collapse all  

Text -- Psalms 97:7 (NET)

Strongs On/Off
Context
97:7 All who worship idols are ashamed, those who boast about worthless idols. All the gods bow down before him.
Parallel   Cross Reference (TSK)   ITL  

Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Dictionary Themes and Topics: Worship | Quotations and Allusions | Praise | PSALMS, BOOK OF | Jesus, The Christ | Idolatry | Idol | INSPIRATION, 1-7 | Graven image | GODS | GOD, NAMES OF | GLORY | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Calvin , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable

Other
Critics Ask

collapse all
Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Wesley: Psa 97:7 - -- Let them be ashamed of their folly.

Let them be ashamed of their folly.

Wesley: Psa 97:7 - -- All you whom the Gentiles have made the objects of their worship.

All you whom the Gentiles have made the objects of their worship.

JFB: Psa 97:7 - -- Idolaters are utterly put to shame, for if angels must worship Him, how much more those who worshipped them.

Idolaters are utterly put to shame, for if angels must worship Him, how much more those who worshipped them.

JFB: Psa 97:7 - -- Literally, "all ye angels" (Psa 8:5; Psa 138:1; Heb 1:6; Heb 2:7). Paul quotes, not as a prophecy, but as language used in regard to the Lord Jehovah,...

Literally, "all ye angels" (Psa 8:5; Psa 138:1; Heb 1:6; Heb 2:7). Paul quotes, not as a prophecy, but as language used in regard to the Lord Jehovah, who in the Old Testament theophania is the second person of the Godhead.

Clarke: Psa 97:7 - -- Confounded be fell they - Rather, They shall be confounded that boast themselves in idols. There is a remarkable play on the letters here, המתה...

Confounded be fell they - Rather, They shall be confounded that boast themselves in idols. There is a remarkable play on the letters here, המתהללים hammithhalelim , who move like madmen; referring to the violent gestures practiced in idolatrous rites

Clarke: Psa 97:7 - -- Of idols - באלילים baelilim , in vanities, emptinesses; who "make much ado about nothing,"and take a mad and painful pleasure in ridiculous ...

Of idols - באלילים baelilim , in vanities, emptinesses; who "make much ado about nothing,"and take a mad and painful pleasure in ridiculous and unprofitable ceremonies of religion

Clarke: Psa 97:7 - -- Worship him - Who? Jesus: so says the apostle, Heb 1:6. Who will dare to dispute his authority

Worship him - Who? Jesus: so says the apostle, Heb 1:6. Who will dare to dispute his authority

Clarke: Psa 97:7 - -- All ye gods - Οἱ αγγελοι αυτου, his angels: so the Septuagint and the apostle: "Let all the angels of God worship him:"and the word...

All ye gods - Οἱ αγγελοι αυτου, his angels: so the Septuagint and the apostle: "Let all the angels of God worship him:"and the words are most certainly applied to the Savior of the world by the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews; see the note there. The Chaldee says: "All nations who worship idols shall adore him."

Calvin: Psa 97:7 - -- 7.Confounded be all those who serve graven images The Psalmist draws a broad distinction here, as in the psalm next to this, between the true God and...

7.Confounded be all those who serve graven images The Psalmist draws a broad distinction here, as in the psalm next to this, between the true God and the false gods which men form for themselves. This he does that the praise which he had ascribed might not be applied to any but the true God. Men are all ready to admit that they ought to celebrate the praises of God, but, naturally prone as they are to superstition, few indeed will be bound down to worship God in the manner which is right. No sooner have they to do with God than they deviate into the most baseless delusions. Each fashions a god for himself, and all choose what suits them best in the medley of inventions. This is the reason why the sacred writers, under the apprehension that men may turn to false gods, are careful in giving exhortations to the worship of God, to state at the same time who the true God is. The order observed by the Psalmist suggests the remark, that corrupt superstitions will never be removed until the true religion obtains. Prevented from coming to the true God by the slowness of their spiritual apprehension, men cannot fail to wander in vanities of their own; and it is the knowledge of the true God which dispels these, as the sun disperses the darkness. All have naturally a something of religion born with them, 100 but owing to the blindness and stupidity, as well as the weakness of our minds, the apprehension which we conceive of God is immediately depraved. Religion is thus the beginning of all superstitions, not in its own nature, but through the darkness which has settled down upon the minds of men, and which prevents them from distinguishing between idols and the true God. The truth of God is effectual when revealed in dispelling and dissipating superstitions. Does the sun absorb the vapors which intervene in the air, and shall not the presence of God himself be effectual much more? We need not wonder then that the Psalmist, in predicting the Kingdom of God, triumphs over the ungodly nations, which boasted in graven images, as when Isaiah, speaking of the rise of the Gospel, adds,

“Then all the idols of Egypt shall fall,” (Isa 19:1)

Since the knowledge of God has been hid from the view of men, we are taught also that there is no reason to be surprised at the host of superstitions which have overspread the world. We have an exemplification of the same truth in our own day. The knowledge of the true doctrine is extinguished amongst the Turks, the Jews, and Papists, and, as a necessary consequence, they lie immersed in error; for they cannot possibly return to a sound mind, or repent of their errors, when they are ignorant of the true God. When the Psalmist speaks of their being confounded, he means that the time was come when those who were given to idolatry should repent, and return to the worship of the true God. Not that all without exception would be brought to genuine repentance, — for experience has taught us in these our own times how atheistical men 101 will cast off superstition, and yet assume the most shameless effrontery, but that this is one of those consequences which the knowledge of God should effect, the turning of men from their errors unto God. Some there are who obstinately resist God, of which we have many examples in the Papacy; but we have every reason to believe that they are secretly prostrated by that which they affect to despise, and confounded notwithstanding their opposition. What the Psalmist says a little after, Let all the gods 102 worship before him, properly applies to the angels, in whom there shines forth some small portion of divinity, yet it may, though less appropriately, be extended to fictitious gods; as if he had said, Whatever is accounted or held as a god must quit its place and renounce its claims, that God alone may be exalted. Hence it may be gathered that the true definition of piety is, when the true God is perfectly served, and when he alone is so exalted, that no creature obscures his divinity; and, accordingly, if we would not have true piety entirely destroyed amongst us, we must hold by this principle, That no creature whatever be exalted by us beyond measure,

TSK: Psa 97:7 - -- Confounded : Exo 20:4; Lev 26:1; Deu 5:8, Deu 27:15; Isa 37:18, Isa 37:19, Isa 41:29, Isa 42:17, Isa 44:9-11; Jer 10:14; Rev 14:8-10 worship : Exo 25:...

collapse all
Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Psa 97:7 - -- Confounded be all they that serve graven images - Hebrew, "Let them be ashamed."The idea is, that they would be disappointed. They would find t...

Confounded be all they that serve graven images - Hebrew, "Let them be ashamed."The idea is, that they would be disappointed. They would find that these were not real gods; that their trust in them was vain; and that they had evinced great folly in relying on that which could not aid them in the day of necessity. See Job 6:20, note; Psa 22:5, note; Psa 25:2, note. Compare Isa 20:5. What is here affirmed of the worshippers of idols will be found to be true at last of all who put their trust in anything but the true God.

That boast themselves of idols - That worship idols, and glory in them as if they could save; or, that glory in their own idol-gods as if they were more powerful than those of other people. It would not be unnatural that nations which worshipped idols should glory in them, or that one people should boast of their gods as more powerful - more worthy to be trusted - than those which were worshipped in other lands.

Worship him, all ye gods - Hebrew, אלהים 'Elohiym . The Septuagint and the Vulgate render this, "all his angels."The original word אלהים 'Elohiym is that which is commonly applied to the true God (Gen 1:1, et saepe), though it may be applied to angels, or to magistrates. See Psa 82:1, note; Psa 82:6, note. On the general meaning of this passage, and the question respecting its reference to the Messiah, see the notes at Heb 1:6. The reference here, according to the quotation in Heb 1:6, is to the angels. The original word will admit of this interpretation, and the entire structure of the psalm will justify its application to the Messiah.

Poole: Psa 97:7 - -- Confounded be all they let them be ashamed of their former folly herein, and be thereby brought to detest and forsake them; and those who will obstin...

Confounded be all they let them be ashamed of their former folly herein, and be thereby brought to detest and forsake them; and those who will obstinately persist in their impiety and idolatry, let them be brought to confusion. Or, they shall be confounded ; for this may be a prediction, and not an imprecation.

All ye gods all you whom the Gentiles have made the objects of their worship, and who are capable of giving him worship; which two qualifications agree principally, if not solely, to the angels of God, whom the heathens manifestly worshipped in their images as an inferior sort of gods, of whom therefore this text is expounded, Heb 1:6 .

Gill: Psa 97:7 - -- Confounded be all they that serve graven images,.... Images of gold, silver, and stone, graven by art and man's device; to serve and worship which mus...

Confounded be all they that serve graven images,.... Images of gold, silver, and stone, graven by art and man's device; to serve and worship which must be the grossest ignorance and stupidity, which, when convinced of, must fill with shame and confusion: this may be considered either as a prayer, that the idolatrous Gentiles might be enlightened to see the vanity of their idols, and their worship of them, and turn to the living God; or as a prophecy that it should be; for it may be rendered, "they are" or "shall be confounded", or "ashamed" t, as the Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi; which had its accomplishment in the first times of the Gospel; when, being preached in the Gentile world, multitudes forsook their idols and served the true God; and especially at the opening of the sixth seal, when Pagan worship was abolished throughout the Roman empire; and when the kings and great men in it, through shame, confusion, and dread, fled to the rocks and mountains, to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb, Rev 6:12, and will have a further accomplishment, when the Papists, the worshippers of the beast, shall be ashamed of their graven images, of the Virgin Mary, and other saints; which will be when the Gospel shall be published throughout the world, Rev 14:6,

that boast themselves of idols; as their saviours and deliverers, which yet are nothing, as the word u signifies; that praise and extol them, as the givers of good things to them, or the procurers of them for them; that glory in them, and in their worship of them, than which nothing can be a greater instance of folly and madness:

worship him, all ye gods; those that are so called, the graven images and idols before mentioned; let them bow down, and be prostrate before the Lord, as Dagon before the ark; or they that serve other gods, as Kimchi; so the Targum,

"and all the nations that serve idols shall worship before him;''

rather kings and princes, civil magistrates, who are sometimes called gods, are meant, Psa 95:3, and who, in the latter day especially, shall serve and worship the Messiah, Psa 72:10 though it is best of all to interpret it of angels, as this word Elohim is rendered in Psa 8:5, and Aben Ezra says there are some of their interpreters that understand it of angels: the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions, and so Apollinarius, render it, "worship him, all his angels": Gussetius w interprets it, "all that is God's"; all that belong to him, angels and men, and all creatures; particularly angels, the most noble of all: and this sense is confirmed by an inspired writer, who manifestly refers to and quotes this passage, and applies it to the angels worshipping Christ, the first begotten Son of God, when he came into the world, Heb 1:6, with which compare Luk 2:13, from whence it appears not only that Christ is superior to angels, for the proof of which it is produced by the apostle; but that he is truly God, since God only is the object of religions worship; and that, if he is worshipped by angels, he ought to be worshipped by men; and that angels are not the proper objects of worship, since they are worshippers.

expand all
Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Psa 97:7 The translation assumes that the prefixed verbal form in the first line is an imperfect (“are ashamed”) and that the ambiguous form in the...

Geneva Bible: Psa 97:7 ( e ) Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, ( f ) all [ye] gods. ( e ) He signifies that God'...

expand all
Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Psa 97:1-12 - --1 The majesty of God's kingdom.7 The church rejoices at God's judgments upon idolaters.10 An exhortation to godliness and gladness.

MHCC: Psa 97:1-7 - --Though many have been made happy in Christ, still there is room. And all have reason to rejoice in Christ's government. There is a depth in his counse...

Matthew Henry: Psa 97:1-7 - -- What was to be said among the heathen in the foregoing psalm (Psa 97:10) is here said again (Psa 97:1) and is made the subject of this psalm, and of...

Keil-Delitzsch: Psa 97:7-8 - -- When the glory of Jahve becomes manifest, everything that is opposed to it will be punished and consumed by its light. Those who serve idols will be...

Constable: Psa 90:1--106:48 - --IV. Book 4: chs. 90--106 Moses composed one of the psalms in this section of the Psalter (Ps. 90). David wrote t...

Constable: Psa 97:1-12 - --Psalm 97 The writer of this psalm saw the Lord coming to rule and reign on the earth. He exhorted his re...

Constable: Psa 97:2-9 - --2. The appearance of the King 97:2-9 97:2-5 These verses reveal the appearance of the Lord in terms similar to other visions God gave His prophets (cf...

expand all
Commentary -- Other

Critics Ask: Psa 97:7 PSALM 97:7 —Doesn’t this verse imply there are many gods? PROBLEM: The psalmist commands, “Worship Him, all you gods.” Yet the Bible else...

expand all
Introduction / Outline

JFB: Psalms (Book Introduction) The Hebrew title of this book is Tehilim ("praises" or "hymns"), for a leading feature in its contents is praise, though the word occurs in the title ...

JFB: Psalms (Outline) ALEPH. (Psa 119:1-8). This celebrated Psalm has several peculiarities. It is divided into twenty-two parts or stanzas, denoted by the twenty-two let...

TSK: Psalms (Book Introduction) The Psalms have been the general song of the universal Church; and in their praise, all the Fathers have been unanimously eloquent. Men of all nation...

TSK: Psalms 97 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Psa 97:1, The majesty of God’s kingdom; Psa 97:7, The church rejoices at God’s judgments upon idolaters; Psa 97:10, An exhortation to...

Poole: Psalms (Book Introduction) OF PSALMS THE ARGUMENT The divine authority of this Book of PSALMS is so certain and evident, that it was never questioned in the church; which b...

Poole: Psalms 97 (Chapter Introduction) THE ARGUMENT This Psalm seems to have both the same author and the same scope with the former. And although the psalmist might take occasion to pen...

MHCC: Psalms (Book Introduction) David was the penman of most of the psalms, but some evidently were composed by other writers, and the writers of some are doubtful. But all were writ...

MHCC: Psalms 97 (Chapter Introduction) (Psa 97:1-7) The Lord Jesus reigns in power that cannot be resisted. (Psa 97:8-12) His care of his people, and his provision for them.

Matthew Henry: Psalms (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Book of Psalms We have now before us one of the choicest and most excellent parts of all the Old Te...

Matthew Henry: Psalms 97 (Chapter Introduction) This psalm dwells upon the same subject, and is set to the same tune, with the foregoing psalm. Christ is the Alpha and the Omega of both; they are...

Constable: Psalms (Book Introduction) Introduction Title The title of this book in the Hebrew Bible is Tehillim, which means...

Constable: Psalms (Outline) Outline I. Book 1: chs. 1-41 II. Book 2: chs. 42-72 III. Book 3: chs. 73...

Constable: Psalms Psalms Bibliography Allen, Ronald B. "Evidence from Psalm 89." In A Case for Premillennialism: A New Consensus,...

Haydock: Psalms (Book Introduction) THE BOOK OF PSALMS. INTRODUCTION. The Psalms are called by the Hebrew, Tehillim; that is, hymns of praise. The author, of a great part of ...

Gill: Psalms (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO PSALMS The title of this book may be rendered "the Book of Praises", or "Hymns"; the psalm which our Lord sung at the passover is c...

Gill: Psalms 97 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 97 This psalm is ascribed to David by the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions. It is of the same...

Advanced Commentary (Dictionaries, Hymns, Arts, Sermon Illustration, Question and Answers, etc)


TIP #07: 'Click the Audio icon (NT only) to listen to the NET Bible Audio New Testament.' [ALL]
created in 0.12 seconds
powered by
bible.org - YLSA