Psalms 99:6

Translation
King James Version
¶ Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.
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KJV (with Strong's)
Moses H4872 and Aaron H175 among his priests H3548, and Samuel H8050 among them that call H7121 upon his name H8034; they called H7121 upon the LORD H3068, and he answered H6030 them.
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Complete Jewish Bible
Moshe and Aharon among his cohanim and Sh'mu'el among those who call on his name called on ADONAI, and he answered them.
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Berean Standard Bible
Moses and Aaron were among His priests; Samuel was among those who called on His name. They called to the LORD and He answered.
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American Standard Version
Moses and Aaron among his priests, And Samuel among them that call upon his name; They called upon Jehovah, and he answered them.
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World English Bible Messianic
Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel among those who call on his name; they called on the LORD, and he answered them.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
Moses and Aaron were among his Priests, and Samuel among such as call vpon his Name: these called vpon the Lord, and he heard them.
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Young's Literal Translation
Moses and Aaron among His priests, And Samuel among those proclaiming His name. They are calling unto Jehovah, And He doth answer them.
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See also
Jeremiah 15:1Exodus 24:6Exodus 24:8Exodus 15:25Exodus 14:151 Samuel 7:91 Samuel 7:12
In the KJVVerse 15,506 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Psalms 99:6 powerfully underscores the Lord's holy and just reign by recalling His unwavering faithfulness and responsiveness to the earnest prayers of His chosen servants. It specifically highlights Moses, Aaron, and Samuel as preeminent examples of intercessors who called upon the LORD, and to whom He graciously answered, thereby demonstrating God's consistent attentiveness and active involvement in the lives of those who seek Him in truth. This verse serves as a profound testament to the efficacy of prayer and God's enduring covenant faithfulness throughout Israel's foundational history.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Psalms 99 is a majestic royal psalm, a hymn of praise that resoundingly celebrates Yahweh's kingship and profound holiness. The psalm opens with a declaration of God's enthronement, portraying His awesome presence that causes the earth to tremble and the peoples to quake (Psalms 99:1). A recurring refrain throughout the psalm is the emphatic declaration of God's holiness, urging worshipers to "exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy hill" (Psalms 99:3, Psalms 99:5, Psalms 99:9). Verse 4 establishes His character as a King who loves justice, equity, and righteousness, reigning with strength and upholding fairness. Within this grand portrayal of God's transcendent sovereignty and moral perfection, verse 6 introduces specific historical examples—Moses, Aaron, and Samuel—to illustrate how this holy and just King interacts immanently with His people. It serves as a crucial bridge, demonstrating that God's justice is not aloof but is interwoven with mercy and His sovereignty includes hearing the heartfelt cries of His devoted servants, even as He maintains His righteous standards and punishes their misdeeds (Psalms 99:8).
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The figures of Moses, Aaron, and Samuel represent pivotal eras and roles in Israel's early history, spanning from the nation's birth in the Exodus and wilderness wandering to the establishment of the monarchy. Moses was the foundational prophet, lawgiver, and mediator, uniquely privileged to speak with God "face to face, as a man speaks to his friend" (Exodus 33:11). Aaron was the divinely appointed first High Priest, establishing the Levitical priesthood and the sacrificial system that served as the primary means of mediation between a holy God and His covenant people (Leviticus 8). Samuel served as the last judge, a revered prophet, and the anointer of Israel's first kings, marking a significant transition from the tribal confederacy to a centralized monarchy (1 Samuel 7). Their inclusion in this psalm underscores their exemplary status as faithful leaders and powerful intercessors who stood in the gap for the people of Israel. Culturally, the act of "calling upon the LORD" (קָרָא בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה, qara' b'shem YHWH) was a fundamental and profound expression of Israelite piety, signifying absolute dependence, fervent worship, and urgent petition, often in times of national crisis, personal distress, or covenant renewal.
  • Key Themes: This verse powerfully reinforces several key theological themes prevalent throughout Psalms 99 and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights Divine Responsiveness to Prayer, demonstrating unequivocally that God, despite His supreme holiness and majesty, actively hears and answers the petitions of His faithful. The declarative phrase "they called upon the LORD, and he answered them" serves as a historical validation of God's attentiveness and active engagement. Secondly, it emphasizes the vital role of Exemplary Intercessors, presenting Moses, Aaron, and Samuel as paradigmatic models of effective prayer and mediation. Their lives and ministries profoundly illustrate the privilege and power of those who genuinely seek God on behalf of themselves and others. Thirdly, this verse subtly yet significantly reinforces the theme of God's Covenant Faithfulness. Even when Israel proved faithless or rebellious, God remained true to His covenant promises, responding to the persistent intercession of His chosen leaders, thereby demonstrating His enduring commitment to His people and His overarching plan of redemption, even as He upheld His righteous standards and administered justice (Psalms 99:8).

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Called (Hebrew, qârâʼ', H7121): This verb (H7121) signifies more than a casual utterance; it implies a fervent, often urgent, cry or invocation. Derived from a primitive root meaning "to call out to" or "address by name," it encompasses a wide variety of applications including proclaiming, summoning, or inviting. In the context of prayer, it denotes a deliberate, often desperate, appeal to God, acknowledging His sovereignty and power. It is an act of worship and profound dependence, seeking divine intervention, guidance, or revelation, indicating a deep reliance on God's character and ability.
  • Answered (Hebrew, ʻânâh', H6030): This word (H6030) conveys a definite and often favorable response. As a primitive root, it properly means "to eye" or "to heed," implying "to pay attention." By implication, it means "to respond," "reply," or "give account." When God "answers," it is not merely a passive hearing but an active engagement with the petition, often by providing deliverance, guidance, forgiveness, or a tangible manifestation of His presence and power. It powerfully demonstrates God's active involvement and unwavering faithfulness to those who seek Him sincerely.

Verse Breakdown

  • "Moses and Aaron among his priests": This clause immediately identifies two foundational figures in Israel's spiritual and national history. Moses, though not a priest in the Levitical sense, served a uniquely priestly and mediatorial role, interceding for the nation and speaking directly with God as no other prophet did. Aaron was the divinely consecrated High Priest, representing the people before God through sacrifices, blessings, and prayers, thereby establishing the legitimate means of approaching a holy God. Their inclusion together highlights both the prophetic (Moses) and the priestly (Aaron) mediatorial functions, both of which were absolutely vital for Israel's covenant relationship with God. The phrase "his priests" specifically refers to Aaron and his descendants, establishing the legitimacy and divine appointment of the priestly order through which God's people could approach Him.
  • "and Samuel among them that call upon his name": Samuel is introduced as a figure distinct from the established Aaronic priesthood, yet equally significant in his role as a prophet, judge, and powerful intercessor. His inclusion broadens the scope beyond just the formal priesthood, indicating that God answers all who sincerely invoke His name, regardless of their specific office or formal position, provided they do so with a right heart of faith and dependence. This highlights the accessibility of God to all His faithful servants, emphasizing that sincere prayer is not limited to a select few but is open to all who genuinely "call upon his name."
  • "they called upon the LORD": This is the central action of the verse, unifying the three exemplary figures. It confirms that these great leaders engaged in earnest, fervent prayer and supplication to Yahweh (H3068, Yᵉhôvâh), the covenant God of Israel. This act of "calling upon" signifies their profound dependence on God, their recognition of His supreme authority and power, and their implicit trust in His ability and willingness to intervene. It is the prerequisite, the human initiative of faith, that precedes the divine response.
  • "and he answered them": This is the divine response, the climactic affirmation of God's faithfulness and active engagement. It confirms that their fervent prayers were not in vain or unheeded but were met with a tangible, positive reply from the Almighty. This demonstrates God's consistent character as a God who hears, pays attention, and acts on behalf of His people, validating the profound power and efficacy of prayer within the covenant relationship.

Literary Devices

Psalms 99:6 employs several effective literary devices to convey its powerful message. Parallelism is evident in the verse's structure, presenting two distinct yet complementary sets of exemplary figures (Moses and Aaron; Samuel) followed by a unifying statement about their shared action ("they called upon the LORD") and God's consistent response ("and he answered them"). This creates a rhythmic and reinforcing effect, emphasizing the consistency of God's character across different eras and roles. The psalm utilizes Exemplary Figures (Moses, Aaron, Samuel) to illustrate a universal and enduring truth about God's responsiveness to prayer. These historical figures serve as types or archetypes of faithful intercessors, whose well-known experiences validate the psalm's broader theological claims about God's majestic and merciful character. The phrases "among his priests" and "among them that call upon his name" also use a form of synecdoche or metonymy, where specific individuals represent a broader class or role, emphasizing the diverse ways in which God's people approach Him and are heard. The overall tone is one of affirmation and celebration, reinforcing the psalm's overarching theme of God's majestic and holy reign, which profoundly includes His gracious and active attentiveness to the cries of His people.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Psalms 99:6 profoundly illustrates the theological truth of God's active, personal engagement with humanity, particularly through the divinely ordained means of prayer. It demonstrates that the holy and just God, though transcendent in His majesty, is also immanent and intimately responsive to the cries of His people. The inclusion of Moses, Aaron, and Samuel underscores the continuity of divine responsiveness throughout Israel's foundational history, establishing a consistent pattern where faithful intercession leads to tangible divine intervention. This verse powerfully affirms God's covenant faithfulness, showing that He honors His relationship with His chosen ones by hearing and answering their petitions, even when those petitions are made on behalf of a sinful or rebellious nation. It highlights the profound privilege and transformative power of prayer as a divinely ordained means of communication, a channel for God's sovereign work in the world, and a demonstration of His unfailing attentiveness to those who seek Him in truth.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Psalms 99:6 offers profound encouragement and practical guidance for believers today, serving as a timeless reminder of God's unchanging character. It assures us that the God of Moses, Aaron, and Samuel is eternally the same—He is still the holy, just, and merciful God who hears and answers prayer. Just as He responded to the earnest cries of these ancient leaders, He remains intimately attentive to our petitions. This truth should inspire unwavering confidence, persistence, and boldness in our own prayer lives, knowing that our prayers are not merely monologues or empty words but vital, transformative dialogues with a responsive and omnipotent God. The examples of these exemplary intercessors challenge us to cultivate a life of fervent, dependent prayer, recognizing that our petitions, offered in faith, can be a powerful channel for God's redemptive work in our individual lives, our families, our communities, and the broader world. It calls us to approach God with the reverence due to His supreme holiness, yet simultaneously with the boldness and assurance that comes from knowing His gracious willingness to hear and respond to all who call upon Him in truth and sincerity.

Questions for Reflection

  • How does the example of Moses, Aaron, and Samuel encourage your own prayer life, particularly in times of difficulty or doubt?
  • In what specific ways have you personally experienced God's "answering" in your life, and how do those experiences affirm His character and faithfulness?
  • What does it truly mean to "call upon the LORD" with sincerity, dependence, and reverence in your daily walk with Him?
  • How does God's profound holiness (as emphatically emphasized throughout Psalm 99) relate to and inform His gracious responsiveness to prayer?

FAQ

Why are Moses, Aaron, and Samuel specifically chosen in this verse?

Answer: Moses, Aaron, and Samuel are chosen because they represent distinct yet crucially important facets of Israel's relationship with God and the historical continuum of divine responsiveness. Moses was the foundational prophet, lawgiver, and mediator, through whom God established His covenant and delivered His people from bondage (Exodus 3:7-10). Aaron was the divinely appointed first High Priest, establishing the essential mediatorial role of the priesthood in approaching God through sacrifice and intercession, particularly on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:11-16). Samuel was a pivotal transitional figure, serving as the last judge, a revered prophet, and the anointer of Israel's first kings, whose prayers were instrumental in national deliverance and guidance (1 Samuel 7:9). Together, these three figures illustrate God's consistent responsiveness to His chosen leaders across different eras and roles—prophetic, priestly, and judicial—demonstrating that God hears and acts through various forms of faithful intercession.

Does this verse imply that God only answers the prayers of great leaders?

Answer: While the verse highlights great leaders as exemplary figures, the inclusion of "Samuel among them that call upon his name" broadens the scope beyond just the formal priesthood or those in uniquely privileged positions. "Them that call upon his name" refers to all who sincerely invoke God's name in faith and dependence. This phrase indicates that God's responsiveness extends to all His faithful people, not exclusively to those in positions of high leadership. The leaders are presented as archetypal figures, demonstrating the power and accessibility of prayer for all who genuinely seek the Lord. The broader context of the Psalms, and indeed the entire Bible, consistently affirms that God hears and answers the prayers of all His righteous and humble servants who call upon Him in truth (e.g., Psalms 145:18, Jeremiah 33:3).

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Psalms 99:6, with its profound emphasis on God's responsiveness to the prayers of His chosen intercessors, finds its ultimate and most perfect fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While Moses, Aaron, and Samuel served as significant types and foreshadows of mediators and intercessors, their work was always partial, temporary, and imperfect, pointing forward to the perfect and eternal mediation of Christ. Jesus is the ultimate Prophet, far greater than Moses, who perfectly reveals God's will and speaks His truth with unparalleled authority (Deuteronomy 18:15, John 1:18). He is the eternal High Priest, superior to Aaron, who offered Himself as the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice for sins, thereby opening a new and living way for all believers to approach God's throne of grace with confidence (Hebrews 4:14-16, Hebrews 10:19-22). Furthermore, Jesus embodies the spirit of Samuel, being the ultimate and ever-living Intercessor who continually pleads for His people before the Father's throne (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25). The psalmist's declaration that "they called upon the LORD, and he answered them" finds its supreme echo in the Father's perfect and unfailing responsiveness to the Son's prayers, culminating in His resurrection, ascension, and exaltation as Lord of all (John 11:41-42). Thus, the access to a holy and responsive God, exemplified by these Old Testament figures, is fully realized and made eternally available to all who believe, solely through the unparalleled mediatorial work of Jesus Christ, our King, Prophet, and High Priest.

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Commentary on Psalms 99 verses 6–9

The happiness of Israel in God's government is here further made out by some particular instances of his administration, especially with reference to those that were, in their day, the prime leaders and most active useful governors of that people - Moses, Aaron, and Samuel, in the two former of whom the theocracy or divine government began (for they were employed to form Israel into a people) and in the last of whom that form of government, in a great measure, ended; for when the people rejected Samuel, and urged him to resign, they are said to reject God himself, that he should not be so immediately their king as he had been (Sa1 8:7), for now they would have a king, like all the nations. Moses, as well as Aaron, is said to be among his priests, for he executed the priest's office till Aaron was settled in it and he consecrated Aaron and his sons; therefore the Jews call him the priest of the priests. Now concerning these three chief rulers observe,

I. The intimate communion they had with God, and the wonderful favour to which he admitted them. None of all the nations of the earth could produce three such men as these, that had such an intercourse with Heaven, and whom God knew by name, Exo 33:17. Here is, 1. Their gracious observance of God. No kingdom had men that honoured God as these three men of the kingdom of Israel did. They honoured him, (1.) By their prayers. Samuel, though not among his priests, yet was among those that called on his name; and for this they were all famous, They called upon the Lord; they relied not on their own wisdom or virtue, but in every emergency had recourse to God, towards him was their desire, and on him their dependence. (2.) By their obedience: They kept his testimonies, and the ordinances that he gave them; they made conscience of their duty, and in every thing made God's word and law their rule, as knowing that unless they did so they could not expect their prayers should be answered, Pro 28:9. Moses did all according to the pattern shown him; it is often repeated, According to all that God commanded Moses, so did he. Aaron and Samuel did likewise. Those were the greatest men and most honourable that were most eminent for keeping God's testimonies and conforming to the rule of his word. 2. God's gracious acceptance of them: He answered them, and granted them the things which they called upon him for. They all wonderfully prevailed with God in prayer; miracles were wrought at their special instance and request; nay, he not only condescended to do that for them which they desired, as a prince for a petitioner, but he communed with them as one friend familiarly converses with another (Psa 99:7): He spoke unto them in the cloudy pillar. He often spoke to Samuel; from his childhood the word of the Lord came to him, and, probably, sometimes he spoke to him by a bright cloud overshadowing him: however, to Moses and Aaron he often spoke out of the famous cloudy pillar, Exo 16:10; Num 12:5. Israel are now reminded of this, for the confirming of their faith, that though they had not every day such sensible tokens of God's presence as the cloudy pillar was, yet to those that were their first founders, and to him that was their great reformer, God was pleased thus to manifest himself.

II. The good offices they did to Israel. They interceded for the people, and for them also they obtained many an answer of peace. Moses stood in the gap, and Aaron between the living and the dead; and, when Israel was in distress, Samuel cried unto the Lord for them, Sa1 7:9. This is here referred to (Psa 99:8): "Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God! and, at their prayer, thou wast a God that forgavest the people they prayed for; and, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions, yet thou didst not cut them off from being a people, as their sin deserved." "Thou wast a God that wast propitious for them (so Dr. Hammond), for their sakes, and sparedst the people at their request, even when thou wast about to take vengeance of their inventions, that is, when thy wrath was so highly provoked against them that it was just ready to break in upon them, to their utter overthrow." These were some of the many remarkable instances of God's dominion in Israel, more than in any other nation, for which the people are again called upon to praise God (Psa 99:9): "Exalt the Lord our God, on account of what he has done for us formerly, as well as of late, and worship at his holy hill of Zion, on which he has now set his temple and will shortly set his King (Psa 2:6), the former a type of the latter; there, as the centre of unity, let all God's Israel meet, with their adorations, for the Lord our God is holy, and appears so, not only in his holy law, but in his holy gospel."

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 6–9. Public domain.
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Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 99
"Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among such as call upon His Name: these called upon the Lord, and He heard them" [Psalm 99:6]. "He spoke unto them out of the cloudy pillar" [Psalm 99:7]....Of Moses it is not there stated that he was a priest. But if he was not this, what was he? Could he be anything greater than a priest? This Psalm declares that he also was himself a priest: "Moses and Aaron among His priests." They therefore were the Lord's priests. Samuel is read of later in the Book of Kings: this Samuel is in David's times; for he anointed the holy David. Samuel from his infancy grew up in the temple....He mentions these: and by these desires us to understand all the saints. Yet why has he here named those? Because we said that we ought here to understand Christ. Attend, holy brethren. He said above, "O magnify the Lord our God: and fall down before His footstool, for He is holy:" praising some one, that is, our Lord Jesus Christ; whose footstool is to be worshipped, because He assumed flesh, in which He was to appear before the human race; and wishing to show unto us that the ancient fathers also had preached of Him, because our Lord Jesus Christ is Himself the True Priest, he mentioned these, because God spoke unto them out of the cloudy pillar. What means, "out of the cloudy pillar"? He was speaking figuratively. For if He spoke in some cloud, those obscure words predicted some one unknown, yet to be manifest. This unknown one is no longer unknown; for He is known by us, our Lord Jesus Christ....He who first spoke out of the cloudy pillar, has in Person spoken unto us in His footstool; that is, on earth, when He had assumed the flesh, for which reason we worship His footstool, for He is holy. He Himself used to speak out of the cloud, which was not then understood: He has spoken in His own footstool, and the words of His cloud have been understood. "They kept His testimonies, and the law that He gave them."
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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