Psalms 95:3

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 95:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For Jehovah is a great God, And a great King above all gods.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For Jehovah is a great God, And a great King above all gods.
Psalms 95:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 95

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3For Jehovah is a great God, And a great King above all gods.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For the Lord is a great God, etc.] Christ is truly and properly God, wherefore divine service is to be performed unto him; particularly singing psalms, setting forth therein his greatness and glory: and he is a great one; great in power, wisdom, justice, truth, mercy, and grace; greatness is to be ascribed unto him, and worship given him, because of his greatness, (<560213>Titus 2:13) and a great King over all gods; he is King of the whole world; his kingdom ruleth over all; he is King of kings, and Lord of lords; he is King of saints, the government of the whole church is upon his shoulders, which he exercises in the most wise, powerful, and righteous manner imaginable; he is above all that…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For the Lord is a great God - For Yahweh is a great God. The object is to exalt Jehovah, the true God, as distinguished from all who were worshipped as gods. The first idea is that he is “great;” that he is exalted over all the universe; that he rules over all, and that he is to be worshipped as such. And a great King above all gods - This does not mean that he is a great ruler of all other gods, as if they had a real existence, but that he is king or ruler far above all that were worshipped as gods, or to whom homage was paid. Whoever, or whatever was worshipped as God, Yahweh was supreme over all things. He occupied the throne; and all others must be beneath him, and under his dominion. If…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“God's - Above all that are called God's angels, earthly potentates, and especially the false gods of the Heathen. Psalms 95:4”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“95:3-5 The Lord is the great King over the whole universe. 95:3 above all gods: The psalmist refutes idolatry and paganism (96:4-6; 135:15-18; see also Isa 46:5-7).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“For: Psa 86:8-10, Psa 96:4, Psa 97:9, Psa 145:3; Jer 10:6, Jer 10:7 a great: Psa 47:2, Psa 48:2; Jer 10:10, Jer 46:18, Jer 48:15; Dan 4:37; Mal 1:11, Mal 1:14; Mat 5:35 above: Psa 135:5; Exo 18:11; Isa 44:8; Jer 10:10-16 Psalms 95:4”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The adorableness of God receives a threefold confirmation: He is exalted above all gods as King, above all things as Creator, and above His people as Shepherd and Leader. אלהים (gods) here, as in Psa 96:4., Psa 97:7, Psa 97:9, and frequently, are the powers of the natural world and of the world of men, which the Gentiles deify and call kings (as Moloch Molech, the deified fire), which, however, all stand under the lordship of Jahve, who is infinitely exalted above everything that is otherwise called god ( Psa 96:4; Psa 97:9). The supposition that תּועפות הרים denotes the pit-works (μέταλλα) of the mountains (Bφttcher), is at once improbable, because to all appearance it is intended to be…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification