The Meaning of Psalms 98:1 Explained

Psalms 98:1

KJV: {A Psalm.} O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.

YLT: A Psalm. Sing ye to Jehovah a new song, For wonders He hath done, Given salvation to Him hath His right hand and His holy arm.

Darby: {A Psalm.} Sing ye unto Jehovah a new song: for he hath done wondrous things; his right hand and his holy arm hath wrought salvation for him.

ASV: Oh sing unto Jehovah a new song; For he hath done marvellous things: His right hand, and his holy arm, hath wrought salvation for him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{A Psalm.  }} O sing  unto the LORD  a new  song;  for he hath done  marvellous things:  his right hand,  and his holy  arm,  hath gotten him the victory. 

What does Psalms 98:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 98:1-9 - Worthy Of Praise From All The Earth
This psalm is parallel to Psalms 96:1-13. That dealt with the reign of God; this deals with the victory on which that reign is based, Psalms 98:1. God could create without restraint, but before He could redeem, He had to quell the resistance of evil and to overcome the prince of this world. Hence the long conflict; but salvation was wrought by that Holy Arm which was outstretched on the Cross, and by the Right Hand which gave itself to the nails. In the Resurrection and Ascension our Lord's righteousness and salvation were openly manifested. See Colossians 2:15.
The "Hallelujah Chorus" of Psalms 98:4-9 well befits the triumph of Christ. Earth that shared in the fall of man shall participate in his redemption. See Isaiah 32:1-20. Too long has nature groaned and travailed, like an imprisoned captive; but she shall have her rebirth. When Jesus is King, seas and floods, mountains and hills, are filled with music. Nature is like a stringed instrument that awaits tuning and the touch of a master-hand. Revelation 5:1-14, gives the counterpart of the psalmist's summons; here the Apostle tells us that the song which started from the elders was echoed back from all things in heaven, on earth, and in the sea, and all that is in them. Be optimistic. Eat your meat with gladness and singleness of heart. You are on the winning and singing side. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 98

1  The psalmist exhorts the Jews
4  The Gentiles
7  And all the creatures, to praise God

What do the individual words in Psalms 98:1 mean?

A Psalm Oh sing to Yahweh a song new for marvelous things He has done have gained the victory Him His right hand and arm His holy
מִזְמ֡וֹר שִׁ֤ירוּ לַֽיהוָ֨ה ׀ שִׁ֣יר חָ֭דָשׁ כִּֽי־ נִפְלָא֣וֹת עָשָׂ֑ה הוֹשִֽׁיעָה־ לּ֥וֹ יְ֝מִינ֗וֹ וּזְר֥וֹעַ קָדְשֽׁוֹ

מִזְמ֡וֹר  A  Psalm 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִזְמֹור  
Sense: melody, psalm.
שִׁ֤ירוּ  Oh  sing 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: שִׁיר  
Sense: to sing.
לַֽיהוָ֨ה ׀  to  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
שִׁ֣יר  a  song 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שִׁיר 
Sense: song.
חָ֭דָשׁ  new 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חָדָשׁ  
Sense: new, new thing, fresh.
נִפְלָא֣וֹת  marvelous  things 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, feminine plural
Root: פָּלָא  
Sense: to be marvellous, be wonderful, be surpassing, be extraordinary, separate by distinguishing action.
עָשָׂ֑ה  He  has  done 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
הוֹשִֽׁיעָה־  have  gained  the  victory 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: יָשַׁע 
Sense: to save, be saved, be delivered.
יְ֝מִינ֗וֹ  His  right  hand 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָמִין  
Sense: right, right hand, right side.
וּזְר֥וֹעַ  and  arm 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: זְרֹועַ  
Sense: arm, forearm, shoulder, strength.
קָדְשֽׁוֹ  His  holy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.