English Standard Version
Psalms 97:4
4His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles.
Psalms 97:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
- New International Version (NIV)His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles.
- New King James Version (NKJV)His lightnings light the world; The earth sees and trembles.
- New Living Translation (NLT)His lightning flashes out across the world. The earth sees and trembles.
Context of Psalms 97:4
2Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 3Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around. His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. 5The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. 6The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory.
Read all of Psalms 97Psalms 97:4 word by word
הֵאִ֣ירוּ בְרָקָ֣יו תֵּבֵ֑ל רָאֲתָ֖ה וַתָּחֵ֣ל הָאָֽרֶץ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 97:4
- Psalms 77:18The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook.
- Psalms 144:5Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke!
- Exodus 19:16On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.
- Psalms 104:32who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke!
- Psalms 114:7Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob,
- Job 9:6who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble;
- Jeremiah 10:10But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.
- Matthew 27:50And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.
- Matthew 28:2And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.
- Revelation 11:19Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.
- Revelation 19:11Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.
Commentaries on Psalms 97:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4His lightnings enlightened the world - Though this be no more than a majestic description of the coming of the Lord, to confound his enemies and succor 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4His lightnings enlightened the world - See the notes at Psalm 77:18. Compare Psalm 104:32; Habakkuk 3:6-10.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-4Clouds … Fire … lightning: This language shows that the Lord is coming to judge.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-53-5. The attending illustrations of God's awful justice on enemies (Psa 83:14) are seen in the disclosures of His almighty power on the elements of nature (compare Psa 46:2; 77:17; Ha 3:6, &c.).Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 97:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 97
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries