Psalms 96

Psalms 96:1

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

a new song. Psalms 96 is the call; Psalms 97 is the answer. Compare Psalms 98 and Psalms 99. The subject is the coming rest for the earth, to which creation looks forward Romans 8:18-23).

the earth. This is the subject of Book IV. See notes on p. 809.

Psalms 96:2

His name. See note on Psalms 20:1.

Psalms 96:3

heathen = nations.

people = peoples.

Psalms 96:4

gods = rulers. Hebrew. ’elohim. App-4. See note on Exodus 22:9.

Psalms 96:5

all the gods . . . idols. Figure of speech Paronomasia. App-6Hebrew. kalelohey . . . ’elilim.

nations = peoples.

idols = nothings. Compare 1 Corinthians 8:4.

Psalms 96:6

beauty. Some codices read “joy”. Compare 1 Chronicles 16:27.

sanctuary. Some codices read “dwelling-place”. as in 1 Chronicles 16:27.

Psalms 96:8

offering = presence offerings. Hebrew. minchah. App-43.

come into His courts. Some codices read “enter before Him”. Compare 1 Chronicles 16:29.

Psalms 96:9

the beauty of holiness. See note on 1 Chronicles 16:29.

Fear = Tremble.

Psalms 96:10

shall be established. Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read “He hath fixed”.

Psalms 96:11

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad. The initials of the four Hebrew words making this sentence form an acrostic (App-6, App-60, and App-63), giving the four letters of the word JEHOVAH (Y, H, V, H) thus:

    Yismehu Hashshamayim Vethagel Ha’arez.

The Massorah (App-30) has a special rubric calling attention to this acrostic.

Psalms 96:12

Then shall. Ginsburg thinks this should be “Yea, let”.

Psalms 96:13

Before. See note on “presence” (Psalms 95:2.

He cometh . . . He cometh. Figure of speech. Epteeuxis (App-6), for emphasis.

the world = the habitable world. Hebrew. tebel. No rest or righteous rule for the world and its inhabitants until He comes. The next Psalm is " the New Song", celebrating this by anticipation.