Psalm 97:1
New International Version
The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.

New Living Translation
The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice! Let the farthest coastlands be glad.

English Standard Version
The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!

Berean Standard Bible
The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the distant shores be glad.

King James Bible
The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

New King James Version
The LORD reigns; Let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad!

New American Standard Bible
The LORD reigns, may the earth rejoice; May the many islands be joyful.

NASB 1995
The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; Let the many islands be glad.

NASB 1977
The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; Let the many islands be glad.

Legacy Standard Bible
Yahweh reigns, let the earth rejoice; Let the many coastlands be glad.

Amplified Bible
The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; Let the many islands and coastlands be glad.

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD reigns! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coasts and islands be glad.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD reigns! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coasts and islands be glad.

American Standard Version
Jehovah reigneth; let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD is King! Tell the earth to celebrate and all islands to shout.

English Revised Version
The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD rules as king. Let the earth rejoice. Let all the islands be joyful.

Good News Translation
The LORD is king! Earth, be glad! Rejoice, you islands of the seas!

International Standard Version
The LORD reigns! Let the earth rejoice! May many islands be glad!

Majority Standard Bible
The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the distant shores be glad.

NET Bible
The LORD reigns! Let the earth be happy! Let the many coastlands rejoice!

New Heart English Bible
The LORD reigns. Let the earth rejoice. Let the multitude of islands be glad.

Webster's Bible Translation
The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad.

World English Bible
Yahweh reigns! Let the earth rejoice! Let the multitude of islands be glad!
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
YHWH has reigned, "" The earth is joyful, many islands rejoice.

Young's Literal Translation
Jehovah hath reigned, The earth is joyful, many isles rejoice.

Smith's Literal Translation
Jehovah reigned, the earth shall exult: the many islands shall be glad.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For the same David, when his land was restored again to him. The Lord hath reigned, let the earth rejoice: let many islands be glad.

Catholic Public Domain Version
This is to David, when his land was restored to him. The Lord has reigned, let the earth exult. Let the many islands rejoice.

New American Bible
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many islands be glad.

New Revised Standard Version
The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
THE LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
LORD JEHOVAH reigns! The Earth will be glad; the many islands shall rejoice!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For David, when his land is established. The Lord reigns, let the earth exult, let many islands rejoice.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Let the Earth Rejoice
1The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the distant shores be glad. 2Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are His throne’s foundation.…

Cross References
Revelation 19:6
And I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude, like the rushing of many waters, and like a mighty rumbling of thunder, crying out: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.

Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

1 Chronicles 16:31
Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice. Let them say among the nations, ‘The LORD reigns!’

Psalm 93:1
The LORD reigns! He is robed in majesty; the LORD has clothed and armed Himself with strength. The world indeed is firmly established; it cannot be moved.

Psalm 99:1
The LORD reigns; let the nations tremble! He is enthroned above the cherubim; let the earth quake!

Zechariah 14:9
On that day the LORD will become King over all the earth—the LORD alone, and His name alone.

Daniel 7:14
And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Matthew 28:18
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

Philippians 2:9-11
Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, / that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, / and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Isaiah 24:23
The moon will be confounded and the sun will be ashamed; for the LORD of Hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before His elders with great glory.

Revelation 11:15
Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.”

Psalm 96:10
Declare among the nations: “The LORD reigns!” The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.

Isaiah 42:10-12
Sing to the LORD a new song—His praise from the ends of the earth—you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who dwell in them. / Let the desert and its cities raise their voices; let the villages of Kedar cry aloud. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them cry out from the mountaintops. / Let them give glory to the LORD and declare His praise in the islands.

Psalm 47:8
God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.

Psalm 68:32
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord—Selah


Treasury of Scripture

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

a.

Psalm 93:1
The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.

Psalm 96:10,11
Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously…

Psalm 99:1
The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.

the earth

Psalm 2:11
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Psalm 98:4-6
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise…

Isaiah 49:13
Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.

let the multitude of isles.

Genesis 10:5
By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

Isaiah 11:11
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

Isaiah 24:14-16
They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from the sea…

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Coastlands Distant Earth Glad Islands Isles Joy Joyful Multitude Reigned Reigneth Reigns Rejoice Sea-Lands Shores Thereof
Psalm 97
1. The majesty of God's kingdom
7. The church rejoices at God's judgments upon idolaters
10. An exhortation to godliness and gladness














The LORD reigns
This phrase establishes the central theme of Psalm 97:1, affirming the sovereignty and kingship of God. The Hebrew word for "LORD" here is "YHWH," the sacred and personal name of God, often rendered as "Yahweh." This name signifies God's eternal existence and His covenant relationship with His people. The word "reigns" comes from the Hebrew root "malak," which means to be king or to rule. This declaration is a reminder of God's ultimate authority over all creation, a comforting assurance for believers that despite earthly chaos, God is in control. Historically, this proclamation would resonate deeply with the Israelites, who understood kingship as a symbol of protection, provision, and justice.

let the earth rejoice
The call for the earth to rejoice is an invitation for all creation to celebrate God's rule. The Hebrew word for "earth" is "erets," which can refer to the physical land, its inhabitants, or the entire world. The verb "rejoice" is derived from "samach," meaning to be glad or joyful. This joy is not just an emotional response but a recognition of the goodness and righteousness of God's reign. In a historical context, this reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of the earth as a participant in divine worship, echoing the belief that all of creation is designed to reflect God's glory.

let the distant shores be glad
This phrase extends the call to rejoice beyond Israel to the "distant shores," indicating the universal scope of God's reign. The Hebrew word for "distant" is "iy," which can mean coastlands or islands, suggesting regions far from Israel. The term "be glad" is from the root "gil," which conveys a sense of exultation and delight. This inclusion of distant lands underscores the prophetic vision of God's kingdom extending to all nations, a theme that resonates with the Great Commission in the New Testament. It highlights the inclusivity of God's salvation plan, inviting all peoples to experience the joy of His righteous rule.

(1) The Lord reigneth.--For the thought and imagery comp. Psalm 96:10-11.

Multitude of the isles.--Literally, isles many. This wide glance to the westward embracing the isles and coasts of the Mediterranean (Psalm 72:10), possibly even more distant ones still, is characteristic of the literature of post-exile times. (Comp. Isaiah 42:10-11; Isaiah 51:15.)

Verse 1. - The Lord reigneth; or, the Lord has become King - has ascended his throne (comp. Psalm 93:1; Psalm 96:10). Let the earth rejoice. When God condescends to appear on earth, the earth is bound to rejoice. His coming cannot but improve the condition of affairs. Let the multitude of isles (literally, the many isles) be glad thereof. Even "the isles" - the abode of the Gentiles - are to feel joy, for they, too, at whatever cost (ver. 3), will be benefited.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The LORD
יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

reigns,
מָ֭לָךְ (mā·lāḵ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4427: To reign, inceptively, to ascend the throne, to induct into royalty, to take counsel

let the earth
הָאָ֑רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

rejoice;
תָּגֵ֣ל (tā·ḡêl)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1523: To spin round, rejoice, fear

let the distant
רַבִּֽים׃ (rab·bîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

shores
אִיִּ֥ים (’î·yîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 339: A habitable spot, dry land, a coast, an island

be glad.
יִ֝שְׂמְח֗וּ (yiś·mə·ḥū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8055: To brighten up, be, blithe, gleesome


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OT Poetry: Psalm 97:1 Yahweh reigns! (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 96:13
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