TRV
Translation
King James Version
Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;
Complete Jewish Bible
Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Ya'akov,
Berean Standard Bible
Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob,
American Standard Version
Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the God of Jacob,
World English Bible Messianic
Tremble, you earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob,
Geneva Bible (1599)
The earth trembled at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Iaakob,
Young's Literal Translation
From before the Lord be afraid, O earth, From before the God of Jacob,
In the KJVVerse 15,830 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Psalms 114 verses 1–8
1 ¶ When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;
2 Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion.
3 The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.
5 What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?
6 Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs?
7 Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;
8 Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.
The psalmist is here remembering the days of old, the years of the right hand of the Most High, and the wonders which their fathers told them of (Jdg 6:13), for time, as it does not wear out the guilt of sin, so it should not wear out the sense of mercy. Let it never be forgotten,
I. That God brought Israel out of the house of bondage with a high hand and a stretched-out arm: Israel went out of Egypt, Psa 114:1. They did not steal out clandestinely, nor were they driven out, but fairly went out, marched out with all the marks of honour; they went out from a barbarous people, that had used them barbarously, from a people of a strange language, Psa 81:5. The Israelites, it seems, preserved their own language pure among them, and cared not for learning the language of their oppressors. By this distinction from them they kept up an earnest of their deliverance.
II. That he himself framed their civil and sacred constitution (Psa 114:2): Judah and Israel were his sanctuary, his dominion. When he delivered them out of the hand of their oppressors it was that they might serve him both in holiness and in righteousness, in the duties of religious worship and in obedience to the moral law, in their whole conversation. Let my people go, that they may serve me. In order to this, 1. He set up his sanctuary among them, in which he gave them the special tokens of his presence with them and promised to receive their homage and tribute. Happy are the people that have God's sanctuary among them (see Exo 25:8, Eze 37:26), much more those that, like Judah here, are his sanctuaries, his living temples, on whom Holiness to the Lord is written. 2. He set up his dominion among them, was himself their lawgiver and their judge, and their government was a theocracy: The Lord was their King. All the world is God's dominion, but Israel was so in a peculiar manner. What is God's sanctuary must be his dominion. Those only have the privileges of his house that submit to the laws of it; and for this end Christ has redeemed us that he might bring us into God's service and engage us for ever in it.
III. That the Red Sea was divided before them at their coming out of Egypt, both for their rescue and the ruin of their enemies; and the river Jordan, when they entered into Canaan, for their honour, and the confusion and terror of their enemies (Psa 114:3): The sea saw it, saw there that Judah was God's sanctuary, and Israel his dominion, and therefore fled; for nothing could be more awful. It was this that drove Jordan back, and was an invincible dam to his streams; God was at the head of that people, and therefore they must give way to them, must make room for them, they must retire, contrary to their nature, when God speaks the word. To illustrate this the psalmist asks, in a poetical strain (Psa 114:5), What ailed thee, O thou sea! that thou fleddest? And furnishes the sea with an answer (Psa 114:7); it was at the presence of the Lord. This is designed to express, 1. The reality of the miracle, that it was not by any power of nature, or from any natural cause, but it was at the presence of the Lord, who gave the word. 2. The mercy of the miracle: What ailed thee? Was it in a frolic? Was it only to amuse men? No; it was at the presence of the God of Jacob; it was in kindness to the Israel of God, for the salvation of that chosen people, that God was thus displeased against the rivers, and his wrath was against the sea, as the prophet speaks, Hab 3:8-13; Isa 51:10; Isa 63:11, etc. 3. The wonder and surprise of the miracle. Who would have thought of such a thing? Shall the course of nature be changed, and its fundamental laws dispensed with, to serve a turn for God's Israel? Well may the dukes of Edom be amazed and the mighty men of Moab tremble, Exo 15:15. 4. The honour hereby put upon Israel, who are taught to triumph over the sea, and Jordan, as unable to stand before them. Note, There is no sea, no Jordan, so deep, so broad, but, when God's time shall come for the redemption of his people, it shall be divided and driven back if it stand in their way. Apply this, (1.) To the planting of the Christian church in the world. What ailed Satan and the powers of darkness, that they trembled and truckled as they did? Mar 1:34. What ailed the heathen oracles, that they were silenced, struck dumb, struck dead? What ailed their idolatries and witchcrafts, that they died away before the gospel, and melted like snow before the sun? What ailed the persecutors and opposers of the gospel, that they gave up their cause, hid their guilty heads, and called to rocks and mountains for shelter? Rev 6:15. It was at the presence of the Lord, and that power which went along with the gospel. (2.) To the work of grace in the heart. What turns the stream in a regenerate soul? What ails the lusts and corruptions, that they fly back, that the prejudices are removed and the whole man has become new? It is at the presence of God's Spirit that imaginations are cast down, Co2 10:5.
IV. That the earth shook and trembled when God came down on Mount Sinai to give the law (Psa 114:4): The mountains skipped like rams, and then the little hills might well be excused if they skipped like lambs, either when they are frightened or when they sport themselves. The same power that fixed the fluid waters and made them stand still shook the stable mountains and made them tremble for all the powers of nature are under the check of the God of nature. Mountains and hills are, before God, but like rams and lambs; even the bulkiest and the most rocky are as manageable by him as they are by the shepherd. The trembling of the mountains before the Lord may shame the stupidity and obduracy of the children of men, who are not moved at the discoveries of his glory. The psalmist asks the mountains and hills what ailed them to skip thus; and he answers for them, as for the seas, it was at the presence of the Lord, before whom, not only those mountains, but the earth itself, may well tremble (Psa 114:7), since it has lain under a curse for man's sin. See Psa 104:32; Isa 64:3, Isa 64:4. He that made the hills and mountains to skip thus can, when he pleases, dissipate the strength and spirit of the proudest of his enemies and make them tremble.
V. That God supplied them with water out of the rock, which followed them through the dry and sandy deserts. Well may the earth and all its inhabitants tremble before that God who turned the rock into a standing water (Psa 114:8), and what cannot he do who did that? The same almighty power that turned waters into a rock to be a wall to Israel (Exo 14:22) turned the rock into waters to be a well to Israel: as they were protected, so they were provided for, by miracles, standing miracles; for such was the standing water, that fountain of waters into which the rock, the flinty rock, was turned, and that rock was Christ, Co1 10:4. For he is a fountain of living waters to his Israel, from whom they receive grace for grace.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–8. Public domain.
Copy as
Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 114
"Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob" [Psalm 114:7]. What means, "at the presence of the Lord," save at the presence of Him who said, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." [Matthew 28:30] For the earth trembled; but because it had remained slothful, it was made to tremble, so that it might be more firmly fixed at the presence of the Lord.
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.
Copy as
Continue studying Psalms 114:7 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Psalms 114:7 serves as a climactic, imperative command within a psalm that celebrates God's awe-inspiring power demonstrated through the Exodus. It poetically summons the entire earth to respond with profound reverence and trembling to the manifest, active presence of the sovereign Lord, specifically identified as the covenant-keeping God of Jacob, thereby linking universal cosmic power to His particular redemptive history with Israel.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 114:7 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message with vivid impact. Personification is central, as the earth is directly commanded to "tremble," attributing human-like emotional and physical responses to an inanimate entity. This vivid imagery emphasizes the overwhelming nature of God's presence, suggesting that even the non-sentient world instinctively reacts to Him. The device of Repetition ("at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob") serves to intensify the command and underscore the singular, undeniable identity of the divine agent. This anaphora creates a rhythmic, emphatic declaration, reinforcing the profound and unchallengeable source of the earth's awe. Furthermore, the verse uses Hyperbole to magnify God's power; while the earth doesn't literally "tremble" in fear, the image conveys a profound, cosmic-level impact of God's manifest glory. Finally, the psalm as a whole, culminating in this verse, is a masterful example of Apostrophe, directly addressing the earth as if it can hear and respond, thereby inviting the human audience to likewise respond with profound reverence and submission.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The theological implications of Psalms 114:7 are profound, establishing God's absolute sovereignty over creation and history. It asserts that the same divine power that orchestrated the Exodus continues to hold sway over all existence. The earth's trembling signifies not just fear, but a profound, reverential awe, a recognition of ultimate authority and holiness. This verse powerfully connects God's universal power to His specific covenant faithfulness, demonstrating that the God who controls the cosmos is intimately involved in the lives of His people. It challenges humanity to respond with similar awe and humble submission, recognizing that if inanimate creation reacts so profoundly to God's manifest presence, how much more should sentient beings, made in His image and recipients of His grace, worship and obey Him.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 114:7 calls us to cultivate a profound sense of awe and reverence for God in our daily lives. If the very earth, in its vastness and stability, is depicted as trembling before Him, how much more should humanity, created in His image and recipients of His grace, acknowledge His majesty and power? This verse reminds us that God is not a distant, abstract concept, but an active, sovereign presence who commands all creation. It encourages us to approach worship, prayer, and even our daily tasks with a heightened awareness of His immanence and transcendence. In a world often characterized by human hubris and a diminishing sense of the sacred, this psalm reorients our perspective, compelling us to stand in humble reverence before the God who controls all things, trusting in His ultimate power over every circumstance and challenge we face. It invites us to remember that the God who shook mountains for Israel is the same God who is intimately present in our lives, deserving of our deepest respect and adoration.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does "tremble" imply fear or something else?
Answer: While "tremble" can evoke fear, in this context, the Hebrew word chûl (חוּל) suggests a more profound, visceral, and involuntary response of awe, reverence, and even convulsion in the face of overwhelming power and holiness. It's not merely terror, but a recognition of ultimate authority and majesty, similar to how Mount Sinai quaked at God's descent. It signifies a deep, inherent acknowledgment by creation of its Creator's manifest presence and an inescapable submission to His will.
Why is God identified as "the God of Jacob" here?
Answer: Identifying God as "the God of Jacob" links His universal, cosmic power to His specific, historical, and covenantal relationship with Israel. It reminds the audience that the mighty Lord who commands the earth is the same faithful God who made promises to Jacob and delivered his descendants from Egyptian bondage. This emphasizes that God's awesome power is not arbitrary but is exercised in accordance with His redemptive purposes and His unwavering covenant faithfulness. It grounds the abstract concept of divine power in the tangible history of His people, assuring them that the Creator of all is also their personal, covenant-keeping God.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 114:7, with its depiction of creation trembling before the Lord's presence, finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the very "presence of the Lord" made manifest in human flesh, the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. The power that caused the sea to flee and mountains to skip is the same inherent divine power found in Christ, who rebuked the wind and the sea, and they obeyed Him, demonstrating His authority over creation. The "God of Jacob" who delivered Israel is revealed in Jesus, who delivers humanity from the bondage of sin and death, fulfilling the ancient covenants and promises made to the patriarchs. His crucifixion and resurrection were cosmic events, causing the earth to quake and rocks to split, echoing the trembling of creation before His divine authority. Ultimately, the call for the earth to tremble before the Lord foreshadows the eschatological reality where every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, a future cosmic trembling and willing submission that perfectly embodies the profound reverence and acknowledgment demanded by Psalms 114:7, as all creation acknowledges the sovereign reign of the Lamb of God.