Psalms 99:1-7

1 The Lord is king, ¹ and the people tremble. He sits on his throne above the winged creatures, and the earth shakes.

2 The Lord is mighty in Zion; he is supreme over all the nations.

3 Everyone will praise his great and majestic name. Holy is he!

4 Mighty king, you love what is right; you have established justice in Israel; you have brought righteousness and fairness.

5 Praise the Lord our God; worship before his throne! Holy is he!

6 Moses and Aaron were his priests, and Samuel was one who prayed to him; they called to the Lord, and he answered them.

7 He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; ² they obeyed the laws and commands that he gave them.

Psalms 99:1-7 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.

Cross References

• 1. 99.1Exodus 25.22.
• 2. 99.7Exodus 33.9.

Footnotes

• [a]. [Probable text] Mighty king; [Hebrew] The might of the king.