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Psalm 97:9
For you, LORD, are most high above all the earth. You are exalted far above all gods.
7Let all them be shamed who serve engraved images, who boast in their idols. Worship him, all you gods!
8Zion heard and was glad. The daughters of Judah rejoiced because of your judgments, LORD.
9For you, LORD, are most high above all the earth. You are exalted far above all gods.
10You who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the souls of his saints. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
11Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
Notice
The repeated “above” sets every earthly claim to greatness beneath YHWH, making worship a matter of who deserves the highest place.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What changes in your view of earthly power when you read “above all the earth”?
Write on thisWhat would you want to say to God after reading “far above all gods”?
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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 29:2Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name. Worship the LORD in holy array.Psalm 97 declares the LORD’s supreme place; Psalm 29 directs worshipers to give him the glory due to his name.
Psalm 95:3For the LORD is a great God, a great King above all gods.Both passages declare the LORD above all gods, with Psalm 95 naming him as the great King.
Psalm 99:2The LORD is great in Zion. He is high above all the peoples.Both passages describe the LORD as high above others: all gods in Psalm 97 and all peoples in Psalm 99.
1 Chronicles 29:11Yours, LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty! For all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours. Yours is the …Both address the LORD in praise and declare him exalted above all, with the whole earth beneath his supremacy.
Psalm 83:18that they may know that you alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth.Both name the LORD as Most High over all the earth, with Psalm 83 asking that others know this.
Isaiah 57:15For the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, says: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble …Both describe God’s exalted height; Isaiah also says that the high and holy One dwells with the humble and contrite.
Exodus 18:11Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods because of the way that they treated people arrogantly.”Both declare the LORD greater than all gods, with Exodus expressing this as a recognition of his greatness.
Jeremiah 10:10But the LORD is the true God. He is the living God, and an everlasting King. At his wrath, the earth trembles. The nations aren’t able to withstand his …Both declare the LORD’s supremacy over the earth; Jeremiah describes the nations’ inability to withstand the everlasting King’s indignation.
Philippians 2:9–11Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name,Psalm 97 declares the LORD exalted; Philippians speaks of God granting exaltation and a name above every name.
Ephesians 1:21far above all rule, authority, power, dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come.Both use “far above” to describe supremacy, over all gods in the psalm and over every rule and authority in Ephesians.
Isaiah 12:4In that day you will say, “Give thanks to the LORD! Call on his name! Declare his doings among the peoples! Proclaim that his name is exalted!Both proclaim the LORD’s exaltation, with Isaiah directing people to declare his deeds and exalted name among the peoples.
Jeremiah 10:8But they are together brutish and foolish, instructed by idols! It is just wood.Both address rival objects of worship: the psalm declares the LORD above all gods, while Jeremiah exposes idols as wood.
Where this verse fits
Praise and worship. fear for the future. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
YHWH’s supremacy reaches across the whole earth. No place lies beyond his rule, and no god stands as his equal.
Now put it in your words.
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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).