Psalm 97:3

Translations

Modern

Fire goes before Him and consumes His foes on every side.

Traditional

A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.

Literal

A fire goes out before His face, and burns up His adversaries round about.

Latin

Ignis ante ipsum præcedet, et inflammabit in circuitu inimicos ejus.

Original

Hebrew

English

Fire goes before Him and consumes His foes on every side.

Notes

Psalms 97:2–4

Clouds … Fire … lightning: This language shows that the Lord is coming to judge.

Psalms 97:1–12

God is greatly exalted over the gods and over all the earth. Awe-inspiring phenomena accompany his coming. Even the created order is visibly affected and the wicked perish, but the people of Zion love his coming and rejoice.

Psalms 93:1–100:5

These psalms challenge the doubts created by the exile (see Psalm 89) and answer the questions asked in Psalm 90:11, 13. The Lord has established a kingdom (Psalm 93) that is characterized by:

punishment of the wicked (Psalm 94),
respectful obedience among his people (Psalm 95),
justice for the poor (Psalm 96),
celebration in Zion (Psalm 97),
salvation for Israel (Psalm 98),
holiness (Psalm 99), and
praise (Psalm 100).

Theme notes and profiles

David Darkness and Light Praise Psalms The Creator-King

Related verses

Psalm 50:3
Our God approaches and will not be silent! Consuming fire precedes Him, and a tempest rages around Him.
Hebrews 12:29
“For our God is a consuming fire.”
Psalm 18:8
Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; glowing coals blazed forth.
Malachi 4:1
“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts. “Not a root or branch will be left to them.”
2 Thessalonians 1:8
…in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
Daniel 7:10
A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.
Psalm 21:8–9
Your hand will apprehend all Your enemies; Your right hand will seize those who hate You.
Nahum 1:5–6
The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence—the world and all its dwellers.
Deuteronomy 32:22
For a fire has been kindled by My anger, and it burns to the depths of Sheol; it consumes the earth and its produce, and scorches the foundations of the mountains.
2 Peter 3:10–12
But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.
Deuteronomy 5:23–24
And when you heard the voice out of the darkness while the mountain was blazing with fire, all the heads of your tribes and your elders approached me,
Deuteronomy 4:11
You came near and stood at the base of the mountain, a mountain blazing with fire to the heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness.

Glossary

David Kingdom of God, Kingdom of Heaven Music Psalms, Book of

Topics

Fire: Frequently Employed As an Instrument of Divine Vengeance God: Glory of God: Power of Jesus, the Christ: Messiah: Messianic Psalms Wicked (People): Punishment of

Psalm 97:3

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