Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 98:4
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
4. Shout unto Jehovah, all the earth;
Break forth and sing for joy, yea, make melody.
Salute Jehovah with the gladsome shouts and music and blare of trumpets ( Psa 98:6) and clapping of hands ( Psa 98:8) which are the proper greeting for a king upon his accession. See on Psa 47:1; Psa 47:5-8; Psa 95:1-2; and cp. 1Sa 10:24; 1Ki 1:39 ; 2Ki 11:12; 2Ki 11:14.
Break forth and sing for joy is from Isa 52:9: cp. Psa 44:23; Psa 49:13; Psa 54:1.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
4 6. Let all the earth salute its King.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord – By singing; by instruments of music. See the notes at Psa 95:1.
All the earth – All lands. The event is of sufficient importance to be celebrated by all nations. It is a matter of universal exultation and joy.
Make a loud noise – The word used here – patsach – means properly to break in pieces; then, to break forth, as a shout of triumph or joy, as if the joy could be no longer confined or repressed. See the notes at Isa 14:7. The word occurs only in the following places (besides that which is before us), in all of which it is rendered break forth. Isa 14:7; Isa 44:23; Isa 49:13; Isa 52:9; Isa 54:1; Isa 55:12 – (except in Mic 3:3, where it it is rendered break). It is expressive of irrepressible joy.
Rejoice and sing praise – This very combination of the words, Break forth into joy, sing together – the same words in Hebrew as here – occurs in Isa 52:9, showing, as above remarked, that the psalm was composed after the times of Isaiah, and probably had reference to the same event.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Because you all do now partake of the same privileges with the Jews, join with them in worshipping and praising of God.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4-6. make a loud noiseor,”burst forth” (Isa 14:7;Isa 44:23).
before . . . KinghailHim as your sovereign; and while, with every aid to demonstrate zealand joy, intelligent creatures are invited to praise, as in Ps96:11-13, inanimate nature is also summoned to honor Him whotriumphs and rules in righteousness and equity.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth,…. That is, all the inhabitants of the earth, as the Targum, to whom the joyful sound of the Gospel comes; [See comments on Ps 95:1],
make a loud noise, rejoice, and sing praise; exalt and extend the voice to the highest pitch, in the most musical and melodious strains; this heap of words is used to express the intenseness of mind, vehemency of affection, and strength of spirit and exceeding greatness of joy, with which the Lord should be praised for his great and marvellous works.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The call in Psa 98:4 demands some joyful manifestation of the mouth, which can be done in many ways; in Psa 98:5 the union of song and the music of stringed instruments, as of the Levites; and in Psa 98:6 the sound of wind instruments, as of the priests. On Psa 98:4 cf. Isa 44:23; Isa 49:13; Isa 52:9, together with Isa 14:7 (inasmuch as is equivalent to ). is found also in Isa 51:3.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| An Invitation to Praise. | |
4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. 5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. 6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. 7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together 9 Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.
The setting up of the kingdom of Christ is here represented as a matter of joy and praise.
I. Let all the children of men rejoice in it, for they all have, or may have, benefit by it. Again and again we are here called upon by all ways and means possible to express our joy in it and give God praise for it: Make a joyful noise, as before, Psa 95:1; Psa 95:2. Make a loud noise, as those that are affected with those glad tidings and are desirous to affect others with them. Rejoice and sing praise, sing Hosannas (Matt. xxi. 9), sing Hallelujahs, Rev. xix. 6. Let him be welcomed to the throne, as new kings are, with acclamations of joy and loud shouts, till the earth ring again, as when Solomon was proclaimed, 1 Kings i. 40. And let the shouts of the crowd be accompanied with the singers and players on instruments (Psa 87:7; Psa 68:25), as is usual in such solemnities. 1. Let sacred songs attend the new King: “Sing praise, sing with the voice of a psalm. Express your joy; thus proclaim it, thus excite it yet more, and thus propagate it among others.” 2. Let these be assisted with sacred music, not only with the soft and gentle melody of the harp, but since it is a victorious King whose glory is to be celebrated, who goes forth conquering and to conquer, let him be proclaimed with the martial sound of the trumpet and cornet, v. 6. Let all this joy be directed to God, and expressed in a solemn religious manner: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, v. 4. Sing to the Lord, (v. 5); do it before the Lord, the King, v. 6. Carnal mirth is an enemy to this holy joy. When David danced before the ark he pleaded that it was before the Lord; and the piety and devotion of the intention not only vindicated what he did, but commended it. We must rejoice before the Lord whenever we draw near to him (Deut. xii. 12), before the Lord Jesus, and before him, not only as the Saviour, but as the King, the King of kings, the church’s King, and our King.
II. Let the inferior creatures rejoice in it, v. 7-9. This is to the same purport with what we had before (Ps. xcvi. 11-13): Let the sea roar, and let that be called, not as it used to be, a dreadful noise, but a joyful noise; for the coming of Christ, and the salvation wrought out by him, have quite altered the property of the troubles and terrors of this world, so that when the floods lift up their voice, lift up their waves, we must not construe that to be the sea roaring against us, but rather rejoicing with us. Let the floods express their joy, as men do when they clap their hands; and let the hills, that trembled for fear before God when he came down to give the law at Mount Sinai, dance for joy before him when his gospel is preached and that word of the Lord goes forth from Zion in a still small voice: Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord. This intimates that the kingdom of Christ would be a blessing to the whole creation; but that, as the inferior creatures declare the glory of the Creator (Ps. xix. 1), so they declare the glory of the Redeemer, for by him all things not only subsist in their being, but consist in their order. It intimates likewise that the children of men would be wanting in paying their due respects to the Redeemer, and therefore that he must look for his honour from the sea and the floods, which would shame the stupidity and ingratitude of mankind. And perhaps respect is here had to the new heavens and the new earth, which we yet, according to his promise, look for (2 Pet. iii. 13), and this second mention of his coming (after the like, Ps. xcvi.) may principally refer to his second coming, when all these things shall be so dissolved as to be refined; then shall he come to judge the world with righteousness. In the prospect of that day all that are sanctified do rejoice, and even the sea, and the floods, and the hills, would rejoice if they could. One would think that Virgil had these psalms in his eye, as well as the oracles of the Cumean Sibyl, in his fourth eclogue, where he either ignorantly or basely applies to Asinius Pollio the ancient prophecies, which at that time were expected to be fulfilled; for he lived in the reign of Augustus Csar, a little before our Saviour’s birth. He owns they looked for the birth of a child from heaven that should be a great blessing to the world, and restore the golden age:–
| Jam nova progenies clo demittitur alto– A new race descends from the lofty sky; |
and that should take away sin:–
| Te duce, si qua manent sceleris vestigia nostri, Irrita perpetua solvent formidine terras– Thy influence shall efface every stain of corruption, And free the world from alarm. |
Many other things he says of this long-looked-for child, which Ludovicus Vives, in his notes on that eclogue, thinks applicable to Christ; and he concludes, as the psalmist here, with a prospect of the rejoicing of the whole creation herein:–
| Aspice, venturo ltentur ut omnia sclo– See how this promis’d age makes all rejoice. |
And, if all rejoice, why should not we?
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
4 Exult before Jehovah all the earth Here he repeats the exhortation with which he had begun, and by addressing it to the nations at large, he indicates that when God should break down the middle wall of partition all would be gathered to the common faith, and one Church formed throughout the whole world. When he speaks of musical instruments the allusion is evidently to the practice of the Church at that time, without any intention of binding down the Gentiles to the observance of the ceremonies of the law. The repetition made use of is emphatical, and implies that the most ardent attempts men might make to celebrate the great work of the world’s redemption would fall short of the riches of the grace of God. This is brought out still more forcibly in what follows, where feeling is ascribed to things inanimate. The whole passage has been elsewhere expounded, and it is unnecessary to insist further upon it.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(4) Make a joyful noise.Better, Break out into songs and music.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord Shout to Jehovah. This call is made to all the earth, inasmuch as “the ends of the earth” had seen (Psa 98:3) the salvation of God to his people. The descriptions of joy and praise, given in Psa 98:4-6, may be accepted as comprehending all that was known in Hebrew worship of vocal and instrumental demonstrations of rejoicing.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
There can he no doubt but that when musical instruments are spoken of in the word of God, and in the Psalms more particularly, as we find them there more frequently mentioned, somewhat more is intended than the mere harps and cornets invented by men: I take it to mean, let all the chords of the heart be in unison of praise to the God of such rich mercies.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 98:4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
Ver. 4. Make a joyful noise ] Bless God for a Christ. The Argives, when delivered by the Romans from the tyranny of the Macedonians and Spartans, Quae gaudia, quae vociferationes fuerunt! quid fiorum in Consulem profuderunt! what great joys expressed they! what loud outcries made they! the very birds that flew over them fell on the ground, astonied with their noises (Plut. in Flamin.). The crier at the Nemean games was forced to pronounce the word liberty iterumque iterumque, again and again.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 98:4-6
4Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth;
Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises.
5Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
With the lyre and the sound of melody.
6With trumpets and the sound of the horn
Shout joyfully before the King, the Lord.
Psa 98:4-6 This strophe has six imperatives exhorting all humans to praise the God of Israel (cf. Psa 98:3 a). This may reflect a coronation celebration in Israel (cf. Psa 47:5-9).
1. shout joyfully, Psa 98:4 – BDB 929, KB 1206, Hiphil imperative
2. break forth, Psa 98:4 – BDB 822, KB 953, Qal imperative
3. sing for joy, Psa 98:4 – BDB 943, KB 1247, Piel imperative
4. sing praises, Psa 98:4 – BDB 274, KB 273, Piel imperative
5. sing praises, Psa 98:5 – same as #4
6. shout joyfully, Psa 98:6 – same as #1
Israel and the whole earth rejoiced and proclaimed the faithfulness, fairness, holiness, power, and righteousness of the God of creation and redemption (see SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL’S GOD ).
This is not the world God created it to be! This is not the world it one day will be!
Psa 98:6 horn This is the shofar (BDB 1051). See SPECIAL TOPIC: HORNS USED BY ISRAEL .
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
sing praise. Figure of speech Anadiplosis, for emphasis. See note on “psalm”, Psa 98:5.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 98:4
Psa 98:4
“Make a joyful noise unto Jehovah, all the earth;
Break forth and sing for joy, yea, sing praises.”
The logic here, as Yates saw it, is this: “Since all the earth has seen how God has delivered Israel, all men are called to join Israel in worshipping him.” It seems tragic that Israel never seemed to catch on to the fact that the worship of God by all nations foretold here would bring the Gentiles into God’s favor on an equal footing with Israel. It was this tragic blindness which, in the principal part, set Israel against the Messiah and embittered the nation against Paul.
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 98:4. Noise in the first instance is not in the original, so the sentence means for them to make expressions of joy for all the goodness of God. In the second sentence the word means “to break out in joyful sound.” –Strong. The people were bidden also to sing their praises unto the Lord.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Psa 47:1-5, Psa 66:1, Psa 66:4, Psa 67:4, Psa 95:1, Psa 100:1, Isa 12:6, Isa 42:11, Isa 44:23, Jer 33:11, Zep 3:14, Mat 21:9, Rev 19:1, Rev 19:6
Reciprocal: 1Ch 15:28 – with shouting 1Ch 16:28 – ye kindreds 1Ch 16:31 – let the earth Neh 12:27 – gladness Neh 12:42 – sang loud Job 8:21 – rejoicing Psa 32:11 – shout Psa 33:2 – Praise Psa 89:15 – know Psa 97:1 – the earth Son 1:4 – we will be Isa 49:13 – O heavens Rom 15:10 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 98:4-9. Make a joyful noise, &c. Because you all now partake of the same privileges with the Jews, join with them in worshipping and praising God. Sing unto the Lord with a harp Here again, as in Psa 92:3, the worship of the New Testament is described in phrases taken from the rites of the Old. The psalmist, beholding in spirit the accomplishment of the promises, the advent of Christ, and the glory of his kingdom, thinks it criminal in any creature to be silent: he bids the whole earth break forth into joy, and exult in God her Saviour, with every token of gratitude and thankfulness. He even calls upon the inanimate parts of creation to bear their parts in the new song, and to fill up the universal chorus of praise. He bids the sea roar, as men in triumph make a loud and vehement noise, and the floods to clap their hands, as men do in token of delight and approbation, while the hills, in like manner, resound their joy. Before the Lord, for he cometh, &c. Here we have the subject of this general joy, as before in Psa 96:13, namely, the coming of the Messiah to reform the world, to execute judgment upon the wicked, and to establish a kingdom of righteousness upon the earth. We expect his second advent to restore all things, to judge the world, to condemn his enemies, and to begin his glorious reign. Then shall heaven and earth rejoice, and the joy of the redeemed shall be full. Horne.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2. God’s future judgment of the world 98:4-9
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
In view of the Lord’s coming to judge the earth (Psa 98:9), everyone and everything should praise Him enthusiastically.