Psalm 96:11
New International Version
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it.

New Living Translation
Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!

English Standard Version
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

Berean Standard Bible
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea resound, and all that fills it.

King James Bible
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.

New King James Version
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;

New American Standard Bible
May the heavens be joyful, and may the earth rejoice; May the sea roar, and all it contains;

NASB 1995
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let the sea roar, and all it contains;

NASB 1977
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let the sea roar, and all it contains;

Legacy Standard Bible
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let the sea roar, as well as its fullness;

Amplified Bible
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let the sea roar, and all the things it contains;

Christian Standard Bible
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and all that fills it resound.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and all that fills it resound.

American Standard Version
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof;

Contemporary English Version
Tell the heavens and the earth to be glad and celebrate! Command the ocean to roar with all its creatures

English Revised Version
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad. Let the sea and everything in it roar like thunder.

Good News Translation
Be glad, earth and sky! Roar, sea, and every creature in you;

International Standard Version
The heavens will be glad and the earth will rejoice; even the sea and everything that fills it will roar.

Majority Standard Bible
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea resound, and all that fills it.

NET Bible
Let the sky rejoice, and the earth be happy! Let the sea and everything in it shout!

New Heart English Bible
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. Let the sea roar, and its fullness.

Webster's Bible Translation
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fullness of it.

World English Bible
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. Let the sea roar, and its fullness!
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The heavens rejoice, and the earth is joyful, "" The sea and its fullness roar.

Young's Literal Translation
The heavens joy, and the earth is joyful, The sea and its fulness roar.

Smith's Literal Translation
The heavens shall be glad, and the earth shall rejoice: the sea shall be moved, and its fulness.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad, let the sea be moved, and the fulness thereof:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth exult; let the sea and all its fullness be moved.

New American Bible
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and what fills it resound;

New Revised Standard Version
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar and the fulness thereof.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Heaven will rejoice and the Earth will be glad! The sea will exult in its fullness!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth exult; let the sea be moved, and the fullness of it.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Sing to the LORD, All the Earth
10Declare among the nations: “The LORD reigns!” The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity. 11Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea resound, and all that fills it. 12Let the fields exult, and all that is in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy…

Cross References
Isaiah 55:12
You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

Isaiah 44:23
Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O depths of the earth. Break forth in song, O mountains, you forests and all your trees. For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and revealed His glory in Israel.

Isaiah 49:13
Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; break forth in song, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, and He will have compassion on His afflicted ones.

Isaiah 42:10-12
Sing to the LORD a new song—His praise from the ends of the earth—you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who dwell in them. / Let the desert and its cities raise their voices; let the villages of Kedar cry aloud. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them cry out from the mountaintops. / Let them give glory to the LORD and declare His praise in the islands.

1 Chronicles 16:31-33
Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice. Let them say among the nations, ‘The LORD reigns!’ / Let the sea resound, and all that fills it; let the fields exult, and all that is in them. / Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD, for He is coming to judge the earth.

Psalm 98:7-9
Let the sea resound, and all that fills it, the world, and all who dwell in it. / Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy / before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.

Psalm 148:3-4
Praise Him, O sun and moon; praise Him, all you shining stars. / Praise Him, O highest heavens, and you waters above the skies.

Psalm 69:34
Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them.

Revelation 5:13
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!”

Revelation 19:6
And I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude, like the rushing of many waters, and like a mighty rumbling of thunder, crying out: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.

Romans 8:19-22
The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. / For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope / that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. ...

Luke 2:14
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!”

Philippians 2:10-11
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, / and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Revelation 12:12
Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea; with great fury the devil has come down to you, knowing he has only a short time.”

Job 38:7
while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?


Treasury of Scripture

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof.

the heavens

Psalm 69:34
Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.

Psalm 148:1-4
Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights…

Isaiah 44:23
Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.

the sea

Psalm 98:7-9
Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein…

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Contains Earth Fills Fullness Fulness Glad Heavens Joy Joyful Rejoice Resound Roar Sea Thereof Thundering Waters
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Contains Earth Fills Fullness Fulness Glad Heavens Joy Joyful Rejoice Resound Roar Sea Thereof Thundering Waters
Psalm 96
1. An exhortation to praise God
4. for his greatness
8. for his kingdom
11. for his general judgment














Let the heavens be glad
This phrase calls for the celestial realm to express joy, reflecting the biblical theme of creation praising God. The heavens often symbolize God's majesty and glory (Psalm 19:1). In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the heavens were seen as the dwelling place of deities, but in the biblical context, they are part of God's creation, subject to His will. This call for the heavens to be glad anticipates the ultimate restoration of creation, as seen in Romans 8:19-21, where creation eagerly awaits liberation from corruption.

and the earth rejoice
The earth's rejoicing signifies the harmony and peace that will be restored under God's reign. This echoes the Genesis account where God saw that creation was "very good" (Genesis 1:31). The earth's joy is a response to God's righteous rule and the establishment of His kingdom, as prophesied in Isaiah 65:17-18, where a new heaven and a new earth are promised. This rejoicing is not just for humanity but for all creation, indicating a holistic redemption.

let the sea resound
The sea, often representing chaos and danger in ancient literature, is here called to resound with praise. This transformation from chaos to harmony reflects God's sovereignty over all creation, including the forces of nature. In biblical typology, the calming of the sea by Jesus (Mark 4:39) demonstrates His authority over creation, prefiguring the ultimate peace He will bring. The sea's resounding is a metaphor for the overwhelming praise that will fill the earth.

and all that fills it
This phrase encompasses all creatures and elements within the sea, highlighting the inclusivity of creation's praise. It reflects the biblical view that every part of creation has a role in glorifying God (Psalm 148:7-10). The imagery of the sea and its fullness praising God can be seen as a foretaste of the eschatological vision in Revelation 5:13, where every creature in heaven, on earth, and under the earth joins in worship. This universal praise underscores the comprehensive scope of God's redemptive plan.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Heavens
In biblical terms, the heavens often refer to the sky or the celestial realm, representing God's creation and His dwelling place.

2. Earth
The earth is the physical world created by God, inhabited by humans and all living creatures.

3. Sea
The sea is a significant part of God's creation, often symbolizing vastness and power, and is home to countless creatures.

4. Creation
This verse calls upon all of creation to express joy and praise, highlighting the interconnectedness of all created things in worshiping God.

5. Psalmist
The author of the psalm, traditionally believed to be David, who calls for universal praise to God.
Teaching Points
Universal Praise
All of creation is called to worship God, reminding us that praise is not limited to humans but is a cosmic activity.

Joy in Creation
The joy of the heavens, earth, and sea reflects the joy we should have in our relationship with God. We are part of a larger symphony of praise.

God's Sovereignty
Recognizing God's sovereignty over all creation should lead us to trust and worship Him, knowing He is in control of the universe.

Environmental Stewardship
As stewards of God's creation, we should care for the earth and sea, ensuring they can continue to resound with praise.

Anticipation of Redemption
This verse foreshadows the ultimate redemption of creation, where all things will be restored to their intended purpose of glorifying God.(11-13) Magnificent progress of the Divine Judge through His realm. There is only one thought, that of the inauguration of a righteous sway for all nations: at its advent, as in Isaiah's glorious visions (see Isaiah 35:1-2; Isaiah 42:10; Isaiah 44:23; Isaiah 55:12), all nature seems to join the chorus of gladness.

Verse 11. - Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad. "An appeal for the sympathy of nature" (Cheyne); comp. Isaiah 44:23; Jeremiah 51:48. If the final coming of Messiah's kingdom be the event alluded to in ver. 10, as is quite possible, the calling on heaven and earth to rejoice may indicate a real renovation of the material universe, such as to bring it into harmony with the newly established spiritual conditions of the period (comp. Isaiah 65:17-25; Revelation 21:1-4). Lot the sea roar, and the fulness thereof (comp. Psalm 98:7). The sea is to show its joy by raising its voice, and "roaring," or "thundering."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Let the heavens
הַ֭שָּׁמַיִם (haš·šā·ma·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

be glad
יִשְׂמְח֣וּ (yiś·mə·ḥū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8055: To brighten up, be, blithe, gleesome

and the earth
הָאָ֑רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

rejoice;
וְתָגֵ֣ל (wə·ṯā·ḡêl)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1523: To spin round, rejoice, fear

let the sea
הַ֝יָּ֗ם (hay·yām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin

resound,
יִֽרְעַ֥ם (yir·‘am)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7481: To tumble, be violently agitated, to crash, to irritate

and all that fills it.
וּמְלֹאֽוֹ׃ (ū·mə·lō·’ōw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4393: Fullness, that which fills


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OT Poetry: Psalm 96:11 Let the heavens be glad and let (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 96:10
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