TRV
Translation
King James Version
¶ The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.
Complete Jewish Bible
ADONAI is king; let the peoples tremble. He sits enthroned on the k'ruvim; let the earth shake!
Berean Standard Bible
The LORD reigns; let the nations tremble! He is enthroned above the cherubim; let the earth quake!
American Standard Version
Jehovah reigneth; let the peoples tremble: He sitteth above the cherubim; let the earth be moved.
World English Bible Messianic
The LORD reigns! Let the peoples tremble. He sits enthroned among the cherubim. Let the earth be moved.
Geneva Bible (1599)
The Lord reigneth, let the people tremble: he sitteth betweene the Cherubims, let the earth be moued.
Young's Literal Translation
Jehovah hath reigned, peoples tremble, The Inhabitant of the cherubs, the earth shaketh.
In the KJVVerse 15,501 of 31,102
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Commentary on Psalms 99 verses 1–5
1 ¶ The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.
2 The LORD is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people.
3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.
4 The king's strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.
The foundation of all religion is laid in this truth, That the Lord reigns. God governs the world by his providence, governs the church by his grace, and both by his Son. We are to believe not only that the Lord lives, but that the Lord reigns. This is the triumph of the Christian church, and here it was the triumph of the Jewish church, that Jehovah was their King; and hence it is inferred, Let the people tremble, that is, 1. Let even the subjects of this kingdom tremble; for the Old Testament dispensation had much of terror in it. At Mount Sinai Israel, and even Moses himself, did exceedingly fear and quake; and then God was terrible in his holy places. Even when he appeared in his people's behalf, he did terrible things. But we are not now come to that mount that burned with fire, Heb 12:18. Now that the Lord reigns let the earth rejoice. Then he ruled more by the power of holy fear; now he rules by the power of holy love. 2. Much more let the enemies of this kingdom tremble; for he will either bring them into obedience to his golden sceptre or crush them with his iron rod. The Lord reigns, though the people be stirred with indignation at it; though they fret away all their spirits, their rage is all in vain. He will set his King upon his holy hill of Zion in spite of them (Psa 2:1-6); first, or last, he will make them tremble, Rev 6:15, etc. The Lord reigns, let the earth be moved. Those that submit to him shall be established, and not moved (Psa 96:10); but those that oppose him will be moved. Heaven and earth shall be shaken, and all nations; but the kingdom of Christ is what cannot be moved; the things which cannot be shaken shall remain, Heb 12:27. In these is continuance, Isa 64:5.
God's kingdom, set up in Israel, is here made the subject of the psalmist's praise.
I. Two things the psalmist affirms: - 1. God presided in the affairs of religion: He sitteth between the cherubim (Psa 99:1), as on his throne, to give law by the oracles thence delivered - as on the mercy-seat, to receive petitions. This was the honour of Israel, that they had among them the Shechinah, or special presence of God, attended by the holy angels; the temple was the royal palace, and the Holy of holies was the presence-chamber. The Lord is great in Zion (Psa 99:2); there he is known and praised (Psa 76:1, Psa 76:2); there he is served as great, more than any where else. He is high there above all people; as that which is high is exposed to view, and looked up to, so in Zion the perfections of the divine nature appear more conspicuous and more illustrious than any where else. Therefore let those that dwell in Zion, and worship there, praise thy great and terrible name, and give thee the glory due unto it, for it is holy. The holiness of God's name makes it truly great to his friends and terrible to his enemies, Psa 99:3. This is that which those above adore - Holy, holy, holy. 2. He was all in all in their civil government, Psa 99:4. As in Jerusalem was the testimony of Israel, whither the tribes went up, so there were set thrones of judgment, Psa 122:4, Psa 122:5. Their government was a theocracy. God raised up David to rule over them (and some think this psalm was penned upon occasion of his quiet and happy settlement in the throne) and he is the king whose strength loves judgment. He is strong; all his strength he has from God; and his strength is not abused for the support of any wrong, as the power of great princes often is, but it loves judgment. He does justice with his power, and does it with delight; and herein he was a type of Christ, to whom God would give the throne of his father David, to do judgment and justice. He has power to crush, but his strength loves judgment; he does not rule with rigour, but with moderation, with wisdom, and with tenderness. The people of Israel had a good king; but they are here taught to look up to God as he by whom their king reigns: Thou dost establish equity (that is, God gave them those excellent laws by which they were governed), and thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob; he not only by his immediate providences often executed and enforced his own laws, but took care for the administration of justice among them by civil magistrates, who reigned by him and by him did decree justice. Their judges judged for God, and their judgment was his, Ch2 19:6.
II. Putting these two things together, we see what was the happiness of Israel above any other people, as Moses had described it (Deu 4:7, Deu 4:8), that they had God so night unto them, sitting between the cherubim, and that they had statutes and judgments so righteous, by which equity was established, and God himself ruled in Jacob, from which he infers this command to that happy people (Psa 99:5): "Exalt you the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; give him the glory of the good government you are under, as it is now established, both in church and state." Note, 1. The greater the public mercies are which we have a share in the more we are obliged to bear a part in the public homage paid to God: the setting up of the kingdom of Christ, especially, ought to be the matter of our praise. 2. When we draw night to God, to worship him, our hearts must be filled with high thoughts of him, and he must be exalted in our souls. 3. The more we abase ourselves, and the more prostrate we are before God, the more we exalt him. We must worship at his footstool, at his ark, which was as the footstool to the mercy-seat between the cherubim; or we must cast ourselves down upon the pavement of his courts; and good reason we have to be thus reverent, for he is holy, and his holiness should strike an awe upon us, as it does on the angels themselves, Isa 6:2, Isa 6:3.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–5. Public domain.
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Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 99
"The Lord is King, be the people angry" [Psalm 99:1]. For our Lord Jesus Christ began to reign, began to be preached, after He arose from the dead and ascended into heaven, after He had filled His disciples with the confidence of the Holy Spirit, that they should not fear death, which He had already killed in Himself. Our Lord Christ began then to be preached, that they who wished for salvation might believe in Him; and the peoples who worshipped idols were angry. They who worshipped what they had made were angry, because He by whom they were made was declared. He announced, in fact, through His disciples, Himself, who wished them to be converted unto Him by whom they were made, and to be turned away from those things which they had made themselves. They were angry with their Lord in behalf of their idols, they who even if they were angry with their slave on their idol's account, were to be condemned. For their slave was better than their idol: for God made their slave, the carpenter made their idol. They were so angry in their idol's behalf, that they feared not to be angry with their Lord. But the words, "be they angry," are a prediction, not a command; for in a prophecy it is that this is said, "The Lord is King, be the people angry." Some good results even from the enraged people: let them be angry, and in their anger let the Martyrs be crowned....You heard when Jeremiah was being read before the reading of the Apostle, if you listened; ye saw therein the times in which we now live. He said, "The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, let them perish from the earth, and from under the heaven." [Jeremiah 10:11] He said not, The gods that have not made the heavens and earth, let them perish from the heaven and from the earth; because they never were in heaven: but what did he say? "Let them perish from the earth, and from under the heaven." As if, while the word earth was repeated, the repetition of the word heaven were wanting (because they never were in heaven): he repeats the earth twice, since it is under heaven. "Let them perish from the earth, and from under the heaven," from their temples. Consider if this be not now taking place; if in a great measure it has not already happened: for what, or how much, has remained? The idols remained rather in the hearts of the pagans, than in the niches of the temples.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 99:1 powerfully declares the absolute sovereignty and majestic reign of YHWH, the covenant God of Israel, over all creation. It serves as an urgent summons for humanity to acknowledge His supreme authority with profound reverence and awe, emphasizing His immanent presence among His people, symbolized by His dwelling "between the cherubims," and calling the entire earth to respond to His undisputed kingship.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 99:1 employs several powerful literary devices that amplify its message of divine sovereignty. The most prominent is the Enthronement Psalm genre itself, which celebrates God's kingship and calls for universal worship, setting a liturgical tone for the entire psalm. The verse utilizes Imperative Mood in the phrases "let the people tremble" and "let the earth be moved" to issue direct commands, emphasizing the required, active response to God's reign from both humanity and creation. Anthropomorphism is present in "he sitteth," attributing a human posture to God to convey His settled authority, stability, and presence on His throne, though without implying physical limitation. The phrase "between the cherubims" is a rich Symbolism, representing God's holy, localized presence and His throne of grace and judgment, making the transcendent God approachable to His covenant people. Finally, Parallelism is evident in the two imperative clauses, "let the people tremble" and "let the earth be moved," which intensify and broaden the call for a universal and profound response to God's sovereign rule, encompassing all of creation.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 99:1 lays a foundational theological truth: God's absolute and unchallengeable sovereignty. This declaration resonates throughout Scripture, affirming that YHWH is not merely a distant deity but the active King who governs all things with justice and righteousness. His reign is the source of all order, the basis for all moral law, and the ultimate guarantee of His covenant faithfulness. The call to "tremble" underscores the necessary posture of humility and reverence before such a magnificent God, while His dwelling "between the cherubims" reveals His desire for intimate presence with His people, even as He remains transcendent. This tension between transcendence and immanence is a recurring theme, inviting both awe and approachability, and forming the bedrock of biblical theology regarding God's character and relationship with His creation.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 99:1 offers profound comfort and a powerful call to worship for believers today. In a world often characterized by chaos, uncertainty, and the rise and fall of human powers, the declaration "The LORD reigneth" provides an unshakeable anchor. It reminds us that no earthly authority, no global crisis, and no personal struggle is outside the sovereign control of our King. This truth should cultivate a deep sense of peace and security, knowing that God is on His throne, actively governing all things for His purposes, and that His plans will ultimately prevail. It also compels us to approach Him not casually, but with a profound sense of awe and reverence, recognizing His holiness and majesty, and acknowledging that He is worthy of all worship and submission. Our lives, therefore, should be lived in humble submission to His will, trusting in His righteous reign and finding our ultimate hope and stability in His unchanging dominion, allowing His sovereignty to shape our perspectives and priorities.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does it mean for "the earth to be moved" in response to God's reign?
Answer: The phrase "let the earth be moved" is a poetic and powerful expression, an imperative command for the entire created order to respond to God's sovereign reign. It doesn't necessarily imply a literal geological upheaval, but rather a profound, universal acknowledgment and trembling before the immense power and majesty of God. It signifies that God's kingship is so absolute and overwhelming that even the inanimate earth is called to respond with awe and submission. This imagery is common in biblical poetry, often indicating the cosmic impact of God's presence and actions, as seen in passages like Psalm 77:18 - The Earth Trembled and Shook or Psalm 114:7 - Tremble, O Earth, at the Presence of the Lord. It underscores that God's dominion extends over all creation, and all creation is called to recognize and respond to Him, whether in fear, reverence, or joyful submission.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 99:1 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The declaration "The LORD reigneth" is fully realized in Christ, who is God incarnate and the ultimate King. After His resurrection, Jesus Himself proclaims, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Matthew 28:18 - All Authority Given to Jesus), confirming His universal and absolute reign. The call for "the people [to] tremble" and "the earth [to] be moved" finds its deepest meaning in the reverent awe due to Christ, before whom "every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord" (Philippians 2:10-11 - Every Knee Shall Bow). Furthermore, the imagery of God "sitting between the cherubims" points directly to Christ as the ultimate manifestation of God's immanent presence. He is "Immanuel," God with us (Matthew 1:23 - Immanuel, God With Us), the very "radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being" (Hebrews 1:3 - The Radiance of God's Glory), through whom God has spoken to us in these last days. Moreover, Christ is our true and eternal mercy seat, the propitiation for our sins (Romans 3:25 - Christ Our Propitiation), through whom we can now "approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace with Confidence), providing perfect access to the holy presence once symbolized by the cherubim-guarded Ark.