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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Psalm 97:5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/97-5.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/5/19_Psa_097_005.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Psalm 97:5 - Let the Earth Rejoice" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth." /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad5.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/psalms/97-4.htm" title="Psalm 97:4">◄</a> Psalm 97:5 <a href="/psalms/97-6.htm" title="Psalm 97:6">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/psalms/97.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/psalms/97.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/psalms/97.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/97.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/97.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/97.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/97.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/97.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/97.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/97.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/97.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />The mountains melt like wax at the presence of Yahweh, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/97.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/97.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD — at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/97.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD— at the presence of the Lord of all the earth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/97.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />The mountains melted like wax at the presence of Jehovah, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/97.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Mountains melt away like wax in the presence of the LORD of all the earth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/97.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/97.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The mountains melt like wax in the presence of the LORD, in the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/97.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The hills melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/97.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Mountains melt like wax in the LORD's presence— In the presence of the LORD of all the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/97.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/97.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of the whole earth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/97.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/97.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/97.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The mountains melt like wax at the presence of Yahweh, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/97.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Hills, like wax, melted before YHWH, "" Before the Lord of all the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/97.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Hills, like wax, melted before Jehovah, Before the Lord of all the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/97.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />The mountains melted as wax from before the face of Jehovah, from before the face of the Lord of all the earth.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/97.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />The mountains melted like wax, at the presence of the Lord: at the presence of the Lord of all the earth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/97.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 96:5>The mountains flowed like wax before the face of the Lord, before the face of the Lord of all the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/97.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/97.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/97.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the LORD of the whole earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/97.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And the mountains melted like wax before LORD JEHOVAH, the Lord of all the Earth!<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/97.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/97.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/97-5.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=12136" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/psalms/97.htm">Let the Earth Rejoice</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">4</span>His lightning illuminates the world; the earth sees and trembles. <span class="reftext">5</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/2022.htm" title="2022: hā·rîm (N-mp) -- Mountain, hill, hill country. A shortened form of harar; a mountain or range of hills.">The mountains</a> <a href="/hebrew/4549.htm" title="4549: nā·mas·sū (V-Nifal-Perf-3cp) -- To dissolve, melt. A primitive root; to liquefy; figuratively, to waste, to faint.">melt</a> <a href="/hebrew/1749.htm" title="1749: kad·dō·w·naḡ (Prep-k, Art:: N-ms) -- Wax (as melting). Of uncertain derivation; wax; -wax.">like wax</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: mil·lip̄·nê (Prep-m, Prep-l:: N-cpc) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">at the presence</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">of the LORD,</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: mil·lip̄·nê (Prep-m, Prep-l:: N-cpc) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">before</a> <a href="/hebrew/113.htm" title="113: ’ă·ḏō·wn (N-msc) -- Lord. Or adon; from an unused root; sovereign, i.e. Controller.">the Lord</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: kāl- (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">of all</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: hā·’ā·reṣ (Art:: N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">the earth.</a> </span><span class="reftext">6</span>The heavens proclaim His righteousness; all the peoples see His glory.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nahum/1-5.htm">Nahum 1:5</a></span><br />The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence—the world and all its dwellers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/1-4.htm">Micah 1:4</a></span><br />The mountains will melt beneath Him, and the valleys will split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/64-1.htm">Isaiah 64:1-3</a></span><br />If only You would rend the heavens and come down, so that mountains would quake at Your presence, / as fire kindles the brushwood and causes the water to boil, to make Your name known to Your enemies, so that the nations will tremble at Your presence! / When You did awesome works that we did not expect, You came down, and the mountains trembled at Your presence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/5-5.htm">Judges 5:5</a></span><br />The mountains quaked before the LORD, the One of Sinai, before the LORD, the God of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/habakkuk/3-6.htm">Habakkuk 3:6</a></span><br />He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations; the ancient mountains crumbled; the perpetual hills collapsed. His ways are everlasting.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/42-15.htm">Isaiah 42:15</a></span><br />I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation. I will turn the rivers into dry land and drain the marshes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/2-19.htm">Isaiah 2:19</a></span><br />Men will flee to caves in the rocks and holes in the ground, away from the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of His majesty, when He rises to shake the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/2-21.htm">Isaiah 2:21</a></span><br />They will flee to caverns in the rocks and crevices in the cliffs, away from the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of His majesty, when He rises to shake the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/6-14.htm">Revelation 6:14-17</a></span><br />The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. / Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. / And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/16-20.htm">Revelation 16:20</a></span><br />Then every island fled, and no mountain could be found.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/20-11.htm">Revelation 20:11</a></span><br />Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/19-18.htm">Exodus 19:18</a></span><br />Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke, because the LORD had descended on it in fire. And the smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/114-4.htm">Psalm 114:4-7</a></span><br />the mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. / Why was it, O sea, that you fled, O Jordan, that you turned back, / O mountains, that you skipped like rams, O hills, like lambs? ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/40-4.htm">Isaiah 40:4</a></span><br />Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/41-15.htm">Isaiah 41:15</a></span><br />Behold, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.</p><p class="hdg">hills</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/5-4.htm">Judges 5:4,5</a></b></br> LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/24-19.htm">Isaiah 24:19,20</a></b></br> The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/64-1.htm">Isaiah 64:1,2</a></b></br> Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, … </p><p class="hdg">the Lord of</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/47-2.htm">Psalm 47:2</a></b></br> For the LORD most high <i>is</i> terrible; <i>he is</i> a great King over all the earth.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/83-18.htm">Psalm 83:18</a></b></br> That <i>men</i> may know that thou, whose name alone <i>is</i> JEHOVAH, <i>art</i> the most high over all the earth.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/54-5.htm">Isaiah 54:5</a></b></br> For thy Maker <i>is</i> thine husband; the LORD of hosts <i>is</i> his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/97-4.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/psalms/95-4.htm">Hills</a> <a href="/psalms/75-3.htm">Melt</a> <a href="/psalms/75-3.htm">Melted</a> <a href="/psalms/95-4.htm">Mountains</a> <a href="/psalms/96-9.htm">Presence</a> <a href="/psalms/68-2.htm">Wax</a> <a href="/psalms/86-12.htm">Whole</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/97-9.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/psalms/98-8.htm">Hills</a> <a href="/psalms/112-10.htm">Melt</a> <a href="/psalms/107-26.htm">Melted</a> <a href="/psalms/98-8.htm">Mountains</a> <a href="/psalms/100-2.htm">Presence</a> <a href="/psalms/102-26.htm">Wax</a> <a href="/psalms/105-16.htm">Whole</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 97</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/97-1.htm">The majesty of God's kingdom</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/97-7.htm">The church rejoices at God's judgments upon idolaters</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/97-10.htm">An exhortation to godliness and gladness</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/97.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/psalms/97.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>The mountains melt like wax</b><br>This phrase illustrates the overwhelming power and majesty of God. Mountains, often seen as symbols of strength and permanence, are depicted as melting like wax, emphasizing their fragility before the divine presence. This imagery is reminiscent of other biblical passages where God's power is demonstrated through nature, such as in <a href="/nahum/1-5.htm">Nahum 1:5</a>, where mountains quake before Him. The metaphor of melting wax suggests a complete transformation, indicating that nothing can withstand God's presence.<p><b>at the presence of the LORD</b><br>The presence of the LORD signifies His immediate and active involvement in the world. In the Old Testament, God's presence is often associated with His glory and holiness, as seen in <a href="/exodus/19-18.htm">Exodus 19:18</a>, where Mount Sinai is covered with smoke because the LORD descended on it in fire. This presence is both awe-inspiring and fearsome, causing natural elements to respond dramatically. It underscores the belief that God is not distant but actively engaged with His creation.<p><b>before the Lord of all the earth</b><br>This phrase affirms God's sovereignty over the entire earth, not just a specific region or people. It reflects the monotheistic belief that the LORD is the supreme ruler of all creation, as seen in passages like <a href="/psalms/24.htm">Psalm 24:1</a>, which declares that the earth is the LORD's and everything in it. This universal lordship is a central theme in the Psalms, emphasizing that God's authority and power extend beyond Israel to encompass all nations and lands. It also foreshadows the New Testament revelation of Jesus Christ as the Lord of all, as seen in <a href="/philippians/2-10.htm">Philippians 2:10-11</a>, where every knee shall bow and every tongue confess His lordship.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The central figure in this verse, representing God's supreme power and authority over creation.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/m/mountains.htm">Mountains</a></b><br>Symbolic of strength, stability, and permanence in the natural world, yet they melt before God's presence, illustrating His overwhelming power.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/e/earth.htm">Earth</a></b><br>The domain over which God reigns as Lord, emphasizing His sovereignty over all creation.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>God's presence is so powerful that even the most stable and enduring parts of creation, like mountains, cannot withstand it. This reminds us of His ultimate authority over all things.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/reverence_for_god.htm">Reverence for God</a></b><br>Recognizing the power of God's presence should lead us to a deeper reverence and awe. We are called to worship Him with the understanding of His majesty and might.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/transformation_in_god's_presence.htm">Transformation in God's Presence</a></b><br>Just as mountains melt, our hearts and lives can be transformed when we encounter God. We should seek His presence to bring about change and renewal in our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_power.htm">Trust in God's Power</a></b><br>In times of trouble or when facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, we can trust in God's power to overcome and transform any situation.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/creation's_response_to_god.htm">Creation's Response to God</a></b><br>The natural world responds to God's presence, reminding us that all creation is under His command. This should encourage us to live in harmony with God's will.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_97.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 97</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/can_'mountains_melt_like_wax'_be_literal.htm">How could “mountains melt like wax” (Psalm 97:5) be taken literally without contradicting known geological processes? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_do_psalm_46_3_waters_conflict_today.htm">Why does the imagery of roaring and foaming waters (Psalm 46:3) conflict with modern oceanographic understanding? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_literal_is_'mountains_skipping'.htm">How literally should we interpret the “mountains skipping” in Psalm 114:4, and what scientific mechanisms could explain this imagery? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_judges_5_4-5_align_with_geology.htm">Judges 5:4-5: How do descriptions of mountains melting and the earth trembling align with natural phenomena or geological records? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/97.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(5) <span class= "bld">The hills melted.</span>--Comp. <a href="/psalms/68-8.htm" title="The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.">Psalm 68:8</a>, Note: <a href="/micah/1-4.htm" title="And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place.">Micah 1:4</a>.<p><span class= "bld">The Lord of the whole earth.</span>--An expression first met with exactly in <a href="/context/joshua/3-11.htm" title="Behold, the ark of the covenant of the LORD of all the earth passes over before you into Jordan.">Joshua 3:11-13</a>, though Abraham speaks of God as judge of the whole earth (<a href="/genesis/18-25.htm" title="That be far from you to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from you: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?">Genesis 18:25</a>). (Comp. <a href="/micah/4-13.htm" title="Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make your horn iron, and I will make your hoofs brass: and you shall beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain to the LORD, and their substance to the Lord of the whole earth.">Micah 4:13</a>; <a href="/zechariah/4-10.htm" title="For who has despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.">Zechariah 4:10</a>; <a href="/zechariah/6-5.htm" title="And the angel answered and said to me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the LORD of all the earth.">Zechariah 6:5</a>.) Though Jehovah was the tribal God, yet in marked distinction to surrounding tribes Israel regarded Him as having universal dominion. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/97.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 5.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord</span> (comp. <a href="/judges/5-5.htm">Judges 5:5</a>; <a href="/isaiah/64-1.htm">Isaiah 64:1</a>; <a href="/micah/1-4.htm">Micah 1:4</a>). The earth itself is regarded as not only shaken (ver. 4), but as melting and crumbling away at the descent of God from heaven to earth (comp. <a href="/2_peter/3-10.htm">2 Peter 3:10</a>). <span class="cmt_word">At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth</span> (comp. <a href="/joshua/3-11.htm">Joshua 3:11, 13</a>; <a href="/micah/4-13.htm">Micah 4:13</a>; <a href="/zechariah/4-14.htm">Zechariah 4:14</a>; <a href="/zechariah/6-5.htm">Zechariah 6:5</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/97-5.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">The mountains</span><br /><span class="heb">הָרִ֗ים</span> <span class="translit">(hā·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2022.htm">Strong's 2022: </a> </span><span class="str2">Mountain, hill, hill country</span><br /><br /><span class="word">melt</span><br /><span class="heb">נָ֭מַסּוּ</span> <span class="translit">(nā·mas·sū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4549.htm">Strong's 4549: </a> </span><span class="str2">To liquefy, to waste, to faint</span><br /><br /><span class="word">like wax</span><br /><span class="heb">כַּדּוֹנַ֗ג</span> <span class="translit">(kad·dō·w·naḡ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1749.htm">Strong's 1749: </a> </span><span class="str2">Wax (as melting)</span><br /><br /><span class="word">at the presence</span><br /><span class="heb">מִלִּפְנֵ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(mil·lip̄·nê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m, Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the LORD,</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">before</span><br /><span class="heb">מִ֝לִּפְנֵ֗י</span> <span class="translit">(mil·lip̄·nê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m, Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the Lord</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲד֣וֹן</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·ḏō·wn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_113.htm">Strong's 113: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sovereign, controller</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of all</span><br /><span class="heb">כָּל־</span> <span class="translit">(kāl-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The whole, all, any, every</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the earth.</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאָֽרֶץ׃</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ā·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/97-5.htm">Psalm 97:5 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/97-5.htm">Psalm 97:5 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/97-5.htm">Psalm 97:5 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/97-5.htm">Psalm 97:5 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/97-5.htm">Psalm 97:5 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/97-5.htm">Psalm 97:5 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/97-5.htm">Psalm 97:5 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/97-5.htm">Psalm 97:5 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/97-5.htm">Psalm 97:5 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/97-5.htm">Psalm 97:5 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/97-5.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 97:5 The mountains melt like wax at (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/97-4.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 97:4"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 97:4" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/97-6.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 97:6"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 97:6" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>