Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 96:11
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof.
11. Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice (R.V.)] Such appeals to Nature to rejoice in the redemption of Israel are characteristic of the later Isaiah (Isa 44:23; Isa 49:13). In the establishment of God’s righteous rule the Psalmist sees the prelude of the Messianic age which is to bring harmony and peace to all creation. Cp. Isa 11:1 ff; Isa 35:1 ff; Isa 55:12-13; Rom 8:19 ff.
roar ] Lit. thunder. Cp. Psa 98:7.
the fulness thereof ] I.e. all that is therein, as the same word is rendered in Isa 42:10. Cp. Psa 24:1.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad – Let all worlds be full of joy, as they are all interested in the fact here stated. The universe is one. It has been made by the same hand; it is under the control of the same mind; it is governed by the same laws. The God who reigns on earth reigns in heaven; and what affects one part of the universe affects all. Hence, in all the manifestation of the character of God, whether made in heaven or in the earth, it is proper to call on all the universe to partake in the general joy.
Let the sea roar – In praise to God. It is not uncommon in the Scriptures to call on inanimate things to praise God. Compare Psa 148:7-9. The same thing is common in all poetry.
And the fulness thereof – Its abundance. That which fills it. All that it contains. That is, Let all that dwell in the seas praise God. His reign is an occasion for universal gladness. All in the inanimate world; all among the irrational tribes of being; all in the air, in the waters, or on the earth, have occasion for praise, and would render praise if they could appreciate the wisdom and goodness evinced in their creation. Though unconscious, the lower creatures seem to celebrate his praise; but man only can give an intelligent utterance to thanksgiving.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 11. Let the heavens rejoice] The publication of the Gospel is here represented as a universal blessing; the heavens, the earth, the sea, and its inhabitants, the field, the grass, and the trees of the wood, are all called to rejoice at this glorious event. This verse is well and harmoniously translated in the old Psalter: –
Fayne be hevenes. – and the erth glad;
Styrde be the see, – and the fulnes of it;
Joy sal feldes, – and al that ere in thaim.
And the paraphrase is at least curious: –
Hevens, haly men. Erthe, meke men that receyves lare (learning.) Feldes, that is even men, mylde and softe: they shall joy in Criste. And all that is in thaim, that es, strengh, wyttes & skill.”
I shall give the remaining part of this ancient paraphrase, which is an echo of the opinion of most of the Latin fathers.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
It is a figure called prosopopoeia, whereby he signifies the great felicity of those times, which shall be such that even those lifeless creatures would testify their joy and thankfulness for it, if they were in a capacity so to do.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11-13. For which reason theuniverse is invoked to unite in joy, and even inanimate nature (Ro8:14-22) is poetically represented as capable of joining in theanthem of praise.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Let the heavens rejoice,…. At the coming and kingdom of Christ; at what is said and done in the Gentile world; even the hosts of heaven, as the Targum, the angels that dwell there, and never left their habitation and first estate: these rejoiced at the incarnation of Christ, at the first setting up and appearance of his kingdom in the world; and as they rejoice at the conversion of a single sinner, much more must they be supposed to do at the conversion of multitudes in the Gentile world, and at the increase of the Redeemer’s interest there: or heavenly men, such as are born from above, partakers of the heavenly calling; these rejoice when the kingdom of Christ is enlarged, and his cause flourishes: or the holy apostles and prophets of Christ, and ministers of the word, full of heavenly gifts and grace, are meant; who express their joy when sinners are converted, and made subject to Christ, at any time; and will be called upon to do it, when the fulness of the Gentiles is brought in, and Babylon is fallen, Re 18:20,
and let the earth be glad; the righteous of the earth, as the Targum; the excellent of the earth, who are glad, and exult at the coming and kingdom of Christ, in every sense; in the salvation which he has wrought out; in the righteousness which he has brought in; at the sight of him, the glory of his person, and riches of his grace; in the enjoyment of his presence; at hearing his Gospel, and the comfortable truths of it; and when it is made useful to the souls of others; and in a view and hope of the glory of God, and of being partakers of it to all eternity:
let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the roaring of the waves is the voice of the sea, which sometimes speaks terror, and here expresses joy: its fulness is not literally the abundance of its waves, or the multitude of its fishes, as Kimchi; but the islands in it, the inhabitants of them; see Ps 97:1 and such as ours of Great Britain and Ireland, who have reason to rejoice and be glad at the bringing of the Gospel among us, the continuance of it with us, and the kingdom and, interest of Christ in the midst of us.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad. With the view of giving us a more exalted conception of the display of God’s goodness in condescending to take all men under his government, the Psalmist calls upon the irrational things themselves, the trees, the earth, the seas, and the heavens, to join in the general joy. Nor are we to understand that by the heavens he means the angels, and by the earth men; (93) for he calls even upon the dumb fishes of the deep to shout for joy. The language must therefore be hyperbolical, designed to express the desirableness and the blessedness of being brought unto the faith of God. At the same time, it denotes to us that God does not reign with terror, or as a tyrant, but that his power is exercised sweetly, and so as to diffuse joy amongst his subjects. The wicked may tremble when his kingdom is introduced, but the erection of it is only the cause of their fear indirectly. (94) We might notice also, that the hyperbole here employed does not want a certain foundation of a more literal kind. As all elements in the creation groan and travail together with us, according to Paul’s declaration, (Rom 8:22) they may reasonably rejoice in the restoration of all things according to their earnest desire. The words teach us how infatuated that joy is, which is wantonly indulged in by men who are without God. From the close of the psalm, we learn that it is impossible to experience the slightest measure of true joy, as long as we have not seen the face of God, Rejoice before the Lord, because he cometh And if the very sea and land mourn so long as God is absent, may we not ask what shall become of us, who are properly the subjects of God’s dreadful curse? The Psalmist, to remove all doubt regarding an event which might seem incredible, repeats his assertion of it, and states, at the same time, in what that rectitude consists, which he had formerly mentioned, when he adds, that God shall govern the world with righteousness and truth. This shows us that it is only by the light of God’s righteousness and truth that the wickedness and hypocrisy of men can be removed and dispelled.
(93) “ Neque enim metonymice de angelis vel hominibus loquitur.” — Lat. “ Il ne faut pas penser que ce soit yci la figure nommee Metonymie, et que par les Cieux il entende les Anges, par la Terre les hommes.” — Fr.
(94) “ C’est une chose accidentale.” — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(11-13) Magnificent progress of the Divine Judge through His realm. There is only one thought, that of the inauguration of a righteous sway for all nations: at its advent, as in Isaiahs glorious visions (see Isa. 35:1-2; Isa. 42:10; Isa. 44:23; Isa. 55:12), all nature seems to join the chorus of gladness.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. Let the heavens rejoice Fulfilled when, in prophetic vision, heaven saw the kingdom of Christ established over the nations. Rev 11:17-19. But the righteous dominion of Christ over the earth implies, not only the worship of one God and one Saviour, but the downfall of despotism, the abrogation of unjust laws, the administration of justice, the overthrow of antichrist, the uprooting of superstition, the destruction of idols, the universal rights of man, and the peace of the earth. These have never yet been accomplished by the gentle influence of moral suasion alone, without the concurring judgments of God to break the arm of the wicked.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 96:11-13. Let the heavens rejoice These three verses are a poetical description of the great causes of joy, which this kingdom of Christ, expressed by the Lord’s reigning, Psa 96:10 and coming to judge the world, Psa 96:13 and which was to be spiritually erected, would bring to the whole world. The heavens, and earth, and sea, and trees, and fields, are here put together, according to the scripture style, to denote the whole inferior world; which, interpreting the heavens of the airy regions, is made up of these. By his judging, &c. is here meant his reforming and regenerating mankind, and governing them by righteous laws.
REFLECTIONS.1st, When Jesus is the subject of our song, words must fail to speak our gratitude.
1. With warm devotion the enraptured Psalmist calls on God’s believing people through the whole earth, to join the song of praise, and publish abroad from day to day, to the most distant heathen lands, the glory of his grace, and the wonders of his mercy in that amazing work that he has accomplished, the salvation of sinners; a theme which will be for ever new, nor to eternity be exhausted, but minister occasion for new and everlasting praises.
2. He mentions various particulars which afford motives and matter for our songs. For the Lord is great, in uncreated glory, in the works of creation and providence, and especially in those of redemption and grace, and greatly to be praised; and, when we raise our loftiest strains, he is exalted still far above all blessing and praise: he is to be feared above all gods. For, however high their votaries exalt them, all the gods of the nations are idols, or mere nothings, unable to do good or hurt, lifeless and insensible: but the Lord made the heavens, and garnished them with all their lustre to declare his glory. Honour and majesty are before him; enthroned in brightness inaccessible; adoring angels bow before him, and cover their faces with their wings: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary; strength, visible in the conversion of sinners, and the support of his militant saints; and beauty displayed in all the ordinances of his worship, and graces of his Spirit bestowed on his church and people here below, or in heaven, where the most glorious manifestations of his power and excellence appear, amidst cherubic hosts, and spirits of the just made perfect, who wonder and adore.
3. The manner of their service is prescribed. No longer confined to one people; with regard to his visible church, his courts are open to all kindreds or families, and the believers of the whole earth must publicly approach him, giving him the glory, so peculiarly his own; not that we can bestow any thing on him, we receive all from him before we can render aught unto him; acknowledging his power, dominion, and sovereignty. Bring an offering, not the blood of beasts, but our own bodies, souls, and spirits, a living sacrifice; worshipping him in the beauty of holiness, both in his own instituted ordinances of prayer and praise, and out of pure hearts, sanctified by his grace, devoted to his glory; and with reverential fear, sensible of our own vanity, vileness, and unworthiness, to approach him so high, so holy.
2nd, The converted Jews and Gentiles, or rather the ministers intrusted with the gospel, are here directed what to say among the heathen.
1. The Lord reigneth, victorious over death and hell, and all his foes; ascended up on high, sat down on his throne, and all power committed to him in heaven and earth; exalted to be a Prince and Saviour, to give repentance and remission of sins.
2. The world also shall be established that it shall not be moved; for he up holdeth all things by the word of his power, and will preserve this material world till his faithful ones are gathered out of it; and then reign over his glorified saints for ever and ever.
3. He shall judge the people righteously; the ordinances of his kingdom shall be most perfectly just and equitable; in the hearts of his faithful people he shall rule by his Spirit, establishing them in righteousness and true holiness, and be their judge to vindicate their cause against the accusations and attacks of every enemy.
4. Let heaven and earth adore him. Let the heavens rejoice, the angelic hosts who behold with joy the incarnate Saviour, and the conversion of the Gentile world, and let the earth be glad; the righteous, who see the Redeemer’s kingdom exalted among men: let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; all who sail on these mighty waters must advance his praise. Let the field be joyful and all that is therein; the church, and all the members of it, inclosed by divine love, and cultivated by the great husbandman, exult in God their Saviour: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord; every child of God, the planting of the Lord, shall bless and praise him. Note; The establishment of the Redeemer’s kingdom upon earth is matter of general joy; and how much greater will the exultation be, when at last he shall for ever reign over his ancients gloriously!
5. Let the world prepare to meet their God, for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth; it is certain, it is near; at his tremendous bar must all appear, to receive according to the things they have done in the body; with righteousness, and the people with his truth: he needs no evidence who is omniscient; and being by his nature altogether righteous and true, his decisions will appear perfect justice. May we be found of him in peace at that day!
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
In these verses, the soul of the inspired writer is so lifted up, that he even calls upon the inanimate parts of creation to join in celebrating the glorious king Messiah’s praises. The heavens and the earth, the sea and its fulness, the fields and the trees of the wood, all shall manifest, by tokens, joy in the glories of their Creator. For as the whole creation groaneth by reason of the fall, so in redemption everything shall bear a part in holy joy.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 96:11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
Ver. 11. Let the heavens rejoice, &c. ] Let there be a general joy for the general renovation by the coming of Christ, Rom 8:22 , after which the whole creation groaneth also. Basil and others by heaven, earth, &c., understand angels, men of all sorts, as islanders, seamen, fieldmen, woodlanders, &c. Vel est similitudo ad denotandam in mundo pacem, saith Kimchi, Or it is a similitude to note peace all over the world. And surely when Christ came there was a universal aut pax aut pactio, saith Florus, peace or truce, under the government of Augustus.
Let the sea roar
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 96:11-13
11Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
Let the sea roar, and all it contains;
12Let the field exult, and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy
13Before the Lord, for He is coming,
For He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
And the peoples in His faithfulness.
Psa 96:11-12 All creation rejoices (personification) at the coming of the creator (i.e., Psa 103:19-22; Psa 145:10; Isa 49:13; Rom 8:19-22).
Notice all the jussives.
1. let the heavens be glad – BDB 970, KB 1333, Qal imperfect used in a jussive sense; for heavens see SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN
2. let the earth rejoice – BDB 162, KB 189, Qal jussive; the use of heaven and earth was an idiomatic way of calling on all creation to praise God (cf. Gen 1:1)
3. let the sea roar – BDB 947, KB 1266, Qal imperfect used in a jussive sense; remember the sea could represent (1) initial chaotic ANE gods (cf. Psa 89:9-10; Psa 93:3-4) or (2) a tripartite creation (i.e., heavens, earth, sea, cf. Amo 9:6; Hag 2:6, see NIDOTTE, vol. 2, pp. 463-465)
4. let the field exult – BDB 759, KB 831, Qal imperfect used in a jussive sense
5. let the trees. . .sing for joy – BDB 943, KB 1247, Piel imperfect used in a jussive sense
Psa 96:13 He is coming In one sense YHWH is always with His creation. He is going to clearly manifest His presence to His creation. Creation convulses and exults at His presence. He comes for
1. blessing
2. judgment
This phrase (BDB 97, KB 112, Qal participle) is repeated for emphasis, as a prayer, and as an affirmation.
SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR THE SECOND COMING
in righteousness. . .in faithfulness These are in a parallel relationship. God is true and faithful. He will set all things right! See SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS and Special Topic: Believe, Trust, Faith and Faithfulness in the OT. This concept is also mentioned in Psa 96:10 c (i.e., uprightness, cf. Psa 75:2; Psa 98:9).
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.
1. How is this Psalm so relevant to the new covenant as well as the old?
2. List the universal elements of the Psalm. What is their implication?
3. Why does nature rejoice at YHWH’s coming?
4. How is judgment a day of joy?
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
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.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the heavens: Psa 69:34, Psa 148:1-4, Isa 44:23, Isa 49:13, Luk 2:10, Luk 2:13, Luk 2:14, Luk 15:10, Rev 12:12, Rev 19:1-7
the sea: Psa 98:7-9
Reciprocal: Psa 65:13 – they shout Psa 72:3 – by righteousness Psa 93:3 – lifted Psa 97:1 – Lord Psa 145:10 – All thy Psa 148:9 – Mountains Isa 14:7 – they Isa 35:2 – and rejoice Isa 52:9 – Break Isa 55:12 – the mountains Jer 47:2 – all that is therein Eze 17:24 – all the trees Dan 7:10 – the judgment Joe 2:21 – be glad Hab 3:10 – the deep Luk 19:40 – General Rev 5:13 – every Rev 18:20 – Rejoice
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 96:11-12. Let the heavens rejoice, &c. These verses are a poetical description of the great causes of joy which this kingdom of Christ would bring to the world. The heavens, and earth, and sea, and trees, and fields, are here put together according to the Scripture style, to denote the whole world, which is here represented as being in a state of the greatest felicity, and as testifying its joy and thankfulness in the most lively and striking manner possible. Transported, says Dr. Horne, with a view of these grand events, and beholding in spirit the advent of King Messiah, the psalmist exults in most jubilant and triumphant strains, calling the whole creation to break forth into joy, and to celebrate the glories of redemption. The heavens, with the innumerable orbs fixed in them, which, while they roll and shine, declare the glory of beatified saints; the earth, which, made fertile by celestial influences, showeth the work of grace on the hearts of men here below; the field which, crowned with a produce of a hundred- fold, displays an emblem of the fruit yielded by the seed of the Word in the church; the trees of the wood, lofty, verdant, and diffusive, apt representatives of holy persons, those trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, Isa 61:3, whose examples are eminent, fair, and extensive; all these are, by the prophet, excited to join in a chorus of thanksgiving to the Maker and Redeemer of the world.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
3. An invitation to all to rejoice over Yahweh’s reign 96:11-13
The writer returned to his former thought of all creation being under God’s authority (Psa 96:4-5). He now summoned all creation to praise God at the prospect of His righteous rule. Psa 96:13 is one of the clearest and most thrilling revelations that God will rule on the earth, not just from heaven. He will do so in the person of His Son when He returns to earth. The Son came the first time to save the world, and He will come the second time to judge it. Therefore all creation may rejoice. Even the world of plants and animals will benefit from His righteous rule (cf. Isa 35:1-2; Isa 65:25; Rom 8:20-22).
This favorite psalm glories in the righteous Sovereign of the universe. His kingdom will indeed come. He will one day accomplish His will on earth, as today others carry it out in heaven (Mat 6:10).