Psalm 93:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty!

NIV: Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the Lord on high is mighty.

NASB: More than the sounds of many waters, Than the mighty breakers of the sea, The Lord on high is mighty.

CSB: Greater than the roar of a huge torrent— the mighty breakers of the sea— the Lord on high is majestic.

NLT: But mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore — the Lord above is mightier than these!

KJV: The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.

NKJV: The Lord on high is mightier Than the noise of many waters, Than the mighty waves of the sea.

This continues references to water, noise, and chaos (Psalm 93:3). Scripture uses the sea to represent confusion and commotion (Psalm 65:5–7; Isaiah 5:29–30). This ties closely to the idea of Gentile nations, who lack the light of God's commandments (Luke 2:31–32; Acts 13:47). The Lord is far more powerful than these; all things are under His sovereign power.

One of the most vivid examples of God's power was when He rolled back the water of the Red Sea so His people could cross safely. When the armed Egyptian cavalry tried to pursue the Hebrews, the Lord showed His omnipotent control of the Red Sea by closing the waters and drowning the enemy (Exodus 14). Christ also demonstrated power over raging waves by speaking just a brief command: "Peace be still." At that, crashing waves became calm (Mark 4:38–39).

Psalm 93:3–5 compares the power of God to that of seas and rivers. These references to water also imply the Gentile—non-Jewish—nations. Those are powerful, but the Lord is far stronger. God is the very definition of might. The Lord is also faithful and reliable. What God says is entirely true; His obvious power proves He can be trusted.

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.

Accessed 12/18/2024 12:43:04 PM