The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
Parallel translations
- WEB The mountains melt like wax at the presence of Yahweh, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
- KJV The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
- BSB The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.
- NKJV The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
- NLT The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Even mountains melt like wax before the LORD of all the earth. The most enduring parts of creation cannot withstand His presence.
Overview
Mountains symbolize stability and permanence, yet they dissolve before God, showing the overwhelming greatness of His glory (cf. Micah 1:4). The title 'Lord of the whole earth' affirms His universal sovereignty over every nation and place. This humbling picture exalts God as the supreme King to whom all creation must yield.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Nah 1:5The mountains quake before him, and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, yes, the world, and all who dwell in it.
- Mic 1:3–4For, behold, Yahweh comes out of his place, and will come down and tread on the high places of the earth.
- Isa 24:19–20The earth is utterly broken. The earth is torn apart. The earth is shaken violently.
- Isa 64:1–2Oh that you would tear the heavens, that you would come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence.
- Hab 3:6He stood, and shook the earth. He looked, and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains were crumbled. The age-old hills collapsed. His ways are eternal.
- Ps 47:2For Yahweh Most High is awesome. He is a great King over all the earth.
- Ps 46:6The nations raged. The kingdoms were moved. He lifted his voice, and the earth melted.
- Ps 83:18that they may know that you alone, whose name is Yahweh, are the Most High over all the earth.
- Josh 3:11Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passes over before you into the Jordan.
- Judg 5:4–5“Yahweh, when you went out of Seir, when you marched out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, the sky also dropped. Yes, the clouds dropped water.
- 1 Cor 1:2to the assembly of God which is at Corinth; those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both theirs and ours:
- Mic 4:13Arise and thresh, daughter of Zion; for I will make your horn iron, and I will make your hoofs brass; and you will beat in pieces many peoples: and I will devote their gain to Yahweh, and their substance to the Lord of the whole earth.
- Zech 4:14Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”
- Isa 54:5For your Maker is your husband; Yahweh of Armies is his name. The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer. He will be called the God of the whole earth.
- Mark 11:3If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs him;’ and immediately he will send him back here.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 97:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.