Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 33:8
Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
8, 9. With what awe should man regard such an Almighty Creator! Cp. the argument of Amos, Amo 4:13; Amo 5:8; Amo 9:6. Emphasis is laid on the wonder of the method of creation, by the simple divine fiat.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Let all the earth – All the inhabitants of the earth.
Fear the Lord – Worship and adore a Being of so great power. See the notes at Psa 5:7.
Let all the inhabitants of the world – The power displayed in the works of creation appeals to all alike.
Stand in awe of him – Reverence or adore him. The expression is equivalent to worship, fear or reverence entering essentially into the idea of worship.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 33:8
Let all the earth fear the Lord.
The nature and influence of the fear of God
I. what is the proper awe and fear which is due from man to God? Distinguish between a servile or superstitious, and a filial or religious fear. The former we are to avoid as a dishonour to God; the latter we are obliged to as an indispensable duty, the true spring and motive of our Christian obedience.
II. some considerations which ought to possess our souls with this affection towards the deity. Can we reflect on the infinite knowledge and omnipresence of God, and not stand in awe of that Being from whom even the most secret thoughts and intentions of the heart are not concealed? Or, can we remember that He is infinitely just, without a religious concern for the event of that day, when we must appear before His impartial tribunal? But the attribute which especially demands this affection from us is His power. None can resist or interrupt the execution of His will; He has power to save, and power to destroy; nor is He accountable to any for His dominion over us. But these arguments arising from the perfections of the Deity will yet more effectually possess us with this reverence, if at the same time we reflect with a just humility on ourselves. That we are indigent, defenceless beings; the dependants of His providence; so far as we know, the lowest of all intelligent beings, whose strength is weakness, and whose wisdom is folly. And, what is yet a more mortifying consideration, we have provoked this Almighty Power by our sins; have affronted His goodness, despised His counsel, and rebelled against His authority.
III. the influence this affection will have on the conduct of our lives. In general, the effect of this fear will be a sincere, universal obedience to the commands of God. The awe of His majesty will keep us from presumption, and the promises of His mercy from despair: for, as is His majesty, so is His mercy. If this principle were thoroughly fixed in the minds of men, we should be ashamed of hypocrisy, and tremble at profaneness; neither hope our treachery could escape the notice, nor our blasphemies the vengeance of God. This affection will give warmth to our zeal, and spirit to our devotion; will animate our faith, enliven our hope, and extend our charity; will deter us from sin, and encourage us in our duty. (J. Rogers, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 8. Let all the earth fear the Lord] He who has thus bound, can unloose; he who has created, can destroy. He has promised life and prosperity only to the godly; let the ungodly stand in awe of him.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
All the earth; all the people of the earth, as the next clause expounds this; not only Jews, but Gentiles, who equally enjoy the benefit of this great and glorious work of God.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Let all the earth fear the Lord,…. That is, all the men that dwell upon the face of the earth. As it follows,
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him; which fear and awe design a reverence of the divine Majesty, whose divine perfections are so manifest in the works of creation; and a carefulness not to offend him, into whose hands it must be a fearful thing to fall; and the whole worship of him, which is often in Scripture expressed by the fear of him: and this is to be understood either as what is the duty of all men; for to “fear God, and keep his commandments, is the whole duty of man”, Ec 12:13; and which is incumbent on all men, in consideration of his being the Creator of them; and the obligation to it is yet more increased through his providential care of them and goodness to them; and still more should be found in them, seeing he will be the Judge of them, and has a despotic and uncontrollable power over them; and what is it that he cannot do, who has done all this before related? though none can fear him aright but such who have the grace of fear put into their hearts by the Spirit of God: or else this may be prophetically said, as what will be in the latter day, when not only the Jews shall fear the Lord and his goodness, Ho 3:5, but when the fulness of the Gentiles being brought into the church, it shall fear and be enlarged; yea, all nations shall fear the Lord and glorify his name, and come and worship before him, Isa 60:5.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
8. Let all the earth fear Jehovah. The Psalmist concludes that there is just reason why the whole world should reverently submit itself to the government of God, who gave it being, and who also preserves it. To fear Jehovah, and to stand in awe of him, just means to do honor to, and to reverence his mighty power. It is a mark of great insensibility not to bow at God’s presence, from whom we have our being, and upon whom our condition depends. The prophet alludes to both these things, affirming that the world appeared as soon as God spake, and that it is upheld in being by his commandment; for it would not have been enough for the world to have been created in a moment, if it had not been supported in existence by the power of God. He did not employ a great array of means in creating the world, but to prove the inconceivable power of his word, he ordered that so soon as he should as it were pronounce the word, the thing should be done. (677) The word command, therefore, confirms what I formerly said, that his speech was nothing else than a nod, or wish, and that to speak implies the same thing as to command. It is proper, however, to understand that in this nod, or command, the eternal wisdom of God displayed itself.
(677) “ Il a commande que si tost qu’il auroit comme prononce le mot, la chose aussi se trouvast faire.” — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Psa 33:8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
Ver. 8. Let all the earth fear the Lord ] viz. For these stupendous works of his, sufficient to strike an awe into all creatures of the Divine majesty, Jer 5:22 . “Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob,” Psa 114:7 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
world = world (as inhabited). Hebrew. tebel,
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 33:8-9
Psa 33:8-9
“Let all the earth fear Jehovah:
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
For he spake, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.”
These verses continue to establish the praiseworthiness of God upon the basis of his being the Creator and Sustainer of all things in the kingdom of Nature.
“Let all the earth fear Jehovah” (Psa 33:8). The mighty Creator is also the Judge of all men; and this universal commandment for the whole world to fear God is here backed up with three tremendous reasons, which are: (1) God’s great power which he showed in Creation (Psa 33:9); (2) God’s ability to battle and destroy all human opposition to his will (Psa 33:10); (3) the permanence and certainty of the triumph of God’s will in absolutely everything (Psa 33:11).
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 33:8. Fear and awe are used in the same sense. They mean to have deep respect for God for his wonderful works of the universe.
Psa 33:9. See comments at Psa 33:6.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
fear
(See Scofield “Psa 19:9”)
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
the earth: Psa 22:27, Psa 96:9, Psa 96:10, Jer 10:7-12, Dan 6:25, Dan 6:26, Rev 14:6, Rev 14:7, Rev 15:4
stand: Psa 76:7, Heb 12:29
Reciprocal: 1Ki 17:4 – I have commanded Psa 4:4 – Stand Dan 4:35 – the inhabitants
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 33:8-9. Let the earth fear the Lord All the people of the earth, as the next clause expounds this; not only Jews, but also Gentiles, who equally enjoy the benefit of this great and glorious work of God. For he spake, and it was done The work mentioned Psa 33:6-7. He commanded, and it stood fast Hebrew , jagnamad, it stood forth, as a servant at his masters command, prepared to do his will, and to execute his pleasure.