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Psalm 50:2
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines out.
1A Psalm by Asaph. The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks, and calls the earth from sunrise to sunset.
2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines out.
3Our God comes, and does not keep silent. A fire devours before him. It is very stormy around him.
4He calls to the heavens above, to the earth, that he may judge his people:
Notice
Zion’s title, “the perfection of beauty,” draws attention to its splendor, yet the sentence’s great event is God himself shining out.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What draws your attention more in this sentence, Zion’s beauty or God shining out?
Write on thisHow does the coming judgment in the surrounding verses shape your response to Zion’s beauty?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 27:4One thing I have asked of the LORD, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in the LORD’s house all the days of my life, to see the LORD’s beauty, and to …Both associate beauty with God’s dwelling place, though Psalm 27 names the LORD’s beauty and Psalm 50 describes Zion’s.
Psalm 48:2Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, on the north sides, the city of the great King.Both name Zion as a place of beauty and associate it with God, who shines out or reigns as King.
Revelation 21:23The city has no need for the sun or moon to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it and its lamp is the Lamb.Both describe radiance from God in a city setting; Revelation says God’s glory illuminates the city and the Lamb is its lamp.
Psalm 80:1For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm by Asaph. Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock, you who …Psalm 80 asks God to “shine out,” while Psalm 50 declares that God shines out from Zion.
Revelation 1:16He had seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.Both use shining imagery: God shines out in Psalm 50, and the figure in Revelation has a face like the sun.
Hosea 5:15I will go and return to my place, until they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face. In their affliction they will seek me earnestly.”The shared thread is God’s presence in relation to his people, though Hosea describes withdrawal and Psalm 50 describes God shining out.
Habakkuk 3:3–4God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and his praise filled the earth.Both describe God appearing from a named place, with shining in Psalm 50 and glory covering the heavens in Habakkuk.
Deuteronomy 33:2He said, “The LORD came from Sinai, and rose from Seir to them. He shone from Mount Paran. He came from the ten thousands of holy ones. At his right hand was a …Both describe God shining from a named place: Zion in Psalm 50 and Mount Paran in Deuteronomy.
Zechariah 9:17For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine the virgins.Both speak of beauty, though Psalm 50 describes Zion’s beauty and Zechariah praises God’s beauty and goodness.
Psalm 94:1LORD, you God to whom vengeance belongs, you God to whom vengeance belongs, shine out.Psalm 94 asks the God to whom vengeance belongs to “shine out”; Psalm 50 declares his shining before describing judgment.
Habakkuk 2:20But the LORD is in his holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before him!”Both locate God’s presence in a particular place, Zion or his holy temple, within scenes that address the earth.
Lamentations 2:15All that pass by clap their hands at you. They hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, “Is this the city that men called ‘The perfection …Both use “perfection of beauty” for Zion or Jerusalem, but Lamentations places the title in the mouths of mocking passersby.
Where this verse fits
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Encouragement
Your worship has room for wonder and reverence together. The God who shines from Zion is also the God who comes to judge his people.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).