Psalm 93 is the 93rd psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty". The Latin wording is Dominus regnavit, decorem indutus est.[1] The Book of Psalms is part of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. In the slightly different numbering system of the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate versions of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 92. It is the first of a series of psalms (Psalms 93–99) which are called royal psalms as they praise God as King.[2]
In the Masoretic text and in English versions it has no title or author, but the Septuagint and Vulgate entitle it "On the day before the Sabbath, when the earth was founded: A Psalm of thanksgiving to (or for) David".[3]
The two main themes of Psalm 93 are God's kingship and a connection with Friday, the sixth day of the week (counting from Sunday). The Zohar notes that in Hebrew, this psalm contains 45 words, which is the gematria (numerical value) of the word adam (Hebrew: אדם, "man"). Adam was created on the sixth day of Creation and went on to proclaim God as King.[4][5] Psalm 93 was also designated as the Song of the Day for Friday, to be sung by the Levites in the Temple in Jerusalem:[6] this tradition continues today in the psalm's inclusion in the regular Friday morning prayer service in Judaism.[7] According to Rabbi Yaakov Emden, the connection with the sixth day is reinforced by the psalm's description of God "in His full grandeur and power as He was when He completed the six days of Creation", and the reference to donning grandeur further alludes to the way Jews dress up in their nicest garments on Friday to greet the approaching Shabbat.[6][8] Psalm 93 also hints to the future Messianic Age, when the entire world will acknowledge God as King.[9]
Charles Spurgeon notes that the Septuagint connects Psalm 93 with the sixth day of the week by titling it "On the day before the Sabbath, when the earth was founded: A Psalm of thanksgiving to (or for) David". This wording was similarly adopted by the Vulgate: Psalmus ipsi David, quarta sabbati.[10][3] Spurgeon adds that the theme of God's sovereignty is clear from the first line of the psalm.[3]Matthew Henry notes how the psalm reinforces God's kingship by comparing him to earthly kings, stating:
Concerning God's kingdom glorious things are here spoken. I. Have other kings their royal robes? So has he (v. 1). II. Have they their thrones? So has he (v. 2). III. Have they their enemies whom they subdue and triumph over? So has he (v. 3, v. 4). IV. Is it their honour to be faithful and holy? So it is his (v. 5).[11]
Text
Hebrew
The following table shows the Hebrew text[12][13] of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).
The LORD reigneth; He is clothed in majesty; The LORD is clothed, He hath girded Himself with strength; Yea, the world is established, that it cannot be moved.
2
נָכ֣וֹן כִּסְאֲךָ֣ מֵאָ֑ז מֵעוֹלָ֣ם אָֽתָּה׃
Thy throne is established of old; Thou art from everlasting.
Thy testimonies are very sure, Holiness becometh Thy house, O LORD, for evermore.
King James Version
The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is established, that it cannot be moved.
Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.
The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.
The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.
Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.
Psalm 93 is the Song of the Day for Friday, recited in that day's morning prayer service.[7] Some communities also recite this psalm as the ma'amad (special daily prayer) for Friday.[16] Additionally, Psalm 93 is the final psalm said during the Kabbalat Shabbat service on Friday night, acting as a summation of the preceding seven psalms.[17][18] It is also recited in its entirety during Pesukei dezimra on Shabbat, Yom Tov, and - in many communities - on Hoshana Rabbah.[19] In most Sephardic communities, it is recited in mincha on Friday as well.
The Lutheran Baroque composer Heinrich Schütz set Psalm 93 in German, "Der Herr ist König herrlich schön" (The Lord is King, heavenly beautiful), for choir as part of his composition of the Becker Psalter, SWV 191.[33]Handel used verses from the psalm for his Chandos Anthem No. 4 in 1717 or 1718, intended for use in the Anglican Church.[34]
Ferdinand Hiller wrote a setting in German for men's choir and orchestra, published in Leipzig, 1864.[35]
In the Free Church of Scotland's 2003 psalter, Sing Psalms, Psalm 93 starts "The Lord is king; his throne endures." Set to the common meter, the recommended melodies are St. Magnus, Southwark and Stroudwater.[36]