1sn Psalm 98. The psalmist summons the whole earth to praise God because he reveals his justice and delivers Israel. 2sn A new song is appropriate because the Lord is constantly intervening in the world as its just king. See Ps 96:1. 3tn The perfect verbal forms in vv. 1-3 are understood here as describing characteristic divine activities. Another option is to translate them as present perfects, “has performed…has accomplished deliverance, etc.” referring to completed actions that have continuing results. 4tn Heb “his right hand delivers for him and his holy arm.” The right hand and arm symbolize his power as a warrior-king (see Isa 52:10). His arm is “holy” in the sense that it is in a category of its own; God’s power is incomparable. 5tn Heb “makes known his deliverance.” 6tn Heb “he remembers his loyal love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel.” 7tn Heb “the deliverance of our God,” with “God” being a subjective genitive (= God delivers). 8tn The verbal forms in v. 9 probably describe God’s typical, characteristic behavior, though they may depict in dramatic fashion the outworking of divine judgment or anticipate a future judgment of worldwide proportions (“will judge…”).
1sn Psalm 98. The psalmist summons the whole earth to praise God because he reveals his justice and delivers Israel.
2sn A new song is appropriate because the Lord is constantly intervening in the world as its just king. See Ps 96:1.
3tn The perfect verbal forms in vv. 1-3 are understood here as describing characteristic divine activities. Another option is to translate them as present perfects, “has performed…has accomplished deliverance, etc.” referring to completed actions that have continuing results.
4tn Heb “his right hand delivers for him and his holy arm.” The right hand and arm symbolize his power as a warrior-king (see Isa 52:10). His arm is “holy” in the sense that it is in a category of its own; God’s power is incomparable.
5tn Heb “makes known his deliverance.”
6tn Heb “he remembers his loyal love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel.”
7tn Heb “the deliverance of our God,” with “God” being a subjective genitive (= God delivers).
8tn The verbal forms in v. 9 probably describe God’s typical, characteristic behavior, though they may depict in dramatic fashion the outworking of divine judgment or anticipate a future judgment of worldwide proportions (“will judge…”).