Psalm 98 · a question people ask
"Let the rivers clap their hands" (98:8). Does the psalm mean the rivers and mountains really praise?
The psalm doesn't explain it. It speaks to the sea, the rivers and the mountains as it speaks to people, with the same kind of call: "Let the sea roar" (98:7), "Let the rivers clap their hands. Let the mountains sing for joy together" (98:8). In Hebrew the mountains' sing for joy is the verb of 98:4's sing for joy, said to "all the earth" (98:4). Other verses speak the same way. Isaiah says, "The mountains and the hills will break out before you into singing; and all the trees of the fields will clap their hands" (Isaiah 55:12), with 98:8's verb for clap and 98:4's for Burst out (tap clap, Burst out). Psalm 148 calls "mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars" (Psalm 148:9) to praise with the rest, from "Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures, and all depths" (Psalm 148:7). And Psalm 19 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalm 19:1). These verses stand side by side in Scripture; none of them explains how the sea or the mountains praise, and these notes don't add an explanation.
The verses
“Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Burst out and sing for joy, yes, sing praises!”
“Let the sea roar with its fullness; the world, and those who dwell therein. Let the rivers clap their hands. Let the mountains sing for joy together.”
“For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace. The mountains and the hills will break out before you into singing; and all the trees of the fields will clap their hands.”
“Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures, and all depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy wind, fulfilling his word, mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars,”