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Selected Verse: Psalms 99:4 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ps 99:4	Strong Concordance	The king's [04428] strength [05797] also loveth [0157] judgment [04941]; thou dost establish [03559] equity [04339], thou executest [06213] judgment [04941] and righteousness [06666] in Jacob [03290].
	King James	The king's strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
To His wise and righteous government all nations should render honor. king's . . . judgment--His power is combined with justice. he is holy--(compare Psa 22:3).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

To His wise and righteous government all nations should render honor.

king's . . . judgment--His power is combined with justice.

he is holy--(compare Psa 22:3).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
The king's strength - The word king here undoubtedly refers to God as a king, Psa 99:1. The word rendered "strength," means power, force; and the reference here is to what constitutes the main strength or power of his character and government. It is rendered in the Septuagint, τιμή timē - "honor." So in the Latin Vulgate - "honor." DeWette renders it, "The praise of the king who loves judgment." So Rosenmuller, "Let them praise the strength - the power - of the king who loves judgment." But perhaps our common version best expresses the sense, that whatever there is in the character of the "king," that is God, which constitutes strength, or gives power to his administration, is favorable to justice, or will be exerted in the cause of right. God's essential character; all the acts of his power; all the demonstrations of his authority, will be in favor of justice, and may be relied on as sustaining the righteous cause. It is not the "mere" exertion of power - it is power that is always exercised in favor of right; and this lays the foundation of praise. We could not praise a being of "mere" power, or one who was merely "almighty," without respect to his moral character. It is only when the character is such that power will be exerted in favor of that which is right and just that it becomes the proper subject of praise. Loveth judgment - Is always on the side of justice and right. He so loves justice that his power will be put forth only in behalf of that which is right. God shows this by his law, and by all the acts of his administration. Thou dost establish equity - That which is equal and just; alike by thy law, and by thine interpositions. All that thou doest, and all that thou dost appoint, is in favor of that which is equal and just. Thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob - That which is just; that which ought to be done. Thou doest this among thy people; thou doest it in their relation to the surrounding nations. All the acts of thy administration tend to the establishment of that which is right.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

The king's strength - The word king here undoubtedly refers to God as a king, Psa 99:1. The word rendered "strength," means power, force; and the reference here is to what constitutes the main strength or power of his character and government. It is rendered in the Septuagint, τιμή timē - "honor." So in the Latin Vulgate - "honor." DeWette renders it, "The praise of the king who loves judgment." So Rosenmuller, "Let them praise the strength - the power - of the king who loves judgment." But perhaps our common version best expresses the sense, that whatever there is in the character of the "king," that is God, which constitutes strength, or gives power to his administration, is favorable to justice, or will be exerted in the cause of right. God's essential character; all the acts of his power; all the demonstrations of his authority, will be in favor of justice, and may be relied on as sustaining the righteous cause. It is not the "mere" exertion of power - it is power that is always exercised in favor of right; and this lays the foundation of praise. We could not praise a being of "mere" power, or one who was merely "almighty," without respect to his moral character. It is only when the character is such that power will be exerted in favor of that which is right and just that it becomes the proper subject of praise.

Loveth judgment - Is always on the side of justice and right. He so loves justice that his power will be put forth only in behalf of that which is right. God shows this by his law, and by all the acts of his administration.

Thou dost establish equity - That which is equal and just; alike by thy law, and by thine interpositions. All that thou doest, and all that thou dost appoint, is in favor of that which is equal and just.

Thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob - That which is just; that which ought to be done. Thou doest this among thy people; thou doest it in their relation to the surrounding nations. All the acts of thy administration tend to the establishment of that which is right.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The second Sanctus celebrates Jahve with respect to His continuous righteous rule in Israel. The majority of expositors construe it: "And (they shall praise) the might of the king, who loves right;" but this joining of the clause on to יודוּ over the refrain that stands in the way is hazardous. Neither can ועז מלך משׁפּט אהב, however, be an independent clause, since אהב cannot be said of עז, but only of its possessor. And the dividing of the verse at אהב, adopted by the lxx, will therefore not hold good. משפט אהב is an attributive clause to מלך in the same position as in Psa 11:7; and עז, with what appertains to it, is the object to כּוננתּ placed first, which has the king's throne as its object elsewhere (Psa 9:8, Sa2 7:13; Ch1 17:12), just as it here has the might of the king, which, however, here at the same time in מישׁרים takes another and permutative object (cf. the permutative subject in Psa 72:17), as Hitzig observes; or rather, since מישׁרים is most generally used as an adverbial notion, this מישׁרים (Psa 58:2; Psa 75:3; Psa 9:9, and frequently), usually as a definition of the mode of the judging and reigning, is subordinated: and the might of a king who loves the right, i.e., of one who governs not according to dynastic caprice but moral precepts, hast Thou established in spirit and aim (directed to righteousness and equity). What is meant is the theocratic kingship, and Psa 11:4 says what Jahve has constantly accomplished by means of this kingship: He has thus maintained right and righteousness (cf. e.g., Sa2 8:15; Ch1 18:14; Kg1 10:9; Isa 16:5) among His people. Out of this manifestation of God's righteousness, which is more conspicuous, and can be better estimated, within the nation of the history of redemption than elsewhere, grows the call to highly exalt Jahve the God of Israel, and to bow one's self very low at His footstool. להדם רגליו, as in Psa 132:7, is not a statement of the object (for Isa 45:14 is of another kind), but (like אל in other instances) of the place in which, or of the direction (cf. Psa 7:14) in which the προσκύνησις is to take place. The temple is called Jahve's footstool (Ch1 28:2, cf. Lam 2:1; Isa 60:13) with reference to the ark, the capporeth of which corresponds to the transparent sapphire (Exo 24:10) and to the crystal-like firmament of the mercaba (Eze 1:22, cf. Ch1 28:18).

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

The second Sanctus celebrates Jahve with respect to His continuous righteous rule in Israel. The majority of expositors construe it: "And (they shall praise) the might of the king, who loves right;" but this joining of the clause on to יודוּ over the refrain that stands in the way is hazardous. Neither can ועז מלך משׁפּט אהב, however, be an independent clause, since אהב cannot be said of עז, but only of its possessor. And the dividing of the verse at אהב, adopted by the lxx, will therefore not hold good. משפט אהב is an attributive clause to מלך in the same position as in Psa 11:7; and עז, with what appertains to it, is the object to כּוננתּ placed first, which has the king's throne as its object elsewhere (Psa 9:8, Sa2 7:13; Ch1 17:12), just as it here has the might of the king, which, however, here at the same time in מישׁרים takes another and permutative object (cf. the permutative subject in Psa 72:17), as Hitzig observes; or rather, since מישׁרים is most generally used as an adverbial notion, this מישׁרים (Psa 58:2; Psa 75:3; Psa 9:9, and frequently), usually as a definition of the mode of the judging and reigning, is subordinated: and the might of a king who loves the right, i.e., of one who governs not according to dynastic caprice but moral precepts, hast Thou established in spirit and aim (directed to righteousness and equity). What is meant is the theocratic kingship, and Psa 11:4 says what Jahve has constantly accomplished by means of this kingship: He has thus maintained right and righteousness (cf. e.g., Sa2 8:15; Ch1 18:14; Kg1 10:9; Isa 16:5) among His people. Out of this manifestation of God's righteousness, which is more conspicuous, and can be better estimated, within the nation of the history of redemption than elsewhere, grows the call to highly exalt Jahve the God of Israel, and to bow one's self very low at His footstool. להדם רגליו, as in Psa 132:7, is not a statement of the object (for Isa 45:14 is of another kind), but (like אל in other instances) of the place in which, or of the direction (cf. Psa 7:14) in which the προσκύνησις is to take place. The temple is called Jahve's footstool (Ch1 28:2, cf. Lam 2:1; Isa 60:13) with reference to the ark, the capporeth of which corresponds to the transparent sapphire (Exo 24:10) and to the crystal-like firmament of the mercaba (Eze 1:22, cf. Ch1 28:18).

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Judgment - Though his dominion be absolute, and his power irresistible, yet he manages it with righteousness. The king's strength is by a known Hebraism put for the strong, or powerful king. Equity - In all thy proceedings.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
The king's strength - If this Psalm were written by David, he must mean by it that he was God's vicegerent or deputy, and that, even as king, God was his strength, and the pattern according to which equity, judgment, and righteousness should be executed in Jacob.

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³ But thou art holy [06918], O thou that inhabitest [03427] the praises [08416] of Israel [03478].

¹ The LORD [03068] reigneth [04427]; let the people [05971] tremble [07264]: he sitteth [03427] between the cherubims [03742]; let the earth [0776] be moved [05120].

¹⁸ And for the altar [04196] of incense [07004] refined [02212] gold [02091] by weight [04948]; and gold [02091] for the pattern [08403] of the chariot [04818] of the cherubims [03742], that spread out [06566] their wings, and covered [05526] the ark [0727] of the covenant [01285] of the LORD [03068].

²² And the likeness [01823] of the firmament [07549] upon the heads [07218] of the living creature [02416] was as the colour [05869] of the terrible [03372] crystal [07140], stretched forth [05186] over their heads [07218] above [04605].

¹⁰ And they saw [07200] the God [0430] of Israel [03478]: and there was under his feet [07272] as it were a paved [03840] work [04639] of a sapphire stone [05601], and as it were the body [06106] of heaven [08064] in his clearness [02892].

¹³ The glory [03519] of Lebanon [03844] shall come [0935] unto thee, the fir tree [01265], the pine tree [08410], and the box [08391] together [03162], to beautify [06286] the place [04725] of my sanctuary [04720]; and I will make the place [04725] of my feet [07272] glorious [03513].

¹ How hath the Lord [0136] covered [05743] the daughter [01323] of Zion [06726] with a cloud [05743] in his anger [0639], and cast down [07993] from heaven [08064] unto the earth [0776] the beauty [08597] of Israel [03478], and remembered [02142] not his footstool [01916] [07272] in the day [03117] of his anger [0639]!

² Then David [01732] the king [04428] stood up [06965] upon his feet [07272], and said [0559], Hear [08085] me, my brethren [0251], and my people [05971]: As for me, I had in mine heart [03824] to build [01129] an house [01004] of rest [04496] for the ark [0727] of the covenant [01285] of the LORD [03068], and for the footstool [01916] [07272] of our God [0430], and had made ready [03559] for the building [01129]:

¹⁴ Behold, he travaileth [02254] with iniquity [0205], and hath conceived [02029] mischief [05999], and brought forth [03205] falsehood [08267].

¹⁴ Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068], The labour [03018] of Egypt [04714], and merchandise [05505] of Ethiopia [03568] and of the Sabeans [05436], men [0582] of stature [04060], shall come over [05674] unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come [03212] after [0310] thee; in chains [02131] they shall come over [05674], and they shall fall down [07812] unto thee, they shall make supplication [06419] unto thee, saying, Surely God [0410] is in thee; and there is none else, there is no [0657] God [0430].

⁷ We will go [0935] into his tabernacles [04908]: we will worship [07812] at his footstool [01916] [07272].

⁵ And in mercy [02617] shall the throne [03678] be established [03559]: and he shall sit [03427] upon it in truth [0571] in the tabernacle [0168] of David [01732], judging [08199], and seeking [01875] judgment [04941], and hasting [04106] righteousness [06664].

⁹ Blessed [01288] be the LORD [03068] thy God [0430], which delighted [02654] in thee, to set [05414] thee on the throne [03678] of Israel [03478]: because the LORD [03068] loved [0160] Israel [03478] for ever [05769], therefore made [07760] he thee king [04428], to do [06213] judgment [04941] and justice [06666].

¹⁴ So David [01732] reigned [04427] over all Israel [03478], and executed [06213] judgment [04941] and justice [06666] among all his people [05971].

¹⁵ And David [01732] reigned [04427] over all Israel [03478]; and David [01732] executed [06213] judgment [04941] and justice [06666] unto all his people [05971].

⁴ The LORD [03068] is in his holy [06944] temple [01964], the LORD'S [03068] throne [03678] is in heaven [08064]: his eyes [05869] behold [02372], his eyelids [06079] try [0974], the children [01121] of men [0120].

⁹ The LORD [03068] also will be a refuge [04869] for the oppressed [01790], a refuge [04869] in times [06256] of trouble [06869].

³ The earth [0776] and all the inhabitants [03427] thereof are dissolved [04127]: I bear up [08505] the pillars [05982] of it. Selah [05542].

² Yea, in heart [03820] ye work [06466] wickedness [05766]; ye weigh [06424] the violence [02555] of your hands [03027] in the earth [0776].

¹⁷ His name [08034] shall endure for ever [05769]: his name [08034] shall be continued [05125] [05125] as long as [06440] the sun [08121]: and men shall be blessed [01288] in him: all nations [01471] shall call him blessed [0833].

¹² He shall build [01129] me an house [01004], and I will stablish [03559] his throne [03678] for [05704] ever [05769].

¹³ He shall build [01129] an house [01004] for my name [08034], and I will stablish [03559] the throne [03678] of his kingdom [04467] for [05704] ever [05769].

⁸ And he shall judge [08199] the world [08398] in righteousness [06664], he shall minister judgment [01777] to the people [03816] in uprightness [04339].

⁷ For the righteous [06662] LORD [03068] loveth [0157] righteousness [06666]; his countenance [06440] doth behold [02372] the upright [03477].