Psalms

Psalm 97:2–5

²Clouds and darkness surround Him;

righteousness and justice are His throne’s foundation.

³Fire goes before Him

and consumes His foes on every side.

⁴His lightning illuminates the world;

the earth sees and trembles.

⁵The mountains melt like wax

at the presence of the LORD,

before the Lord of all the earth.

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Clouds	עָנָ֣ן	‘ā·nān	Noun - masculine singular	H6051 cloud-mass, cloud
and darkness	וַעֲרָפֶ֣ל	wa·‘ă·rā·p̄el	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H6205 cloud, heavy cloud
surround Him	סְבִיבָ֑יו	sə·ḇî·ḇāw	Adverb; third person masculine singular	H5439 circuit, round about
righteousness	צֶ֥דֶק	ṣe·ḏeq	Noun - masculine singular	H6664 rightness, righteousness
and justice	וּ֝מִשְׁפָּ֗ט	ū·miš·pāṭ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H4941 judgment
are His throne’s	כִּסְאֽוֹ׃	kis·’ōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H3678 seat
foundation	מְכ֣וֹן	mə·ḵō·wn	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4349 fixed or established place, foundation

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Fire	אֵ֭שׁ	’êš	Noun - common singular	H784 fire
goes	תֵּלֵ֑ךְ	tê·lêḵ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
before Him	לְפָנָ֣יו	lə·p̄ā·nāw	Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct; third person masculine singular	H6440 face, before
and consumes	וּתְלַהֵ֖ט	ū·ṯə·la·hêṭ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H3857 blaze up, flame
His foes	צָרָֽיו׃	ṣā·rāw	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H6862 narrow, tight
on every side	סָבִ֣יב	sā·ḇîḇ	Adverb	H5439 circuit, round about

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
His lightning	בְרָקָ֣יו	ḇə·rā·qāw	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H1300 lightning
illuminates	הֵאִ֣ירוּ	hê·’î·rū	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural	H215 be or become light
the world	תֵּבֵ֑ל	tê·ḇêl	Noun - feminine singular	H8398 world
the earth	הָאָֽרֶץ׃	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
sees	רָאֲתָ֖ה	rā·’ă·ṯāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H7200 see
and trembles	וַתָּחֵ֣ל	wat·tā·ḥêl	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H2342 whirl, dance, writhe

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The mountains	הָרִ֗ים	hā·rîm	Noun - masculine plural	H2022 mountain, hill, hill-country
melt	נָ֭מַסּוּ	nā·mas·sū	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural	H4549 dissolve, melt
like wax	כַּדּוֹנַ֗ג	kad·dō·w·naḡ	Preposition-k, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1749 wax
at the presence	מִלִּפְנֵ֣י	mil·lip̄·nê	Preposition-m, Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct	H6440 face, before
of the LORD	יְהוָ֑ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
before	מִ֝לִּפְנֵ֗י	mil·lip̄·nê	Preposition-m, Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct	H6440 face, before
the Lord	אֲד֣וֹן	’ă·ḏō·wn	Noun - masculine singular construct	H113 lord
of all	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the earth	הָאָֽרֶץ׃	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land