Psalm 97:1

1 The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.

Psalm 97:1 in Other Translations

1 The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

1 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!

1 The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice! Let the farthest coastlands be glad.

1 God rules: there's something to shout over! On the double, mainlands and islands - celebrate!

1 Jehovah reigneth; Let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad.

1 The LORD rules as king. Let the earth rejoice. Let all the islands be joyful.

1 The Lord reigns! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coasts and islands be glad.

1 The LORD rules. Let the earth be glad. Let countries that are far away be full of joy.

Psalm 97:1 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 97:1

The Lord reigneth
He has reigned, now reigns, will and must reign until all enemies are made his footstool; (See Gill on Psalms 93:1), (See Gill on Psalms 96:10),

let the earth rejoice:
not the land of Judea only, and the inhabitants of it, to whom the King Messiah came; for there were but few among them that received him, and rejoiced at his coming; but the whole earth, the vast continent, as distinguished from the isles after mentioned, and they that dwell upon it; the Gentiles, who had a concern in his coming, in whom they were to be blessed, to whom they were to be gathered, and in whom they should find a glorious rest; and therefore he is called

the desire of all nations:
the first preaching of the Gospel was occasion and matter of great joy to them; not only the blessings contained in it of peace, pardon, righteousness, and salvation by Christ; but the effects of it, delivering them from the dominion of Satan, the god of this world; and from superstition, and idolatry, with which they were enslaved; and the bringing them into the glorious liberty of the children of God:

let the multitude of isles be glad thereof;
the isles of the sea are many, even many thousands: Columbus, when he first discovered America, sailing by Cuba westward, gave names, as he passed along, to seven hundred islands, leaving three thousand more without names ^F18: Gejerus reports, from some writers, that an Indian king, in 1553, was converted to the Christian faith, that ruled over eleven thousand islands; and that in Maldivar there are reckoned to be sixteen thousand: well may the text speak of a multitude of them: or, "let the great islands" such as ours of Great Britain and Ireland; these isles are said to wait for Christ and his doctrine, ( Isaiah 42:4 ) ( 51:5 ) ( 60:9 ) and therefore must be glad to hear of his coming and kingdom: the Gospel was very early sent to the isles, as to Cyprus, Crete see ( Acts 13:4-6 ) ( Titus 1:5 ) and to our northern isles likewise, who have great reason to be glad at its coming among us, continuance with us, and the success it has had; and that it is yet in the midst of us for further usefulness; and that Christ reigns, and will reign evermore.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F18 P. Martyr. Decad. 1. l. 3.

Psalm 97:1 In-Context

1 The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.

2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

3 Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side.

4 His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles.

5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 15:18; Psalms 93:1; Psalms 96:10; Psalms 99:1; Isaiah 24:23; Isaiah 52:7
• 2. S Psalms 96:11
• 3. S Esther 10:1