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Psalm 97 · a question people ask

Who are "all you gods" told to worship him (97:7)?

In the text

The psalm doesn't say. The same verse speaks of those "who serve engraved images, who boast in their idols" (97:7), and the psalm before says, "For all the gods of the peoples are idols" (Psalm 96:5). Psalm 97 says two things of the gods: they are told, "Worship him" (97:7), and the LORD is "exalted far above all gods" (97:9). Hebrews has words close to 97:7's, said when God "again brings in the firstborn into the world": "Let all the angels of God worship him" (Hebrews 1:6). The WEB words differ (all you gods, all the angels of God), and Hebrews doesn't say which Scripture it is quoting, so these notes don't claim it quotes this psalm. Psalm 82's honest question sets out the main readings of "the gods" in that psalm (Psalm 82:1, 82:6). Psalm 97 doesn't settle who they are here, and these notes don't either.

The verses

“Let all them be shamed who serve engraved images, who boast in their idols. Worship him, all you gods!”
Psalm 97:7 · World English Bible
“For you, LORD, are most high above all the earth. You are exalted far above all gods.”
Psalm 97:9 · World English Bible
“For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.”
Psalm 96:5 · World English Bible
“When he again brings in the firstborn into the world he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him.””
Hebrews 1:6 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 97

Psalm 97: Light is sown

Psalm 97's clouds, thick darkness, fire and lightning are the same Hebrew words the Law uses of the day at the mountain (Exodus 19:16, Deuteronomy 4:11). And near its end the psalm doesn't say light shines on the righteous: it says light is sown for them, like seed (97:11).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions