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Psalm 96:9
Worship the LORD in holy array. Tremble before him, all the earth.
7Ascribe to the LORD, you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
8Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name. Bring an offering, and come into his courts.
9Worship the LORD in holy array. Tremble before him, all the earth.
10Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.” The world is also established. It can’t be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity.
11Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. Let the sea roar, and its fullness!
Notice
“Tremble” brings awe into the command to worship, and “all the earth” extends that command beyond any one congregation or nation.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What place does trembling before God have in the way you worship?
Write on thisHow does “all the earth” shape whom you picture worshiping YHWH?
Write on thisWhat do you notice about trembling here and the earth rejoicing two verses later?
Write on thisConnect
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 29:2Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name. Worship the LORD in holy array.Both passages give the same command, “Worship the LORD in holy array,” joining worship with honor due to God.
1 Chronicles 16:29Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name. Bring an offering, and come before him. Worship the LORD in holy array.Both command worship in holy array, and both surrounding settings speak of bringing an offering before the LORD.
Psalm 114:7Tremble, you earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob,Both address the earth and command it to tremble before God; Psalm 114 names him as the God of Jacob.
Psalm 110:3Your people offer themselves willingly in the day of your power, in holy array. Out of the womb of the morning, you have the dew of your youth.Both use the phrase “in holy array,” describing worship in Psalm 96 and the people offering themselves in Psalm 110.
Psalm 33:8Let all the earth fear the LORD. Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.Both summon the whole earth to reverence before the LORD, using trembling in Psalm 96 and fear and awe in Psalm 33.
2 Chronicles 20:21When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and give praise in holy array as they go out before the army, and …Both describe honoring the LORD in holy array; Chronicles places that praise before an army.
Daniel 11:45He will plant the tents of his palace between the sea and the glorious holy mountain; yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.The link is limited to holiness language: Psalm 96 describes worship, while Daniel names a holy mountain.
1 Chronicles 16:30Tremble before him, all the earth. The world also is established that it can’t be moved.Both contain the exact command, “Tremble before him, all the earth,” addressing the whole earth before God.
Ezra 7:27Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the LORD’s house which is in Jerusalem;Both concern honor given to the LORD: the psalm commands worship, and Ezra blesses God for beautifying his house.
Ezekiel 7:20As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty; but they made the images of their abominations and their detestable things therein. Therefore I have …Ezekiel’s ornament made unclean contrasts with the psalm’s holy array; the passages share no explicit event or command.
Luke 21:5–6As some were talking about the temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts, he said,The connection is limited to adornment language: Luke describes temple decorations, while the psalm speaks of holy array in worship.
Ecclesiastes 8:12Though a sinner commits crimes a hundred times, and lives long, yet surely I know that it will be better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him.Both speak of reverence before God: the psalm commands trembling, and Ecclesiastes says it will be better with those who fear him.
Where this verse fits
Praise and worship. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
YHWH is worthy of worship across the whole earth. Even amid the gladness of the surrounding verses, trembling before him belongs in worship.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 96:9. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
Keep goingPsalm 96 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms
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).