Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 97:4
His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
4. His lightnings lightened the world, as of old when He brought Israel out of Egypt. From Psa 77:18 b.
the earth &c.] Based upon Psa 77:16; Psa 77:18: cp. Psa 96:9 b.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
4 6. The recent manifestation of Jehovah’s power, described in terms of the great Theophanies of old.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
His lightnings enlightened the world … – See the notes at Psa 77:18. Compare Psa 104:32; Hab 3:6-10.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. His lightnings enlightened the world] Though this be no more than a majestic description of the coming of the Lord, to confound his enemies and succour his followers, yet some spiritualize the passage, and say, the lightnings signify the apostles, who enlightened the world by their heavenly doctrine.
The earth saw, and trembled.] The earth is represented as a sentient being. It saw the terrible majesty of God; and trembled through terror, fearing it should be destroyed on account of the wickedness of its inhabitants.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
His lightnings enlightened the world: this phrase signifies not so much illumination as terror and judgments, as appears both from the following words, and from the constant use of the phrase in that sense, as Psa 18:14; 144:6, &c.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
His lightnings enlightened the world,…. Either the doctrines of the Gospel, compared thereunto, because of the swift progress they made, and the large extent of them in the world, in a very little time; by the apostles they were published in all nations, and were the means of enlightening them in the true knowledge of themselves, and of the way of salvation by Christ: hence they are called the “lights of the world”, Mt 5:14, as the coming of Christ, in his kingdom and power, by them, is compared to lightning, and so are the arrows of his word,
Mt 24:27, or else his judgments on the Jewish nation are meant, which were manifest and clear, and obvious to all the world; see
Ps 18:14,
the earth saw, and trembled; the inhabitants of the earth, of the Gentile world, saw the judgments of God upon the Jews, and were astonished at them; see De 29:24, it is usual for lightnings and earthquakes to go together; see Re 11:19.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Again we have nothing but echoes of the older literature: Psa 97:4 = Psa 77:19; Psa 97:4, cf. Psa 77:17; Psa 97:5, cf. Mic 1:4; Psa 97:5, cf. Mic 4:13; Psa 97:6 = Psa 50:6; Psa 97:6, cf. Isa 35:2; Isa 40:5; Isa 52:10; Isa 66:18. The poet goes on to describe that which is future with historical certainty. That which Psa 77:19 says of the manifestation of God in the earlier times he transfers to the revelation of God in the last time. The earth sees it, and begins to tremble in consequence of it. The reading , according to Hitzig (cf. Ew. 232, b) traditional, is, however, only an error of pointing that has been propagated; the correct reading is the reading of Heidenheim and Baer, restored according to MSS, (cf. 1Sa 31:3), like , , , and . The figure of the wax is found even in Psa 68:3; and Jahve is also called “Lord of the whole earth” in Zec 4:14; Zec 6:5. The proclamation of the heavens is an expression of joy, Psa 96:11. They proclaim the judicial strictness with which Jahve, in accordance with His promises, carries out His plan of salvation, the realization of which has reached its goal in the fact that all men see the glory of God.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(4) See Psa. 77:17-18, from which this is taken.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Earth saw, and trembled As an affrighted servant. Even Moses said: “I exceedingly fear and quake.” Heb 12:21
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 97:4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
Ver. 4. His lightnings enlightened the world ] His apostles, those fulmiua Ecclesiastica, shall spread gospel light, and amaze people; the Lord working with them, and confirming their word with signs following, Mar 16:20
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the world = the habitable world. Hebrew. tebel.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
His: Psa 77:18, Psa 144:5, Psa 144:6, Exo 19:16-18
the earth: Psa 104:32, Psa 114:7, Job 9:6, Jer 10:10, Mat 27:50, Mat 27:51, Mat 28:2, Mat 28:3, Rev 11:19, Rev 19:11
Reciprocal: 1Sa 7:10 – thundered 2Sa 22:8 – the earth Job 37:3 – He Psa 18:12 – At the Psa 50:3 – it shall Psa 99:1 – people Psa 148:9 – Mountains Jer 4:24 – mountains Nah 1:5 – mountains Hab 3:10 – mountains Zec 14:5 – the Lord
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
97:4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and {d} trembled.
(d) This fear does not bring the wicked to true obedience, but makes them run away from God.