The big picture
Psalms 97 opens in verse 1 with “The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 6 with “The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.”, and closes in verse 12 with “Rejoice in the LORD , ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, earth, glad, gods, presence. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 12Psalms 97:1-6
1–6: The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be…
Psalms 97:1–6 opens with “The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.” and reaches “The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 97 develops its own movement around LORD, earth, glad, gods, presence, with particular weight carried by earth, LORD, presence.
Context that brings the passage to life
“The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.” The line’s distinctive content terms include earth, glad, isles. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
Psalms 97:1-6
King James Version1The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
2Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
3A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
4His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
5The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD , at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
Psalms 97:7-12
7–12: Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves…
Psalms 97:7–12 opens with “Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him…” and reaches “Rejoice in the LORD , ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 97 develops its own movement around LORD, earth, glad, gods, presence, with particular weight carried by LORD, gods, righteous.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.” Naming Confounded keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 97:7-12
King James Version7Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
8Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD .
9For thou, LORD , art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
10Ye that love the LORD , hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
11Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
12Rejoice in the LORD , ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 97:1 begins with “The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 97:6 forms a natural hinge: “The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.”
The final note
Psalms 97:12 leaves the reader with “Rejoice in the LORD , ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, earth, glad, gods, presence, rejoice help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- 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.