Psalms 76:4

4 Glorious are you, more majestic than the everlasting mountains.

Psalms 76:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 76:4

Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains
of prey.
] Which is to be understood not of Zion, as some interpret it; though it is true that the mountain of Zion, or the church of Christ, his kingdom and interest, shall in the latter day be more glorious and excellent than all other mountains, kingdoms, and interests; see ( Isaiah 2:2 ) , but of God or Christ before spoken of; and so the Targum,

``bright, to be feared, art thou, O God, to be praised from the house of thy sanctuary.''

Christ, who is God over all, is "bright" F26, splendid, and glorious, in his divine nature, being the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person: and "excellent" in his office as Mediator, and in all his works as such; and in human nature, at he is exalted at his Father's right hand, far above all principality, power, might, and dominion, signified here by "mountains of prey": the kingdoms of this world, because of their eminence and strength, are compared to mountains: see ( Isaiah 41:15 ) ( Jeremiah 51:25 ) ( Zechariah 4:7 ) and may be called "mountains of prey", in allusion to mountains inhabited by beasts of prey, as lions and leopards; see ( Song of Solomon 4:8 ) because obtained and possessed by tyranny and oppression. Christ is more glorious and excellent than the kings of the earth; he is higher than they, and is King of kings; he is richer than they, the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof, the world, and they that dwell therein; he is wiser than they, by him kings reign, and princes decree justice; he is more powerful than they, and all must submit to him, and all will serve him hereafter; and his kingdom will be greater than theirs, more large and more lasting; it will be an everlasting one, and reach from sea to sea, and even to the ends of the earth.


FOOTNOTES:

F26 (rwan) "illustris", Pagninus, Montanus, Musculus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "illustrior", Tigurine, version; "splendidus", Vatablus, Gejerus, Michaelis; "bright", Ainsworth.

Psalms 76:4 In-Context

2 His abode has been established in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.
3 There he broke the flashing arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. (Selah)
4 Glorious are you, more majestic than the everlasting mountains.
5 The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil; they sank into sleep; none of the troops was able to lift a hand.
6 At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both rider and horse lay stunned.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Gk: Heb [the mountains of prey]
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.