The Meaning of Psalms 98:9 Explained

Psalms 98:9

KJV: Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

YLT: Before Jehovah, For He hath come to judge the earth, He judgeth the world in righteousness, And the people in uprightness!

Darby: Before Jehovah, for he cometh to judge the earth: he will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

ASV: Before Jehovah; for he cometh to judge the earth: He will judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with equity.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Before  the LORD;  for he cometh  to judge  the earth:  with righteousness  shall he judge  the world,  and the people  with equity. 

What does Psalms 98:9 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The prospect of Yahweh balancing the scales of justice is good reason for universal rejoicing. His "coming" describes a literal visit to this earth, rather than just a heavenly judgment and reign. [1]
This psalm should help God"s people view the Lord"s coming to earth to reign as a blessing, rather than something they should fear. Even though He will rule with an iron rod ( Psalm 2:9), His coming will be a good thing for humankind. We who are believers should rejoice greatly as we anticipate it, and we should pray for its arrival ( Matthew 6:10; Luke 11:2).

Context Summary

Psalms 98:1-9 - Worthy Of Praise From All The Earth
This psalm is parallel to Psalms 96:1-13. That dealt with the reign of God; this deals with the victory on which that reign is based, Psalms 98:1. God could create without restraint, but before He could redeem, He had to quell the resistance of evil and to overcome the prince of this world. Hence the long conflict; but salvation was wrought by that Holy Arm which was outstretched on the Cross, and by the Right Hand which gave itself to the nails. In the Resurrection and Ascension our Lord's righteousness and salvation were openly manifested. See Colossians 2:15.
The "Hallelujah Chorus" of Psalms 98:4-9 well befits the triumph of Christ. Earth that shared in the fall of man shall participate in his redemption. See Isaiah 32:1-20. Too long has nature groaned and travailed, like an imprisoned captive; but she shall have her rebirth. When Jesus is King, seas and floods, mountains and hills, are filled with music. Nature is like a stringed instrument that awaits tuning and the touch of a master-hand. Revelation 5:1-14, gives the counterpart of the psalmist's summons; here the Apostle tells us that the song which started from the elders was echoed back from all things in heaven, on earth, and in the sea, and all that is in them. Be optimistic. Eat your meat with gladness and singleness of heart. You are on the winning and singing side. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 98

1  The psalmist exhorts the Jews
4  The Gentiles
7  And all the creatures, to praise God

What do the individual words in Psalms 98:9 mean?

Before Yahweh for He is coming to judge the earth He shall judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity
לִֽפְֽנֵי־ יְהוָ֗ה כִּ֥י בָא֮ לִשְׁפֹּ֪ט הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ יִשְׁפֹּֽט־ תֵּבֵ֥ל בְּצֶ֑דֶק וְ֝עַמִּ֗ים בְּמֵישָׁרִֽים

לִֽפְֽנֵי־  Before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יְהוָ֗ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בָא֮  He  is  coming 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
לִשְׁפֹּ֪ט  to  judge 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁפַט  
Sense: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish.
הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
יִשְׁפֹּֽט־  He  shall  judge 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁפַט  
Sense: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish.
תֵּבֵ֥ל  the  world 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֵּבֵל  
Sense: world.
בְּצֶ֑דֶק  with  righteousness 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: צֶדֶק  
Sense: justice, rightness, righteousness.
וְ֝עַמִּ֗ים  and  the  peoples 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
בְּמֵישָׁרִֽים  with  equity 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מֵישָׁרִים  
Sense: evenness, uprightness, straightness, equity.