, with the latter expressing exultation over an enemy.
[מָחָא] vb. strike, only = clap (the hand)
Qal only fig., of joy of inanimate things before י׳
Pi. of exultation over foe
base
H4222 מָחָא strike, only = clap (the hand)
4222 macha' maw-khaw'
a primitive root; to rub or strike the hands together (in
exultation):--clap.
מָחָא (ma.ach) — to clap.
1) to strike, clap (the hands)
1a) (Qal) to clap (of joy)
1b) (Piel) to clap (of exultation)
Aramaic equivalent: me.ach (מְחָא "to smite" H4223)
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVqi3mp
An emphatic expression of joy, "They clapped their hands (nakhah), and said, Long live (the King James Version "God save") the king" (2Ki 11:12); "Oh clap your hands (taqa`), all ye peoples" (Ps 47:1); or exultation (caphaq, La 2:15; macha', Eze 25:6; taqa`, Na 3:19); or repudiation (caphaq, Job 27:23; 34:37).
Figurative: To denote Nature's "sympathy" with God's people. "Let the floods clap (macha') their hands" (Ps 98:8); "All the trees of the field shall clap their hands" (
כַּף (kaph) refers to the hollow or flat part of the hand, including the palm and the sole of the foot. It can also denote power and is used to describe various hollow objects, such as bowls or handles. The word encompasses a range of meanings related to the shape and function of hands and feet, as well as items that are hand-shaped.
כַּף 192 n.f. hollow, or flat of the hand, palm, sole of foot, hand
base
H3709 כַּף hollow, or flat of the hand, palm, sole of foot, hand
3709 kaph kaf
from 3721; the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an
animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling,
the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree);
figuratively, power:--branch, + foot, hand((-ful), -dle,
(-led)), hollow, middle, palm, paw, power, sole, spoon.
see HEBREW for 03721
כַּף (kaph) — palm.
: palm/hand
1) palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand
1a) palm, hollow or flat of the hand
1b) power
1c) sole (of the foot)
1d) hollow, objects, bending objects, bent objects
1d1) of thigh-joint
1d2) pan, vessel (as hollow)
1d3) hollow (of sling)
1d4) hand-shaped branches or fronds (of palm trees)
1d5) handles (as bent)
כַּף (kaph) — palm: sole.
: sole/paw
1) palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand
1a) palm, hollow or flat of the hand
1b) power
1c) sole (of the foot)
1d) hollow, objects, bending objects, bent objects
1d1) of thigh-joint
1d2) pan, vessel (as hollow)
1d3) hollow (of sling)
1d4) hand-shaped branches or fronds (of palm trees)
1d5) handles (as bent)
כַּף (kaph) — palm: dish.
: dish/socket
1) palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand
1a) palm, hollow or flat of the hand
1b) power
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
יַ֫חַד (yachad) refers to the concept of unitedness or being together. It can function as a noun meaning 'unitedness' and as an adverb meaning 'together.' The word is built from a root that emphasizes unity and is used in various contexts in the Old Testament.
יַ֫חַד 45 n.[m.] unitedness
as subst.
elsewhere always in acc. as adv. in union, together
base
יָחְדָּו 92 adv. together
base
H3162a יַ֫חַד unitedness . as subst.
. elsewhere always in acc. as adv. in union, together
H3162b יָחְדָּו adv. together
3162 yachad yakh'-ad
from 3161; properly, a unit, i.e. (adverb) unitedly:--alike,
at all (once), both, likewise, only, (al-)together, withal.
see HEBREW for 03161
יַ֫חַד (ya.chad) — unitedness.
1) union, unitedness
יָחְדָּו (yach.dav) — together.
adv
together
Adv — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
הַר (har) means 'mountain' or 'hill,' and can refer to a range of hills or hill-country. It is derived from a root that suggests elevation and can be used figuratively. The entries consistently highlight its geographical connotations without significant disagreement.
הַר 568 n.m. mountain, hill, hill-country
mountain, hill
hill-country, mountain-region
base
H2022 הַר mountain, hill, hill-country
2022 har har
a shortened form of 2042; a mountain or range of hills
(sometimes used figuratively):--hill (country), mount(-ain), X
promotion.
see HEBREW for 02042
הַר (har) — mountain: mount.
: mount/hill
hill, mountain, hill country, mount
הַר (har) — mountain: hill country.
: hill_country
hill, mountain, hill country, mount
A sub-meaning of har (הַר ": mount" H2022)
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
Are among the most sublime and impressive of the Creator’s works on earth, and from the noblest and most enduring monuments of great events. Most of the mountains of Scripture thus stand as witnesses for God—every view of their lofty summits, and every recurrence to them in thought reminding us of the sacred facts and truths connected with them. Thus Mount Ararat is a standing memorial of the deluge of man’s sin, God’s justice, and God’s mercy. Mount Sinai asserts the terrors of the divine law. Mount Carmel summons us, like the prophet Elijah of old, not to "halt between two opinions;" but if Jehovah is God, to love and serve him. The mount of the Transfiguration still shines with the glory of the truths there taught, and Mounts Ebal and Gerizim still echo the curses and the blessings once so solemnly pronounced from them. So Mount Hor, Nebo, Lebanon, and Gilboa have been signalized by…
- The elevated parts of the earth
Ge 7:19,20
- GOD
. Formed
. Set fast
. Gives strength to
. Weighs, in a balance
. Waters, from his chambers
רוּן (run) primarily means to overcome, while רָנַן (ranan) refers to giving a ringing cry, often in joy or distress. The entries indicate a range of uses, including shouting for joy, singing, and calling out in exhortation. Notably, the word can also imply causing others to rejoice or sing.
[רוּן] vb. overcome;—Hithpō‛. ψ 78:65
ref
[רָנַן] vb. give a ringing cry
Qal
in joy, exultation
in distress
cry aloud, in summons, exhortation (of wisdom)
Pi. give a ringing cry, in joy, exultation
Pu. no ringing cry shall be given
Hiph. cause to ring out for joy
base
H7442a רוּן overcome H7442b רָנַן give a ringing cry .. in joy, exultation
. in distress
. cry aloud, in summons, exhortation (of wisdom)
. give a ringing cry, in joy, exultation
. no ringing cry shall be given
. cause to ring out for joy
7442 ranan raw-nan'
a primitive root; properly, to creak (or emit a stridulous
sound), i.e. to shout (usually for joy):--aloud for joy, cry
out, be joyful (greatly, make to) rejoice, (cause to) shout
(for joy), (cause to) sing (aloud, for joy, out), triumph.
רוּן (run) — to overcome.
1) to overcome
1a) (Hithpolel) to be overcome
רָנַן (ra.nan) — to sing.
1) to cry out, shout for joy, give a ringing cry
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to give a ringing cry (in joy, exaltation, distress)
1a2) to cry aloud (in summons, exhortation of wisdom)
1b) (Piel) to give a ringing cry (in joy, exultation, praise
1c) (Pual) ringing cry, singing out (passive)
1d) (Hiphil) to cause to ring or sing out (for joy)
1e) (Hithpolel) rejoicing (participle)
Also means: ran.nen (רַנֵּן "to sing" H7444)
V-Piel-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVpi3mp
joi (simchah; chara):
1. Terms:
The idea of joy is expressed in the Old Testament by a wealth of synonymous terms that cannot easily be differentiated. The commonest is simchah (1Sa 18:6, etc.), variously translated in English Versions of the Bible "joy," "gladness," "mirth"; from sameah, properly "to be bright," "to shine" (Pr 13:9, "The light of the righteous rejoiceth," literally, "is bright"), but generally used figuratively "to rejoice," "be glad" (Le 23:40 and very frequent).
Other nouns are masos and sason, both from sus, properly "to spring," "leap," hence, "exult," "rejoice"; rinnah, "shouting." "joy"; gil, from verb gil or gul, "to go in a circle," hence, "be excited" (dancing round for joy), "rejoice." In the New…