Psalms 50:1

Authorized King James Version

The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.

Word-by-Word Analysis

אֵ֤ל׀

H410

The mighty

strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the almighty (but used also of any deity)

אֱֽלֹהִ֡ים

H430

God

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

יְֽהוָ֗ה

H3068

even the LORD

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

דִּבֶּ֥ר

H1696

hath spoken

perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

וַיִּקְרָא

H7121

and called

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

אָ֑רֶץ

H776

the earth

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

מִמִּזְרַח

H4217

from the rising

sunrise, i.e., the east

שֶׁ֝֗מֶשׁ

H8121

of the sun

the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e., (architectural) a notched battlement

עַד

H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

#10

מְבֹאֽוֹ׃

H3996

unto the going down

an entrance (the place or the act); specifically sunset or the west; also (adverb with preposition) towards

Analysis

The worship and praise theme here intersects with the broader canonical witness to God's character and purposes. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of progressive revelation that finds its culmination in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's consistent character and purposes.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the Israelite monarchy with its court politics and military conflicts. The author writes to address worshipers in the temple and those seeking God in times of distress, making the emphasis on worship and praise particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

How does the worship and praise theme in this verse connect to the overarching narrative of Scripture, and what does this reveal about God's character and purposes?
What systematic theological implications arise from this verse's treatment of worship and praise, and how does it contribute to a biblical theology of fundamental Christian doctrine?
In what ways does understanding divine sovereignty in its original context challenge or deepen contemporary Christian thinking about worship and praise?