The Meaning of Psalms 96:10 Explained

Psalms 96:10

KJV: Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.

YLT: Say among nations, 'Jehovah hath reigned, Also -- established is the world, unmoved, He judgeth the peoples in uprightness.'

Darby: Say among the nations, Jehovah reigneth! yea, the world is established, it shall not be moved; he will execute judgment upon the peoples with equity.

ASV: Say among the nations, Jehovah reigneth: The world also is established that it cannot be moved: He will judge the peoples with equity.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Say  among the heathen  [that] the LORD  reigneth:  the world  also shall be established  that it shall not be moved:  he shall judge  the people  righteously. 

What does Psalms 96:10 Mean?

Verse Meaning

It is only reasonable that all tribes acknowledge Yahweh, since He reigns over all the earth. From later Revelation , we know that Jesus Christ will judge the peoples fairly when He returns to this earth and sets up His millennial kingdom. Then every knee of every person will bow to His authority ( Psalm 96:6; cf. Philippians 2:10).

Context Summary

Psalms 96:1-13 - "the Lord Reigneth"
This psalm is found also in 1 Chronicles 16:1-43. Note the thrice-repeated command, Sing, sing, sing, Psalms 96:1-2; the corresponding, thrice-repeated, Give, give, give, Psalms 96:7-8; the triple call for joy from heaven, sea, and land, Psalms 96:11-12. It is good to read these psalms; they impart the burning devotion of these olden saints. They break on our lethargy as the bugle-call on the sleeping soldier. Notice that we call men to a Jubilate, not a Miserere, when we invite them to come home to God.
What a stately procession escorts the King to the throne of the world! He comes to reign in equity. Righteousness and truth which had fled the world return with Him. Honor and majesty are His avant-couriers. Strength and beauty stand in His court-circle. When we are brought into the divine Kingdom, and are at one with God, we detect the unison of nature in her song of praise. The seas provide the bass; the quivering leaves, the song of buds, the hum of insect life provide the tenors and altos; while the stars in their courses sing the treble. To the anointed ear, the new song has already begun. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 96

1  An exhortation to praise God
4  for his greatness
8  for his kingdom
11  for his general judgment

What do the individual words in Psalms 96:10 mean?

Say among the nations Yahweh reigns also is firmly established the world not it shall be moved He shall judge the peoples righteously
אִמְר֤וּ בַגּוֹיִ֨ם ׀ יְה֘וָ֤ה מָלָ֗ךְ אַף־ תִּכּ֣וֹן תֵּ֭בֵל בַּל־ תִּמּ֑וֹט יָדִ֥ין עַ֝מִּ֗ים בְּמֵישָׁרִֽים

אִמְר֤וּ  Say 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
בַגּוֹיִ֨ם ׀  among  the  nations 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
יְה֘וָ֤ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מָלָ֗ךְ  reigns 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָלַךְ 
Sense: to be or become king or queen, reign.
אַף־  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אַף  
Sense: also, yea, though, so much the more adv.
תִּכּ֣וֹן  is  firmly  established 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: כּוּן 
Sense: to be firm, be stable, be established.
תֵּ֭בֵל  the  world 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֵּבֵל  
Sense: world.
תִּמּ֑וֹט  it  shall  be  moved 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: מֹוט  
Sense: to totter, shake, slip.
יָדִ֥ין  He  shall  judge 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דֹּון 
Sense: to judge, contend, plead.
עַ֝מִּ֗ים  the  peoples 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
בְּמֵישָׁרִֽים  righteously 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מֵישָׁרִים  
Sense: evenness, uprightness, straightness, equity.