Psalms 96:4
For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
Psalms 96:4
Verse 4 proclaims God’s greatness and majesty above all other gods, a recurring refrain in Psalms where the supremacy of Yahweh is asserted over deities of surrounding nations. The language of fear (“to be feared”) confirms reverence due to God’s incomparable power and holiness. This stance is central to Israel’s identity: monotheism grounded in the experience of God’s mighty acts. The verse functions as both praise and apologetic, declaring God’s supremacy to strengthen faith within the community and to present a robust confession to outsiders.
Theologically, the verse reinforces the uniqueness of God—the Creator who alone deserves supreme awe. It aligns with the Shema and broader biblical narrative that God’s people worship the one, true God who sovereignly rules over history. The “greatly to be praised” motif highlights God’s worthiness of all devotion and life under his lordship.
Practically, this invites a posture of worship where no other priorities eclipse God. In daily life, check for competing idols—money, status, technology, comfort—and recalibrate toward worship that honors God. In conversations or debates about faith, ground arguments in the revealed greatness and supremacy of God, inviting others to consider his worthiness.
Cross-References: Exodus 15:11; 1 Chronicles 16:25; Isaiah 45:5; Romans 1:25