The Meaning of Psalms 97:4 Explained

Psalms 97:4

KJV: His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.

YLT: Lightened have His lightnings the world, The earth hath seen, and is pained.

Darby: His lightnings lightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.

ASV: His lightnings lightened the world: The earth saw, and trembled.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

His lightnings  enlightened  the world:  the earth  saw,  and trembled. 

What does Psalms 97:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalm 97:1-12 - "be Glad In The Lord"
The keynote here is the reign of God. To the wicked, it spells misery; to the believer, it is the inauguration of harmony and joy. It is as though herald-angels step from isle to isle, from mountain peak to mountain peak, with the glad tidings of great joy. It is not always easy to trace its advent. Clouds and darkness are around him. The eye of sense cannot penetrate the black enclosing pall, but faith is ever certain that righteousness and judgment are the foundation of His throne.
Sometimes God comes in fire, Psalms 97:3, as at Sinai, or on the day of Pentecost, which took place on the anniversary of the giving of the Law. Days come like that on which Jerusalem fell, or when the Turks took Constantinople, or when Napoleon was shattered at Waterloo-then hills melt like wax. But through all dark and terrible dispensations the Kingdom is secretly growing, the Lord is being exalted, and light is being sown for His people, Psalms 97:11. So, believer, your tears and fightings, as they pass, are absorbing heaven's love and power, which they will hold in reserve though buried for long in the dark. Days are at hand of unspeakable gladness. Be of good cheer. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 97

1  The majesty of God's kingdom
7  The church rejoices at God's judgments upon idolaters
10  An exhortation to godliness and gladness

What do the individual words in Psalms 97:4 mean?

Light His lightnings the world sees and trembles the earth
הֵאִ֣ירוּ בְרָקָ֣יו תֵּבֵ֑ל רָאֲתָ֖ה וַתָּחֵ֣ל הָאָֽרֶץ

הֵאִ֣ירוּ  Light 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: אֹור  
Sense: to be or become light, shine.
בְרָקָ֣יו  His  lightnings 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּרָק  
Sense: lightning.
תֵּבֵ֑ל  the  world 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֵּבֵל  
Sense: world.
רָאֲתָ֖ה  sees 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
וַתָּחֵ֣ל  and  trembles 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: חוּל 
Sense: to twist, whirl, dance, writhe, fear, tremble, travail, be in anguish, be pained.
הָאָֽרֶץ  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.