What Does Psalm 97:6 Mean in the King James?
The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The heavens make God’s alignment visible, and what becomes visible carries weight for every people.
THE MEANING
The heavens declare God’s alignment now, and all peoples see the weight of who God is. What appears above makes God’s character perceptible across human boundaries. The verse holds alignment and weight together: what is right in God is visible and carries presence.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that God’s character is visible only to people who already know the right religious language: the heavens declare it, and all peoples see.
THE ROOT
כְּבוֹדוֹ
kevodo
GROWS FROM
כבד
k-b-d
To be heavy or weighty; from that sense, to carry honor or consequence.
“glory” in this verse is kevodo. Kavod carries the sense of weight: the substantial presence of God that the peoples perceive. Its kinship with “heavy” and “honor” gives the line depth beyond radiance alone.
ALSO GROWS
kaved: heavy, weighty
כָּבֵד
It shows the physical sense held within the word for glory.
kibbed: to honor, to treat as weighty
כִּבֵּד
It links seeing God’s glory with recognizing the weight of who God is.
צִדְקוֹ
tsidqo
GROWS FROM
צדק
ts-d-q
To be right or just; what is in alignment.
The word translated “righteousness” carries the sense of rightness and alignment. The heavens make that alignment public, so it is not only an abstract judgment but something the peoples can see.
ALSO GROWS
tsedeq: rightness, justice, alignment
צֶדֶק
It names the quality the heavens declare.
tzaddiq: a just or aligned person
צַדִּיק
It shows the same root describing a person whose life is in right relation.
מַגִּידִים
maggidim
GROWS FROM
נגד
n-g-d
To be in front or conspicuous; in this verb form, to make known or announce.
“declare” in this verse is maggidim. The heavens do not merely contain a hidden message; they make it known. A related branch means “in front of,” adding the sense of something set before the eyes.
ALSO GROWS
neged: in front of, opposite
נֶגֶד
It echoes the way the heavens place this declaration before human sight.
nagid: leader, prince
נָגִיד
It carries the sense of someone made prominent or brought to the fore.
THE PATTERN
Creation makes God’s character publicly legible: the heavens declare, and people perceive.
And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:THE THREAD
Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.Psalm 89:14 uses the same root צדק (ts-d-q), placing alignment at the foundation of God’s throne. The alignment the heavens declare is also what undergirds God’s rule.
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