Psalm 99:1-6

The King Is Holy

1 The Lord reigns! Let the peoples tremble. He is enthroned above the cherubim.^[a] Let the earth quake.

2 The Lord is great in Zion; He is exalted above all the peoples.

3 Let them praise Your great and awe-inspiring name.^[b] He is holy.

4 The mighty King loves justice.^[c] You have established fairness; You have administered justice and righteousness in Jacob.

5 Exalt the Lord our God; bow in worship at His footstool.^[d] 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.

Psalm 99:1-6 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

• [a] Ex 25:22; 1 Sm 4:4; Ezk 11:22
• [b] Ps 44:8; 138:2; Neh 1:5
• [c] Ps 37:28; Isa 61:8
• [d] Ps 132:7; 1 Ch 28:2; Isa 66:1