TRV
Translation
King James Version
¶ Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.
Complete Jewish Bible
Tziyon hears and is glad, ADONAI; the daughters of Y'hudah rejoice at your rulings.
Berean Standard Bible
Zion hears and rejoices, and the towns of Judah exult because of Your judgments, O LORD.
American Standard Version
Zion heard and was glad, And the daughters of Judah rejoiced, Because of thy judgments, O Jehovah.
World English Bible Messianic
Zion heard and was glad. The daughters of Judah rejoiced, because of your judgments, LORD.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Zion heard of it, and was glad: and the daughters of Iudah reioyced, because of thy iudgements, O Lord.
Young's Literal Translation
Zion hath heard and rejoiceth, And daughters of Judah are joyful, Because of Thy judgments, O Jehovah.
See also
In the KJVVerse 15,487 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Psalms 97 verses 8–12
8 ¶ Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.
9 For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
10 Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
The kingdom of the Messiah, like the pillar of cloud and fire, as it has a dark side towards the Egyptians, so it has a bright side towards the Israel of God. It is set up in spite of opposition; and then the earth saw and trembled (Psa 97:4), but Zion heard and was glad, very glad, to hear of the conversion of some and of the confusion of others, that is, the conquest of all that stood it out against Christ. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! for behold thy king comes unto thee, Zac 9:9. And not Zion only, where the temple was, but even the daughters of Judah, rejoiced; the common people, the inhabitants of the villages, they shall triumph in Christ's victories. The command (Psa 97:1) is, Let the earth rejoice; but it is only the sons of Zion and the daughters of Judah that do rejoice. All should bid the kingdom of the Messiah welcome, but few do. Now here observe,
I. The reasons that are given for Zion's joy in the government of the Redeemer. The faithful servants of God may well rejoice and be glad, 1. Because God is glorified, and whatever redounds to his honour is very much his people's pleasure. They rejoice because of thy judgments, O Lord! which may take in both the judgments of his mouth and the judgments of his hand, the word of his gospel and his works wrought for the propagating of it, miracles and marvellous providences; for in these we must own, "Thou, Lord, art high above all the earth (Psa 97:9); thou hast manifested thy sovereignty in the kingdom of nature, and thy command of all its powers, and thy dominion over all nations, over all hearts; thou art exalted far above all gods" - all deputed gods, that is, princes - all counterfeit gods, that is, idols. The exaltation of Christ, and the advancement of God's glory among men thereby, are the rejoicing of all the saints. 2. Because care is taken for their safety. Those that pay allegiance to Christ as a King shall be sure of his protection. Princes are the shields of the earth; Christ is so to his subjects; they may put their trust under his shadow and rejoice in it, for (Psa 97:10) He preserves the souls of the saints; he preserves their lives as long as he has any work for them to do, and wonderfully delivers them many a time out of the hand of the wicked, their persecutors that thirst after their blood; for precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. But something more is meant than their lives; for those that will be his disciples must be willing to lay down their lives, and not indent for the securing of them. It is the immortal soul that Christ preserves, the inward man, which may be renewed more and more when the outward man decays. He will preserve the souls of his saints from sin, from apostasy, and despair, under their greatest trials; he will deliver them out of the hands of the wicked one that seeks to devour them; he will preserve them safely to his heavenly kingdom, Ti2 4:18. They have therefore reason to be glad, being thus safe. 3. Because provision is made for their comfort. Those that rejoice in Christ Jesus, and in his exaltation, have fountains of joy treasured up for them, which will be opened sooner or later (Psa 97:11): Light is sown for the righteous, that is, gladness for the upright in heart. The subjects of Christ's kingdom are told to expect tribulation in the world. They must suffer by its malice, and must not share in its mirth; yet let them know, to their comfort, that light is sown for them; it is designed and prepared for them. What is sown will come up again in due time; though, like a winter seedness, it may lie long under the clods, and seem to be lost and buried, yet it will return in a rich and plentiful increase. God's goodness shall be sure of a harvest in the appointed weeks. Those that sow in tears shall, without fail, reap in joy, Psa 126:5, Psa 126:6. Christ told his disciples, at parting (Joh 16:20), You shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. Gladness is sure to the upright in heart, to those only that are sincere in religion. The joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment. There is no serenity without a lasting sincerity,
II. The rules that are given for Zion's joy. 1. Let it be a pure and holy joy. "You that love the Lord Jesus, that love his appearing and kingdom, that love his word and his exaltation, see that you hate evil, the evil of sin, every thing that is offensive to him and will throw you out of his favour." Note, A true love to God will show itself in a real hatred of all sin, as that abominable thing which he hates. The joy of the saints should likewise confirm their antipathy to sin and divine comforts should put their mouths out of taste for sensual pleasures. 2. Let the joy terminate in God (Psa 97:12): Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous. Let all the streams of comfort, which flow to us in the channel of Christ's kingdom, lead us to the fountain, and oblige us to rejoice in the Lord. All the lines of joy must meet in him as in the centre. See Phi 3:3; Phi 4:4. 3. Let it express itself in praise and thanksgiving: Give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. Whatever is the matter of our rejoicing ought to be the matter of our thanksgiving, and particularly the holiness of God. Those that hate sin themselves are glad that God does so, in hopes that therefore he will not suffer it to have dominion over them. Note, (1.) We ought to be much in the remembrance of God's holiness, the infinite purity, rectitude, and perfection of the divine nature. We must be ever mindful of his holy covenant, which he has confirmed with an oath by his holiness. (2.) We ought to give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness, not only give him the glory of it as it is an honour to him, but give him thanks for it as it is a favour to us; and an unspeakable favour it will be if, through grace, we are partakers of his holiness. It is God's holiness which, above all his attributes, the angels celebrate. Isa 6:3, Holy, holy, holy. Sinners tremble, but saints rejoice, at the remembrance of God's holiness, Psa 30:4.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 8–12. Public domain.
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JeromeAD 420
LETTER 22.31
But you will say, “I am a girl delicately reared, and I cannot labor with my hands. Suppose that I live to old age and then fall sick, who will take pity on me?” Hear Jesus speaking to the apostles: “Take no thought what you shall eat; nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they do not sow, neither do they reap or gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” If clothing should fail you, set the lilies before your eyes. If hunger should seize you, think of the words in which the poor and hungry are blessed. If pain should afflict you, read, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities,” and “There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” Rejoice in all God’s judgments, for does not the psalmist say, “The daughters of Judah rejoiced because of your judgments, O Lord”? Let the words be ever on your lips: “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there”; and “We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”
Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 97
"Sion heard of it, and rejoiced" [Psalm 97:8]. What did Sion hear? That all His Angels worship Him....For the Church was not as yet among the Gentiles; in Judæa the Jews had some of them believed, and the very Jews who believed thought that they only belonged to Christ: the Apostles were sent to the Gentiles, Cornelius was preached to; Cornelius believed, was baptized, and they who were with Cornelius were also baptized. [Acts 10:47] But ye know what happened, that they might be baptized: the reader indeed has not reached this point, but, nevertheless, some recollect; and let those who do not recollect, hear briefly from me. The Angel was sent to Cornelius: the Angel sent Cornelius to Peter; Peter came to Cornelius. And because Cornelius and his household were Gentiles, and uncircumcised: lest they might hesitate to give the Gospel to the uncircumcised: before Cornelius and his household were baptized, the Holy Spirit came, and filled them, and they began to speak with tongues. Now the Holy Spirit had not fallen upon any one who had not been baptized: but upon these It fell before baptism. For Peter might hesitate whether he might baptize the uncircumcised: the Holy Spirit came, they began to speak with tongues; the invisible gift was given, and took away all doubt about the visible Sacrament; they were all baptized....What did Sion hear, and rejoice at? That the Gentiles also had received the word of God. One wall had come, but the corner existed not as yet. The name Sion is here peculiarly given to the Church which was in Judæa. "Sion heard of it, and rejoiced: and the daughters of Judah were glad." Thus it is written, "The apostles and brethren that were in Judæa heard." See if the daughters of Judæa rejoiced not. What did they hear? "That the Gentiles had also received the word of God."...Therefore, "The daughters of Judah rejoiced because of Your judgments, O Lord." What is, because of Your judgments? Because in any nation, and in any people, he that serves Him is accepted of Him: for He is not the God of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles. [Romans 3:29]
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 97:8 powerfully depicts the communal and profound joy of God's covenant people, represented by Zion and the daughters of Judah, in response to the Lord's righteous judgments. This verse highlights that far from being a source of dread, God's divine interventions, decrees, and acts of justice are celebrated as clear manifestations of His perfect character, bringing order, vindication, and the ultimate triumph of His sovereign reign over all the earth. It encapsulates the deep security and gladness experienced by those who align themselves with God's holy nature and active governance.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several effective literary devices to convey its powerful message. Personification is prominently featured in "Zion heard, and was glad," attributing human actions and emotions—hearing and gladness—to a geographical location that represents the collective people of God. This technique makes the response more vivid, relatable, and communal. The phrase "daughters of Judah" functions as a metonymy, where a part (the towns and their inhabitants) represents the whole (the entire region of Judah), broadening the scope of the rejoicing and emphasizing its widespread nature. The entire verse also serves as a powerful antithesis to the preceding verse, Psalms 97:7, which describes the shame and bowing down of idol worshipers. While idols are put to shame and their worshipers confounded, God's people rejoice, highlighting the stark contrast between the fate of those who reject the true God and those who embrace His righteous rule. Finally, the verse's structure, moving from a specific focal point (Zion) to a broader scope (daughters of Judah) and then explicitly stating the divine cause, creates a sense of escalating and unified affirmation of God's just and sovereign reign.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The profound joy expressed in Psalms 97:8 over God's judgments reveals a fundamental theological truth: for those who are in covenant with God, His justice is not a threat but a glorious promise of ultimate vindication and restoration. Unlike the unrighteous who dread divine judgment, the faithful understand that God's interventions bring about His perfect will, establish righteousness, and deliver from oppression. This perspective transforms judgment from a concept of fear into a source of profound hope and celebration, as it signifies the active reign of a holy and just God who is working all things for the good of those who love Him and for the ultimate triumph of His kingdom. It underscores that God's justice is intrinsically linked to His faithfulness and His commitment to His covenant people.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
In a world often marked by profound injustice, suffering, and the apparent triumph of wickedness, Psalms 97:8 offers a powerful and counter-cultural call to joy. It challenges believers to cultivate a mindset that sees God's active involvement in the world, even His "judgments," as profound reasons for gladness rather than despair. This requires a deep and abiding trust in God's character—that He is perfectly just, immutably righteous, and absolutely sovereign, and that His ultimate purposes are for good. Our rejoicing in His judgments is an act of profound faith, affirming that He remains on His throne, actively working to bring about His kingdom of righteousness and peace. It encourages us to align our hearts with God's justice, celebrating when His truth is vindicated and His purposes are fulfilled, and to live in hopeful anticipation of the day when all wrongs will be made right and His perfect will fully established.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "judgments" mean in this context?
Answer: In Psalms 97:8, "judgments" (Hebrew: mishpatim) refers to God's righteous decrees, ordinances, and acts of justice. It is a comprehensive term that encompasses more than just punitive sentencing; it includes all of God's interventions and dealings in the world that uphold righteousness, establish divine order, and bring about His desired will. For His people, these judgments are not a source of fear but a cause for profound celebration because they signify God's active reign, His vindication of the righteous, and the ultimate triumph of truth over wickedness. This aligns perfectly with the broader theme of God's just and sovereign rule throughout Psalm 97.
Why would God's people be "glad" about His judgments?
Answer: God's people are glad about His judgments because they understand that these judgments are direct manifestations of His perfect righteousness and unwavering sovereignty. For those who trust in the Lord and are in covenant with Him, His justice means deliverance from oppression, the vindication of His truth, and the ultimate triumph of His kingdom. Unlike the wicked, who rightly fear God's judgment, the faithful see it as the necessary and glorious means by which God brings order to a chaotic world, punishes evil, and establishes His righteous reign. It signifies that God is actively involved in the world, ensuring that ultimately, justice will prevail and His purposes will be fulfilled, bringing immense comfort and security to His faithful, as also seen in Isaiah 26:9.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 97:8 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate embodiment of God's righteous judgments and the singular source of true gladness for all who believe. While the Old Testament judgments often involved temporal interventions, Christ's first coming inaugurated a new era of divine judgment, culminating in His atoning sacrifice on the cross. There, He bore the full wrath of God against sin, becoming the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. His glorious resurrection was God's supreme vindication of His righteousness and His decisive triumph over death and evil, a cause for universal rejoicing for those who put their faith in Him, as proclaimed by the angels bringing good news of great joy. Moreover, Christ is appointed by God to be the judge of the living and the dead, and for believers, this future judgment is not a source of dread but of blessed hope and eager anticipation, knowing that He will finally establish perfect justice and usher in His eternal kingdom of righteousness, where there will be no more tears or pain. Thus, the gladness of Zion over God's judgments is fully realized in the profound joy of salvation and the blessed hope found in Christ, whose righteous rule brings ultimate peace and everlasting joy to His redeemed people.