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Psalm 93

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This article is aboutPsalm 93in Hebrew (Masoretic) numbering. ForPsalm 93in Greek Septuagint or Latin Vulgate numbering, seePsalm 94.

Psalm 93
"The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty"
Royal psalm
Verse 5 engraved in Welsh at Peniel Chapel,Tremadog,Gwynedd,in 1811
Other name
  • Psalm 92 (Vulgate)
  • Dominus regnavit, decorem indutus est
LanguageHebrew (original)
Psalm 93
BookBook of Psalms
Hebrew Bible partKetuvim
Order in the Hebrew part1
CategorySifrei Emet
Christian Bible partOld Testament
Order in the Christian part19

Psalm 93is the 93rd psalm of theBook of Psalms,beginning in English in theKing James Version:"The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty". The Latin wording isDominus regnavit, decorem indutus est.[1]The Book of Psalms is part of theHebrew Bibleand the ChristianOld Testament.In the slightly different numbering system of the GreekSeptuagintand LatinVulgateversions of the Bible, this psalm isPsalm 92.It is the first of a series of psalms (Psalms 93–99) which are calledroyal psalmsas they praise God as King.[2]

In theMasoretic textand in English versions it has no title or author, but the Septuagint and Vulgate entitle it "On the day before the Sabbath, when the earth was founded: A Psalm of thanksgiving to (or for)David".[3]

The psalm forms a regular part ofJewish,Catholic,Lutheran,Anglicanand other Protestant worship. It has often been set to music. The Latin version was set byHildegard of Bingen,Josquin des Prez,Jean-Joseph de MondonvilleandJules Van Nuffel,among others.Heinrich SchützandFerdinand Hillercomposed settings in German.Handelused verses from the psalm for hisChandos AnthemNo. 4for use in the Anglican Church.

Background and themes

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The two main themes of Psalm 93 are God's kingship and a connection with Friday, the sixth day of the week (counting from Sunday). TheZoharnotes that in Hebrew, this psalm contains 45 words, which is thegematria(numerical value) of the wordadam(Hebrew:אדם,"man" ).Adamwas created on the sixth day ofCreationand went on to proclaim God as King.[4][5]Psalm 93 was also designated as theSong of the Dayfor Friday, to be sung by theLevitesin theTemple in Jerusalem:[6]this tradition continues today in the psalm's inclusion in the regular Fridaymorning prayer servicein Judaism.[7]According to RabbiYaakov Emden,the connection with the sixth day is reinforced by the psalm's description of God "in His full grandeur and power as He was when He completed the six days of Creation", and the reference to donning grandeur further alludes to the way Jews dress up in their nicest garments on Friday to greet the approachingShabbat.[6][8]Psalm 93 also hints to the futureMessianic Age,when the entire world will acknowledge God as King.[9]

Charles Spurgeonnotes that the Septuagint connects Psalm 93 with the sixth day of the week by titling it "On the day before the Sabbath, when the earth was founded: A Psalm of thanksgiving to (or for) David". This wording was similarly adopted by the Vulgate:Psalmus ipsi David, quarta sabbati.[10][3]Spurgeon adds that the theme of God's sovereignty is clear from the first line of the psalm.[3]Matthew Henrynotes how the psalm reinforces God's kingship by comparing him to earthly kings, stating:

Concerning God's kingdom glorious things are here spoken.
I. Have other kings their royal robes? So has he (v. 1).
II. Have they their thrones? So has he (v. 2).
III. Have they their enemies whom they subdue and triumph over? So has he (v. 3, v. 4).
IV. Is it their honour to be faithful and holy? So it is his (v. 5).[11]

Text

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Hebrew

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The following table shows the Hebrew text[12][13]of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon theJPS 1917translation (now in thepublic domain).

Verse Hebrew English translation (JPS 1917)
1 יְהֹוָ֣ה מָלָךְ֮ גֵּא֢וּת לָ֫בֵ֥שׁ לָבֵ֣שׁ יְ֭הֹוָה עֹ֣ז הִתְאַזָּ֑ר אַף־תִּכּ֥וֹן תֵּ֝בֵ֗ל בַּל־תִּמּֽוֹט׃‎ The LORD reigneth; He is clothed in majesty; The LORD is clothed, He hath girded Himself with strength; Yea, the world is established, that it cannot be moved.
2 נָכ֣וֹן כִּסְאֲךָ֣ מֵאָ֑ז מֵעוֹלָ֣ם אָֽתָּה׃‎ Thy throne is established of old; Thou art from everlasting.
3 נָשְׂא֤וּ נְהָר֨וֹת ׀ יְֽהֹוָ֗ה נָשְׂא֣וּ נְהָר֣וֹת קוֹלָ֑ם יִשְׂא֖וּ נְהָר֣וֹת דׇּכְיָֽם׃‎ The floods have lifted up, O LORD, The floods have lifted up their voice; The floods lift up their roaring.
4 מִקֹּל֨וֹת ׀ מַ֤יִם רַבִּ֗ים אַדִּירִ֣ים מִשְׁבְּרֵי־יָ֑ם אַדִּ֖יר בַּמָּר֣וֹם יְהֹוָֽה׃‎ Above the voices of many waters, The mighty breakers of the sea, The LORD on high is mighty.
5 עֵֽדֹתֶ֨יךָ ׀ נֶאֶמְנ֬וּ מְאֹ֗ד לְבֵיתְךָ֥ נַאֲוָה־קֹ֑דֶשׁ יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה לְאֹ֣רֶךְ יָמִֽים׃‎ Thy testimonies are very sure, Holiness becometh Thy house, O LORD, for evermore.

King James Version

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  1. The LORDreigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is established, that it cannot be moved.
  2. Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.
  3. The floods have lifted up, O LORD,the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.
  4. The LORDon high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.
  5. Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD,for ever.

Textual witnesses

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Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter inHebreware of theMasoretic Texttradition, which includes theAleppo Codex(10th century), andCodex Leningradensis(1008).[14]

The extantpalimpsestAqTaylorincludes a translation intoKoine GreekbyAquila of Sinopein c. 130 CE, containing verse 3.[15]

Uses

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A plaque with Psalm 93:4 is affixed to the south side of the west pier lightouse, Whitby, United Kingdom.

Judaism

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Psalm 93 is theSong of the DayforFriday,recited in that day'smorning prayer service.[7]Some communities also recite this psalm as thema'amad(special daily prayer) for Friday.[16]Additionally, Psalm 93 is the final psalm said during theKabbalat Shabbatservice on Friday night, acting as a summation of the preceding seven psalms.[17][18]It is also recited in its entirety duringPesukei dezimraon Shabbat,Yom Tov,and - in many communities - onHoshana Rabbah.[19]In most Sephardic communities, it is recited in mincha on Friday as well.

Verse 1 (in the Hebrew) is quoted in MishnahTamid7:4.[20] Verse 1 is also one of the ten verses in the section ofMalkhuyot(Sovereignty) which is recited in theMussafAmidahonRosh Hashanah.[21][16][22]

Verse 4 (in the Hebrew) is said by the seas inPerek Shirah.[16][23]

Psalm 93 is said as a prayer for success in a court case.[24]

Musical settings

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Interior ofSt. Rumbold's CathedralinMechelen,Belgium, whereVan Nuffelworked

Catholic

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"Dominus regnavit" is Psalm 92 in the Vulgate; it was set byHildegard of Bingen.[25]Amotetsetting it for choira cappella,with an added doxology, is attributed toJosquin des Prez.[26][27]

Jean-Joseph de Mondonvilleset the psalm in 1734 as aGrand Motetin severalmovements,Dominus regnavit decorum.[28]François Giroustset aGrand motetin 1764.Jules Van Nuffel,founder and conductor of the choir atSt. Rumbold's CathedralinMechelen,Belgium,[29]set the psalm in Latin,Dominus regnavit,for four-to-six-part choir and organ, Op. 49, in 1935.[30]

Protestant

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The Lutheran Baroque composerHeinrich Schützset Psalm 93 in German, "Der Herr ist König herrlich schön" (The Lord is King, heavenly beautiful), for choir as part of his composition of theBecker Psalter,SWV 191.[31]Handelused verses from the psalm for hisChandos AnthemNo. 4in 1717 or 1718, intended for use in theAnglican Church.[32]

Ferdinand Hillerwrote a setting in German for men's choir and orchestra, published in Leipzig, 1864.[33]

In theFree Church of Scotland's 2003 psalter,Sing Psalms,Psalm 93 starts "The Lord is king; his throne endures." Set to thecommon meter,the recommended melodies are St. Magnus, Southwark and Stroudwater.[34]

Jewish

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Shlomo Carlebachcomposed a melody for the last two verses in the Hebrew, to be sung duringKabbalat Shabbat.[35]Charles Salamanarranged a setting based onMendelssohn'sElijahthat is sung in the Friday night shabbat service in London'sSpanish and Portuguesesynagogue.

References

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  1. ^Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 92 (93)Archived30 June 2017 at theWayback Machinemedievalist.net
  2. ^Nelson 2018,p. 855.
  3. ^abcSpurgeon, C.,The Treasury of David: Psalm 93,accessed 30 March 2022
  4. ^ZoharIII,Emor.
  5. ^Nulman 1996,pp. 160–161.
  6. ^abScherman 2005,p. 322.
  7. ^abNulman 1996,p. 160.
  8. ^Abramowitz, Rabbi Jack (2019)."Friday".Orthodox Union.Retrieved11 February2019.
  9. ^Scherman 2005,pp. 321–322.
  10. ^Psalm 93:1:Vulgate
  11. ^Henry, Matthew(2019)."Psalms 93".Bible Study Tools.Retrieved11 February2019.
  12. ^"Psalms – Chapter 93".Mechon Mamre.
  13. ^"Psalms 93 - JPS 1917".Sefaria.org.
  14. ^*Würthwein, Ernst(1995).The Text of the Old Testament.Translated by Rhodes, Erroll F. Grand Rapids, MI:William B. Eerdmans.pp. 35–37.ISBN0-8028-0788-7.Retrieved26 January2019.
  15. ^*Schürer, Emil; Vermes, Geza; Millar, Fergus (2014).The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ: Volume 3.i.A&C Black. p. 497.ISBN9780567604521.
  16. ^abcBrauner, Reuven (2013)."Shimush Pesukim: Comprehensive Index to Liturgical and Ceremonial Uses of Biblical Verses and Passages"(PDF)(2nd ed.). p. 44.
  17. ^Nulman 1996,p. 161.
  18. ^Scherman 2005,p. 321.
  19. ^Scherman 2005,p. 388.
  20. ^Scherman 2005,p. 479.
  21. ^Scherman 1989,p. 456.
  22. ^Birnbaum,p. 55.
  23. ^Slifkin, Nosson(2002)."Perek Shirah"(PDF).Zoo Torah. p. 4.Retrieved11 February2019.
  24. ^"Success".Daily Tehillim.Archived fromthe originalon 14 December 2018.Retrieved11 February2019.
  25. ^11,000 virgins: chants for the Feast of St. Ursulasearchworks.stanford
  26. ^Free scores by Dominus regnavit (Josquin des Prez)in theChoral Public Domain Library(ChoralWiki).
  27. ^Willem Elders:Josquin Des Prez and His Musical Legacy: An Introductory Guide,Leuven University Press,2013
  28. ^Jean-Joseph Cassan Mondonville (1711–1772) / Grand Motet `Dominus regnavit decorum` (Psalm 92) (1734)https://classical-music-online.net/en/production/46688
  29. ^Jules Van Nuffel / Biographyjulesvannuffel.be
  30. ^Dominus regnavit, Op.49 (Nuffel, Jules van):Scores at theInternational Music Score Library Project
  31. ^Schütz, Heinrich / Der Beckersche Psalter SWV 97a-256aBärenreiter
  32. ^Reininghaus, Till (2009)."O sing unto the Lord a new song / Cannons Anthem (2nd version) / HWV 249b"(PDF).Carus-Verlag.p. 2.Retrieved11 February2019.
  33. ^Psalm 93, Op.112 (Hiller, Ferdinand):Scores at theInternational Music Score Library Project
  34. ^"Sing Psalms Combined Word Edition (incl Scottish Psalter)"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 24 December 2018.Retrieved19 September2019.
  35. ^"Mikolot Mayim".Zemirot Database.Retrieved11 February2019.

Cited sources

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