Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 99:3
Let them praise thy great and terrible name; [for] it [is] holy.
3. thy great and terrible name ] Cp. Psa 47:2; Psa 111:9; Deu 7:21.
for it is holy ] A possible rendering; cp. Isa 57:15; but the parallels of Psa 99:5 ; Psa 99:9 point rather to the rendering of R.V., Holy is he. His highest claim to adoration is His absolute moral perfection. Cp. Psa 22:3 note.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Let them praise thy great and terrible name – The word rendered terrible means to be feared or reverenced; that is, his name – his being – he himself – is suited to inspire awe and reverence. The word them here refers to the nations over whom God reigns. It is a call on them to praise their king and their God.
For it is holy – See the notes at Isa 6:3; notes at Rev 4:8. The fact that God is holy – that he is pure and righteous – that he cannot look upon sin but with abhorrence – is a just foundation for universal praise. Who could worship or honor a God who was not pure and holy?
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. Let them praise thy great and terrible name] Let them confess thee to be great and terrible: let them tremble before thee.
For it is holy.] kadosh hu. As this not only ends this verse but the fifth also, and in effect the ninth, it seems to be a species of chorus which was sung in a very solemn manner at the conclusion of each of these parts. His holiness-the immaculate purity of his nature, was the reason why he should be exalted, praised, and worshipped.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Them, to wit, all people, last mentioned.
For it is holy; for it is not only great, but holy, and therefore most praise-worthy.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. thy . . . nameperfectionsof justice, power, c.
great and terriblenameproducing dread (De10:17), and to be praised by those over whom He is exalted (Ps97:9).
it is holyor, “Heis holy” (Psa 99:5 Psa 99:9;Isa 6:3).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Let them praise thy great and terrible name,…. All people, especially the Lord’s people; those that dwell in Zion, where his name is great, in high esteem, venerable, and valued; as his name Jesus, or Saviour, is amiable and lovely to his saints; and his name, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, is terrible to his enemies:
for it is holy; his name is holy, as well as reverend and great; his nature is holy, both divine and human; holy in all his ways and works; and is holiness to his people, and therefore worthy of praise; holiness is the ground and foundation of his praise from the seraphim, Isa 6:3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3) Great and terrible name.The rabbins see here the mystic tetragrammaton, whose pronunciation was kept so secret.
For it is holy.This is grammatically possible, but as Psa. 99:5; Psa. 99:9 repeat the expression, evidently as a refrain, and there it needs the masculine, it is better to read here, Holy is He.
In this way, too, we avoid an awkward construction in the next verse, which should be joined closely with this: Let them praise Thy great and terrible name (saying), Holy is He, and mighty, a king that loveth justice.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. Let them praise They shall praise; that is, the nations, or peoples, just mentioned. Psa 99:2. The prophetic character of the psalm and the form of the verb require that it be rendered in the declarative future.
Terrible name “Terrible” only to his enemies, whom he will “break with a rod of iron,” (Psa 2:9,) and who, in conspiring against God’s people, “have played the madmen to their own destruction.” Calvin. No less terrible is God against cherished sins in his own people. See Deu 10:17.
For it is holy A solemn declaration, thrice made once at the end of each strophe, (Psa 99:5; Psa 99:9,) which strongly suggests that the occasion of this psalm was one which related to the public worship, and of solemn but joyful recognition and renewal of the national covenant with God.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 99:3-4. Let them, &c. They shall praise, they shall do homage to thy great and terrible name, because it is holy: Green adds, and powerful, from the next verse, which he renders thus: The king loveth judgment: But Mudge renders it, Though the king be strong he loveth judgment: And he observes, that the latter part of the verse refers to the body of laws which God had given at Sinai. Dr. Delaney supposes, that as this psalm was composed when David was settled in his kingdom, so this verse particularly refers to his executing judgment and justice unto all his people. Whoever peruses the psalm will find, that David here, as every where else, considers God as the king of Israel, and himself only as his deputy. To this purpose are these expressions in the beginning of it: The Lord reigneth:the Lord is great in Zion. It is true, David delighted to exert all the power which God had given him to its true purposes: The king’s strength loveth judgment; but it was in reality God who executed them all. Thou dost establish, &c. Then follows the one inference always drawn from every position of David’s, that God is ever to be worshipped and glorified: Psa 99:5. Exalt ye the Lord, &c. Life of David, b. 3: Psa 100:4.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
I do not presume to speak decidedly upon this, or any other part of the divine word. As one indeed treading holy ground, I would put off the shoes from my feet. But I would humbly ask, is not this call upon the church twice repeated with only a little variation, in conformity to the plan of adoration observed above? Did not Isaiah; did not the beloved John behold somewhat of these glorious acts of adoration and praise? See Isa 6:1-3 , and Rev 4:2 , to the end. Reader! what can more strikingly prove, so far as our present capacities are capable of conceiving anything of this sublime subject, the glorious doctrine of the Holy Three in One, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost? And observe, how this worship is offered, both in heaven and upon earth, at the footstool; that is, through the mercy-seat, the propitiatory, even Christ Jesus. There is no approaching Jehovah but in and by him. Neither can there be any real apprehension of the existence of a threefold character of persons in the Godhead, but through this Mediator. Joh 14:6 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 99:3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name; [for] it [is] holy.
Ver 3. Let them praise thy great and terrible name ] Nomen illud maiestativum. Some hereby understand the name Jehovah, of which Jos 7:9 , “What wilt thou do to thy great name?” And Jer 44:26 , “I have sworn by my great name.” But God’s name is usually put for God’s self.
For it is holy
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
holy. See notes on Psa 93:1, Psa 93:5 and Exo 3:5.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
thy great: Psa 66:3, Psa 76:12, Deu 7:21, Deu 28:58, Neh 1:5, Neh 4:14, Neh 9:32, Jer 20:11
for it: Psa 111:9, Psa 145:17, Jos 24:19, 1Sa 2:2, Isa 6:3, Joh 17:11, Rev 4:8, Rev 15:3, Rev 15:4
Reciprocal: Deu 10:17 – a great Psa 47:2 – is terrible Psa 48:1 – Great Psa 66:5 – terrible Psa 99:5 – he is holy Psa 99:9 – for the Psa 103:1 – holy name Psa 148:13 – for his name Isa 33:13 – ye that are near Isa 57:15 – whose Zep 3:5 – just Luk 1:49 – and
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
99:3 Let them {b} praise thy great and terrible name; [for] it [is] holy.
(b) Though the wicked rage against God, the godly will praise his Name and mighty power.