Psalms 76:1-4

Context

Psalm 76¹

For the music director; to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a psalm of Asaph, a song.

76:1 God has revealed himself in Judah;²

in Israel his reputation³ is great.

76:2 He lives in Salem;⁴

he dwells in Zion.⁵

76:3 There he shattered the arrows,⁶

the shield, the sword, and the rest of the weapons of war.⁷ (Selah)

76:4 You shine brightly and reveal your majesty,

as you descend from the hills where you killed your prey.⁸

[76:1] ¹sn Psalm 76. The psalmist depicts God as a mighty warrior who destroys Israel’s enemies.

[76:1] ²tn Or “God is known in Judah.”

[76:1] ³tn Heb “name,” which here stands metonymically for God’s reputation.

[76:2] ⁴sn Salem is a shorter name for Jerusalem (see Gen 14:18).

[76:2] ⁵tn Heb “and his place of refuge is in Salem, and his lair in Zion.” God may be likened here to a lion (see v. 4).

[76:3] ⁶tn Heb “flames of the bow,” i.e., arrows.

[76:3] ⁷tn Heb “shield and sword and battle.” “Battle” probably here stands by metonymy for the weapons of war in general.

[76:4] ⁸tn Heb “radiant [are] you, majestic from the hills of prey.” God is depicted as a victorious king and as a lion that has killed its victims.