Psalms 99:3

Let them praise thy great and terrible name; [for] it [is] holy.

Let them praise {H3034} thy great {H1419} and terrible {H3372} name {H8034}; for it is holy {H6918}.

Let them praise your great and fearsome name (he is holy):

Let them praise Your great and awesome name— He is holy!

Let them praise thy great and terrible name: Holy is he.

Psalm 99:3 is a powerful call to worship, urging all to acknowledge and praise the majestic and holy character of God. It highlights two profound attributes of the Divine: His awe-inspiring greatness and His absolute moral purity. This verse serves as a foundational statement for understanding the nature of true worship, emphasizing reverence born from a recognition of God's unique identity.

Context

Psalm 99 is often categorized as a "King Psalm" or "Enthronement Psalm," celebrating the Lord's reign as King over all the earth. The preceding verses establish God's universal sovereignty, His dwelling place between the cherubims, and His just rule. This psalm calls on all peoples to tremble and rejoice before Him, acknowledging His supreme authority and righteousness. Verse 3 specifically focuses on the proper posture of praise towards His divine essence, setting the stage for recognizing God's absolute authority and moral perfection.

Key Themes

  • The Majesty of God's Name: The command to praise God's "great" name emphasizes His supreme authority, boundless power, and glorious majesty. In biblical understanding, God's "name" represents His entire being, character, and reputation. To praise His great name is to acknowledge all that He is.
  • The Awe-Inspiring Nature of God: The term "terrible" (KJV) in this context does not mean horrifying or dreadful in a negative sense. Instead, it translates the Hebrew word yare (יָרֵא), which conveys profound reverence, awe, and holy fear. It signifies God's immense power and might, which commands deep respect and submission. This kind of fear is not terror, but a reverent awe that leads to worship and wisdom, as highlighted in Proverbs 9:10, where "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom."
  • God's Intrinsic Holiness: The ultimate reason given for praising His great and terrible name is that "it is holy." Holiness (Hebrew: qadosh) is God's intrinsic attribute, signifying His absolute separateness, purity, and moral perfection. It is His unique nature, distinguishing Him from all creation and sin. This attribute is central to His identity, as echoed in the seraphim's cry in Isaiah 6:3: "Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts."

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "terrible" is yare (יָרֵא), meaning to fear, revere, or stand in awe. It denotes a respectful dread and profound reverence for something grand and powerful, rather than mere fright. The word for "holy" is qadosh (קָדוֹשׁ), which emphasizes God's transcendence, purity, and moral perfection, setting Him apart from everything else. It implies His absolute moral integrity and His unique status as the Divine.

Practical Application

Psalm 99:3 calls believers to a posture of deep reverence and worship. It reminds us that our praise should not be casual but filled with awe for God's majestic power and perfect holiness. Recognizing God as "great and terrible" (awe-inspiring) and "holy" should transform our perspective, leading to humble adoration, obedience, and a desire to reflect His purity in our own lives. This verse encourages us to approach God with both profound respect for His might and deep admiration for His moral perfection, understanding that His holiness is the very foundation of His being and the reason for our praise, just as 1 Peter 1:16 exhorts, "Be ye holy; for I am holy."

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.

  • Isaiah 6:3

    And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, [is] the LORD of hosts: the whole earth [is] full of his glory.

  • Deuteronomy 28:58

    If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD;

  • Psalms 111:9

    He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend [is] his name.

  • Psalms 66:3

    Say unto God, How terrible [art thou in] thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.

  • Nehemiah 4:14

    And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, [which is] great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

  • Revelation 15:3

    And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous [are] thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true [are] thy ways, thou King of saints.

  • Revelation 15:4

    Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for [thou] only [art] holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back