Psalm 76:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel.

NIV: For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song. God is renowned in Judah; in Israel his name is great.

NASB: God is known in Judah; His name is great in Israel.

CSB: For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song. God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.

NLT: God is honored in Judah; his name is great in Israel.

KJV: To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song of Asaph. In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.

NKJV: {To the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.} In Judah God is known; His name is great in Israel.

Psalm 76:1–3 extols God as the Lord of Judah and Israel. Terms such as Zion and Salem are references to the city of Jerusalem. The psalm likely refers to the miraculous defeat of Assyrian invaders during the reign of Hezekiah (2 Kings 18—19). There, God's angel ravaged a massive army, overnight, leading to a retreat the next morning. All the Assyrian weapons were useless against the Lord, who was known by His people.

The psalmist celebrates the defeat of God's enemies by declaring that the people of Israel know their Lord. The psalm refers to soldiers, horses, and weapons being entirely neutralized. God's judgment is unstoppable. The entire earth is encouraged to honor the Lord, who has the power to overcome any earthly king. This psalm shares themes with Psalms 46 and 83, which also appear to address a miraculous defeat of the Assyrians (2 Kings 18—19).

This psalm seems related to the defeat of Assyrian forces who attempted to capture Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:32–37). In that incident, God sent an angel to eliminate thousands upon thousands of enemy troops overnight; the Assyrians retreated the next morning (2 Kings 19:35–36). Psalms 46 and 83 appear to be about this as well. Because the Asaph who knew David lived centuries before this event (1 Chronicles 6:39), this psalm "of Asaph" is probably written in his style, or by a descendant with the same name. Psalms 4, 6, 54, 55, 61, and 67 also refer to the use of stringed instruments.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 12/18/2024 1:05:39 PM