The Meaning of Psalms 97:9 Explained

Psalms 97:9

KJV: For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.

YLT: For Thou, Jehovah, art Most High over all the earth, Greatly Thou hast been exalted over all gods.

Darby: For thou, Jehovah, art the Most High above all the earth; thou art exalted exceedingly above all gods.

ASV: For thou, Jehovah, art most high above all the earth: Thou art exalted far above all gods.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For thou, LORD,  [art] high above  all the earth:  thou art exalted  far above  all gods. 

What does Psalms 97:9 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 97:9 mean?

For You [are] Yahweh most high above all the earth far You are exalted gods
כִּֽי־ אַתָּ֤ה יְהוָ֗ה עֶלְי֥וֹן עַל־ כָּל־ הָאָ֑רֶץ מְאֹ֥ד נַ֝עֲלֵ֗יתָ אֱלֹהִֽים

אַתָּ֤ה  You  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
יְהוָ֗ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
עֶלְי֥וֹן  most  high 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עֶלְיׄון 
Sense: high, upper.
עַל־  above 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הָאָ֑רֶץ  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
מְאֹ֥ד  far 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.
נַ֝עֲלֵ֗יתָ  You  are  exalted 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
אֱלֹהִֽים  gods 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).