Psalms 76:4

Thou [art] more glorious [and] excellent than the mountains of prey.

Thou art more glorious {H215}{H8737)} and excellent {H117} than the mountains {H2042} of prey {H2964}.

You are glorious, majestic, more so than mountains of prey.

You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains filled with game.

Glorious art thou and excellent, From the mountains of prey.

Context of Psalms 76:4

Psalm 76 is a psalm of triumph and praise, celebrating God's decisive victory over an invading enemy. While not explicitly named, many scholars connect this psalm to the miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrian army under King Sennacherib, as recounted in 2 Kings 19:35 and Isaiah 37:36. The preceding verses (Psalms 76:1-3) establish God's powerful presence and protection in Judah, specifically in Salem (Jerusalem), where He broke the weapons of war. Verse 4 flows directly from this demonstration of divine power, contrasting God's incomparable majesty with the formidable, yet ultimately futile, might of earthly oppressors.

Key Themes and Messages

  • God's Supreme Majesty and Power: The verse emphatically declares God's superiority over all earthly forces. He is not merely powerful, but "more glorious and excellent" than even the most imposing symbols of worldly might and aggression. This highlights His absolute sovereignty.
  • Divine Deliverance: Following the context of God's intervention against a powerful foe, this verse underscores that true security and salvation come only from the Lord. No human stronghold or military prowess can compare to His ability to save.
  • Contrast between Divine and Human Strength: The "mountains of prey" represent powerful, predatory nations or strongholds that dominate and plunder. In ancient times, mountains were often symbols of strength and permanence. By stating God is "more glorious and excellent" than these, the psalmist emphasizes that human might, however formidable, is insignificant compared to God's divine nature and irresistible power.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "glorious and excellent" translates two significant Hebrew words:

  • 'addir (אַדִּיר): Translated as "glorious," this word signifies majestic, mighty, noble, or magnificent. It speaks to God's inherent greatness and splendor.
  • 'ezuz (עָזּוּז): Translated as "excellent," this term means strong, mighty, fierce, or powerful. It often describes God's active strength and irresistible force, especially in judgment or deliverance.

The phrase "mountains of prey" (Hebrew: harey-ṭereph) is highly evocative. "Mountains" (harey) can symbolize powerful kingdoms, fortresses, or centers of power. "Prey" (ṭereph) refers to what is torn, plundered, or hunted, often by wild animals. Thus, "mountains of prey" vividly depicts powerful, oppressive empires or strongholds that live by plundering others, acting like predatory beasts. The contrast is stark: God's glory and might far surpass the destructive power of such earthly entities.

Practical Application

Psalms 76:4 offers profound encouragement and a call to trust in God:

  1. Trust in God's Supremacy: In a world filled with powerful, often oppressive, forces and systems, this verse reminds us that God is infinitely greater than any earthly challenge or oppressor. Our ultimate hope and security rest not in human strength or political power, but in His divine character and might.
  2. Finding Refuge in Him: When facing daunting circumstances or feeling overwhelmed by worldly aggression, we can find peace and strength in knowing that the Lord is "more glorious and excellent" than anything that seeks to devour or destroy. He is our ultimate refuge, as seen in Psalms 46:1.
  3. Hope in God's Justice: Unlike the "mountains of prey" that operate through violence and plunder, God's power is always exercised in righteousness and justice. This provides hope that ultimately, all evil and oppression will be dealt with by His sovereign hand.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 19:1

    ¶ Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,

  • Ezekiel 19:4

    The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit, and they brought him with chains unto the land of Egypt.

  • Daniel 7:17

    These great beasts, which are four, [are] four kings, [which] shall arise out of the earth.

  • Daniel 7:28

    Hitherto [is] the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.

  • Jeremiah 4:7

    The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; [and] thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.

  • Ezekiel 19:6

    And he went up and down among the lions, he became a young lion, and learned to catch the prey, [and] devoured men.

  • Daniel 7:4

    The first [was] like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.

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