Bible/Psalms/97

Psalms 97:4

97:3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.

KJV

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His lightning lights up the world. The earth sees, and trembles.

His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.

His lightning enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.

97:5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

What does Psalms 97:4 mean?

Psalms 97:4 is a verse in the book of Psalms, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include בָּרָק (bârâq), אוֹר (ʼôwr), תֵּבֵל (têbêl).

Hebrew interlinear

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His
lightningsבָּרָקbârâq/baw-rawk'/H1300lightning; by analogy, a gleam; concretely, a flashing sword
enlightenedאוֹרʼôwr/ore/H215to be (causative, make) luminous (literally and metaphorically)
the
world:תֵּבֵלtêbêl/tay-bale'/H8398the earth (as moist and therefore inhabited); by extension, the globe; by implication, its inhabitants; specifically, a particular land, as Babylonia, Palestine
the
earthאֶרֶץʼerets/eh'-rets/H776the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
saw,רָאָהrâʼâh/raw-aw'/H7200to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
and
trembled.חוּלchûwl/khool/H2342properly, to twist or whirl (in a circular or spiral manner), i.e. (specifically) to dance, to writhe in pain (especially of parturition) or fear; figuratively, to wait, to pervert

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Psalms 97:4.

Psalms 77:18

The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.

1 Chronicles 16:30

Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.

Genesis 1:10

And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:12

And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:15

And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.

Genesis 1:17

And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,

Genesis 1:25

And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 6:12

And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

Frequently asked questions

What does Psalms 97:4 say?

Psalms 97:4 (King James Version) reads: "His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled."

Is Psalms 97:4 in the Old or New Testament?

Psalms 97:4 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Psalms.

Reflect

As you read Psalms 97:4, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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