Psalms 98:8

KJV

Let the floods clap [their] hands: let the hills be joyful together

KJV (with Strong's)

Let the floods {H5104} clap {H4222} their hands {H3709}: let the hills {H2022} be joyful {H7442} together {H3162}

Complete Jewish Bible

Let the floods clap their hands; let the mountains sing together for joy

Berean Standard Bible

Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy

American Standard Version

Let the floods clap their hands; Let the hills sing for joy together

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 98:8 extends the universal call to worship, inviting the very elements of creation—the floods and the hills—to participate in a vibrant symphony of praise for the Lord. This verse personifies natural phenomena, depicting them as active, joyful participants in the adoration of God, thereby emphasizing the all-encompassing dominion of the Creator and the appropriate, spontaneous response of all things to His majestic presence and righteous rule. It serves as a powerful reminder that the entire cosmos bears witness to the glory of its Maker.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 98 is a magnificent hymn, often classified as an "enthronement psalm" alongside others like [Psalm 93](/psalms/93 "Psalm 93 - The Lord Reigns") and [Psalm 96](/psalms/96 "Psalm 96 - Sing to the Lord a New Song"). It celebrates the Lord's kingship, His wondrous acts of salvation, and His impending arrival to judge the earth with righteousness. The psalm opens with a command to "Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things" ([Psalm 98:1](/psalms/98-1 "Psalm 98:1 - A Call to Sing a New Song")). Subsequent verses detail the Lord's salvation, His remembrance of His steadfast love and faithfulness to Israel, and the universal recognition of His saving power ([Psalm 98:2-3](/psalms/98-2 "Psalm 98:2-3 - God's Salvation Revealed")). The psalmist then calls for all the earth to "make a joyful noise to the Lord" with instruments and voices ([Psalm 98:4-6](/psalms/98-4 "Psalm 98:4-6 - Joyful Noise with Instruments")). Verse 8 escalates this call, moving beyond human and instrumental praise to include the natural world, setting the stage for the climactic declaration in [Psalm 98:9](/psalms/98-9 "Psalm 98:9 - God Comes to Judge the Earth") that the Lord "comes to judge the earth."
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, the natural world was not viewed as a mere backdrop but as an active participant in God's unfolding drama. The cosmos was understood as God's creation, intimately responsive to His will and reflective of His glory. Enthronement psalms like Psalm 98 likely played a role in Israelite worship, perhaps during festivals that celebrated God's kingship and covenant faithfulness, such as the Feast of Tabernacles. The imagery of nature praising God would have resonated deeply with a people whose lives were intrinsically linked to the rhythms of the land, the power of rivers, and the stability of mountains. The personification of floods and hills was a common poetic device in the ancient Near East, used to convey profound truths about divine sovereignty and the universal scope of worship, underscoring that God's dominion extended over all creation, not just humanity.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Psalm 98 and the broader Psalter. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Universal Praise**, asserting that God's glory is so immense that not only humanity but the entire created order is compelled to acknowledge and celebrate Him. This reflects a profound theological truth: all creation, from the roaring waters to the towering mountains, bears witness to its Creator, as seen in [Psalm 19:1-4](/psalms/19-1 "Psalm 19:1-4 - The Heavens Declare God's Glory"). Secondly, the exuberant praise of nature is directly linked to the theme of **God's Righteous Rule** and His impending judgment of the earth, as explicitly stated in [Psalm 98:9](/psalms/98-9 "Psalm 98:9 - God Comes to Judge the Earth"). The natural world joyfully anticipates the establishment of perfect justice and righteousness, signaling a cosmic affirmation of God's sovereign governance. Finally, the **Personification of Nature** is a key literary and theological theme, vividly portraying the overwhelming and spontaneous joy that erupts from all creation in response to God's presence and power, inviting the worshiper to join this grand, cosmic chorus.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Clap (Hebrew, _māḥā'_):** This verb means "to clap," "to strike," or "to smite." When paired with "hands" (כַּף, _kaph_), it forms the idiom "to clap hands," which is a common expression for applause, joy, or triumph in Hebrew scripture. Here, it signifies joyful acclamation, a spontaneous outburst of delight and approval, typically reserved for human celebration or welcome. Its application to "floods" (rivers, seas) imbues them with a vibrant, almost sentient, capacity for worship.
* **Joyful (Hebrew, _rānan_):** This verb means "to shout for joy," "to sing," "to give a ringing cry," or "to rejoice." It denotes an exuberant, often vocal, expression of happiness or triumph. The use of this word for "hills" (גִּבְעָה, _giv‘â_) suggests a profound, resonant, and collective expression of delight, as if the very mountains are echoing with praise. The accompanying adverb "together" (יַחַד, _yaḥad_) further emphasizes the harmonious and collective nature of creation's praise, a grand chorus echoing God's greatness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Let the floods clap [their] hands":** This clause employs vivid personification, attributing the human action of clapping hands to "floods" (referring to rivers, seas, or mighty waters). The imagery evokes the sound of crashing waves or rushing torrents as a form of applause, a resounding declaration of joy and affirmation. It suggests that the immense power and movement of water, a force often seen as chaotic, is here brought into joyful submission and praise of the Creator, acknowledging His supreme authority and marvelous deeds.
* **"let the hills be joyful together":** Continuing the personification, this clause invites the "hills" (mountains or elevated landforms) to express joy. The phrase "be joyful together" implies a collective, unified expression of delight, as if the very contours of the earth are vibrating with gladness. Hills, often symbols of steadfastness and eternity, are depicted as actively participating in the cosmic celebration, their silent grandeur transformed into an outward manifestation of worship, joining in a harmonious chorus with the waters.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 98:8 is rich in **Personification**, the primary literary device at play. By attributing human actions—clapping hands and being joyful—to inanimate elements of nature (floods and hills), the psalmist creates a vivid and dynamic image of universal worship. This device transcends a literal interpretation, painting a poetic picture of the entire created order responding to God's majesty. The **Imagery** evoked is powerful: one can almost hear the rhythmic crash of waves like applause and envision the silent, majestic hills resounding with an inner, collective joy. Furthermore, there is an element of **Hyperbole** in the psalmist's call, as it extends the concept of praise beyond human capacity to encompass all of creation, emphasizing the boundless and overwhelming nature of God's glory and the appropriate, all-encompassing response it elicits. This artistic exaggeration serves to magnify the Lord's greatness and the scope of His dominion.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly articulates the theological truth that all creation, not just humanity, is intrinsically connected to and responsive to its Creator. The natural world's spontaneous praise serves as a constant, silent witness to God's power, wisdom, and glory, a theme echoed throughout scripture. It reminds us that God's dominion is absolute and universal, extending over every element of the cosmos. The joy of the floods and hills anticipates the Lord's coming to judge the earth with righteousness, suggesting that creation itself longs for the full establishment of God's just and perfect reign, where all things will be set right. This cosmic anticipation invites humanity to align its own worship and hope with the very fabric of the universe.

* [Psalm 148:7-10](/psalms/148-7 "Psalm 148:7-10 - All Creation Praises the Lord")
* [Isaiah 55:12](/isaiah/55-12 "Isaiah 55:12 - The Joy of Creation")
* [Romans 8:19-22](/romans/8-19 "Romans 8:19-22 - Creation Groans for Redemption")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 98:8 challenges us to expand our understanding of worship beyond human voices and instruments, inviting us to perceive the world around us with spiritual eyes. If the floods and hills are depicted as praising God, how much more should humanity, created in His image and recipients of His redemptive grace, join in that cosmic chorus? This verse cultivates a sense of wonder and reverence, urging us to recognize God's omnipresent glory reflected in the natural world. Our worship, then, is not an isolated act but a participation in a grand, universal declaration of God's worthiness, aligning us with the very fabric of creation. Furthermore, the joy of creation anticipating God's perfect justice and ultimate reign should inspire profound hope and confidence in His promises, knowing that He is coming to set all things right and establish His righteous kingdom. This perspective transforms our daily experience, allowing us to see every sunrise, every flowing river, and every steadfast mountain as a silent hymn, prompting our own hearts to praise.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does recognizing the "praise" of creation change your perspective on everyday natural phenomena?**
* **In what ways can you cultivate a deeper awareness of God's glory in the world around you?**
* **How does the idea of creation anticipating God's righteous judgment influence your hope for the future?**
* **What practical steps can you take to align your personal worship more closely with the "cosmic worship" described in this psalm?**

### FAQ
**Does Psalm 98:8 mean that floods and hills literally clap their hands and shout for joy?**

Answer: No, Psalm 98:8 uses **personification**, a literary device where human qualities or actions are attributed to inanimate objects or abstract concepts. The psalmist is not suggesting that floods and hills literally have hands or vocal cords. Instead, this poetic language vividly portrays the profound and universal response of all creation to the majesty and sovereignty of God. The crashing of waves can be imagined as applause, and the steadfast presence of hills can be seen as a silent, joyful affirmation of their Creator. This imagery emphasizes that God's glory is so immense and His dominion so complete that even the non-human elements of the cosmos are compelled to acknowledge and celebrate Him, testifying to His greatness. It's a way of expressing the overwhelming, all-encompassing nature of God's praise, inviting humanity to join in this cosmic adoration (see also [Isaiah 55:12](/isaiah/55-12 "Isaiah 55:12 - The Trees of the Field Clap Their Hands")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 98:8, with its call for creation to praise God in anticipation of His righteous judgment, finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is the very [Word through whom all things were made](/john/1-3 "John 1:3 - All Things Made Through Him"), the [Creator who holds all things together](/colossians/1-16 "Colossians 1:16 - All Things Created and Held Together by Christ"). Therefore, when the floods clap their hands and the hills are joyful, they are, in essence, celebrating the One who brought them into being and sustains them. The "righteous judgment" anticipated in [Psalm 98:9](/psalms/98-9 "Psalm 98:9 - God Comes to Judge the Earth") is fully realized in Christ's first coming, where He established His kingdom through grace and truth, and supremely in His second coming, when He will return as the [righteous Judge](/2_timothy/4-8 "2 Timothy 4:8 - The Crown of Righteousness") to set all things right. The groaning of creation, longing for redemption as described in [Romans 8:19-22](/romans/8-19 "Romans 8:19-22 - Creation Groans for Redemption"), will cease when Christ fully restores creation to its intended glory. Thus, the cosmic praise of Psalm 98:8 is a prophetic echo of the day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that [Jesus Christ is Lord](/philippians/2-10 "Philippians 2:10 - Every Knee Shall Bow"), to the glory of God the Father, and all creation will join in a perfect, harmonious chorus of worship to the Lamb who was slain and who reigns forevermore.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 55:12

For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap [their] hands.

Psalms 89:12

The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.

Psalms 65:12

They drop [upon] the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.

Psalms 65:13

The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.

Psalms 93:3

The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.

Psalms 47:1

¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

2 Kings 11:12

And he brought forth the king's son, and put the crown upon him, and [gave him] the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king.