Psalm 93:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.

NIV: The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength; indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.

NASB: The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The Lord has clothed and encircled Himself with strength. Indeed, the world is firmly established; it will not be moved.

CSB: The Lord reigns! He is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed, enveloped in strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken.

NLT: The Lord is king! He is robed in majesty. Indeed, the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength. The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.

KJV: The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.

NKJV: The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The Lord is clothed, He has girded Himself with strength. Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.

That God is "robed" or "clothed" or "girded" with something means that it is an obvious aspect of His nature. In this case, the psalmist credits God with power and magnificence. All that happens in creation is under His control. The English word "sovereign," in fact, adapts an older word meaning "above" to match the spelling of "reign." God rules—reigns—above all things. His throne—the concept of His absolute authority (Psalm 93:2)—is beyond dispute.

Also mentioned is that the Lord has created: He has "established" all that exists. In this context, "the world" would imply both the physical earth and all its people. These are firmly grounded in God's sovereign control. They cannot be undone or altered apart from His permission. God is so powerful that He can speak things into existence (Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 11:3). What He creates He also controls, and that power is not subject to anyone or anything else.

Psalm 93:1–2 describes God as powerful and supreme. That which He has created cannot be undone by another being; this stability is credited to His power. The Lord is also depicted as without beginning or end, as is His sovereign rule over the world.

The psalm opens with praise to the Lord. The focus is on His magnificence and incredible power. Because He is eternal and sovereign, the world which He created cannot be destroyed by any other being. Even the power of flood, rivers, and oceans is nothing compared to the power of God. God's power and knowledge should inspire trust in all He has said.

Several psalms are considered "enthronement" or "theocratic" passages. Other than this chapter, these include Psalms 24, 47, and 95—99. Some consider Psalm 15 an appropriate addition to the list. These songs celebrate the rule of God over the entire earth. Many look forward to the end times, when Jesus Christ, the Messiah, will govern the world personally for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4).

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.