The big picture
Psalms 76 opens in verse 1 with “In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 6 with “At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.”, and closes in verse 12 with “He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.” Repeated or prominent terms include earth, feared, judgment, Selah, sleep. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 12Psalms 76:1-6
1–6: In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.
Psalms 76:1–6 opens with “In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.” and reaches “At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by sleep, arrows, battle.
Context that brings the passage to life
“In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 76:1-6
King James Version1In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.
2In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.
3There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.
4Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.
5The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.
6At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.
Psalms 76:7-12
7–12: Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when…
Psalms 76:7–12 opens with “Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?” and reaches “He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by earth, feared, judgment.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
Psalms 76:7-12
King James Version7Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?
8Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,
9When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.
10Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
11Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.
12He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 76:1 begins with “In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 76:7 forms a natural hinge: “Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?”
The final note
Psalms 76:12 leaves the reader with “He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words earth, feared, judgment, Selah, sleep, wrath help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.