Chapter Overview
Summary
Psalm 96 (MT) / Psalm 95 (LXX) is a 'Sing a new song' enthronement psalm calling all nations and all creation to praise YHWH as the coming-Judge. Its parallels to 1 Chronicles 16:23–33 (David's ark-procession psalm) suggest either liturgical-adaptation or shared-source. The closing vv. 11–13 ('let the heavens be glad … let the sea roar … let the field exult … let the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes') is one of the Psalter's most-exuberant all-creation-praise texts.
Notable Variants
96:1 'sing a new song' opening-formula; 96:10 'say among the nations: The LORD reigns' as missional-proclamation; 96:11–13 all-creation-praise anticipating Romans 8:19–22 / Rev 5:13; the 1 Chr 16:23–33 parallel.
Structural Notes
MT Ps 96 = LXX Ps 95. 13 verses. // 1 Chr 16:23–33.
Sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth!
'Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!' tracks MT. 'NEW SONG' (shir chadash / asma kainon). The 'new song' formula at Ps 33:3, 40:3, 96:1, 98:1, 144:9, 149:1, and Revelation 5:9 ('they sang a new song'), 14:3 — eschatological-worship signature.
Sing to the LORD, bless his name! Proclaim his salvation day after day!
'Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day' tracks MT. FROM-DAY-TO-DAY proclamation.
Declare his glory among the nations, his wonders among all peoples!
'Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!' tracks MT. DECLARE-AMONG-NATIONS. Matthew 28:19's 'make disciples of all nations' and Acts 1:8's 'to the ends of the earth' extend the missional-call.
he is to be feared above all gods. For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised;
'For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods' tracks MT.
For all the gods of the peoples are worthless things, but the LORD made the heavens.
'For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens' tracks MT. IDOLS-VS-YHWH-CREATOR. The 'worthless idols' (elilim / daimonia, 'demons' in LXX) — the LXX's Greek daimonia anticipates 1 Corinthians 10:20 ('what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons'). The idol-as-demon theology has a LXX-root here.
Splendor and majesty stand before him; strength and glory fill his sanctuary.
'Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary' tracks MT.
Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples! Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
'Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!' tracks MT. // Ps 29:1–2 ascribe-to-the-LORD tripled-imperative.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name! Bring an offering and come into his courts!
'Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts!' tracks MT.
Worship the LORD in holy splendor! Tremble before him, all the earth!
'Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!' tracks MT.
Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!" The world is established; it cannot be shaken. He will judge the peoples with equity.
'Say among the nations: The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity' tracks MT. 'THE LORD REIGNS' — the enthronement-formula extended to the nations. Some early Christian texts (Justin Martyr, Dial. 73) read this verse with an ADDITION 'from the tree' (apo tou xylou): 'the LORD reigns FROM THE TREE' — a Christological addition interpreting the cross as Messianic-enthronement. Though not in MT or standard-LXX, the addition appears in some old-Latin manuscripts and patristic citations.
Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and all that fills it!
'Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it' tracks MT. HEAVENS-EARTH-SEA triple-invocation.
Let the field exult, and everything in it! Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy
'Let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy' tracks MT. TREES-SING-FOR-JOY. Isaiah 55:12 ('the trees of the field shall clap their hands') parallels. Romans 8:19–22's 'creation groans' and Revelation 5:13's 'every creature in heaven and on earth … saying: To him who sits on the throne … be blessing' develop the all-creation-praise theology.
before the LORD, for he is coming — for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with his faithfulness.
'Before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness' tracks MT. HE-COMES-TO-JUDGE-THE-EARTH — doubled verb. Acts 17:31 ('God … has fixed a day on which he will JUDGE THE WORLD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead') Christologically completes: the 'he' coming-to-judge is Jesus the Risen One.