Psalms 99:4-9

4 The mighty King loves justice.[a] You have established fairness; You have administered justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Exalt the Lord our God; bow in worship at His footstool.[b] He is holy.
6 Moses and Aaron were among His priests; Samuel also was among those calling on His name. They called to the Lord, and He answered them.
7 He spoke to them in a pillar of cloud;[c] they kept His decrees and the statutes He gave them.
8 Lord our God, You answered them. You were a God who forgave them, but punished[d] their misdeeds.[e] [f]
9 Exalt the Lord our God; bow in worship at His holy mountain,[g] for the Lord our God is holy.

Psalms 99:4-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 99

This psalm, with the foregoing from Ps 90:1 is ascribed to Moses by Jarchi and others; but cannot be his, since mention is made of Samuel in it, who lived many years after him. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, more rightly attribute it to David; the inscription of the Syriac version, after saying it is David's, subjoins,

``concerning the destruction of the Midianites, whom Moses and the people of Israel led captive;''

of which there is not the least mention in it; but it more truly adds,

``and a prophecy concerning the glory of the kingdom of the Messiah;''

as it undoubtedly is.

Footnotes 7

  • [a]. Ps 37:28; Isa 61:8
  • [b]. Ps 132:7; 1 Ch 28:2; Isa 66:1
  • [c]. Nm 12:5; 14:14; Dt 31:15-18
  • [d]. Lit avenged
  • [e]. Or but avenged misdeeds done against them
  • [f]. Lv 26:25; Dt 32:41
  • [g]. Ps 2:6; 48:1; Ezk 20:40
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.