(א) שִׁירוּ לַה’ שִׁיר חָדָשׁ שִׁירוּ לַה’ כָּל־הָאָרֶץ:
(1) Sing a new song to Hashem. Sing to Hashem all the earth.
NOTE: For a PDF of this mizmor, please click here. This will enable you to print out the entire text of the article. [Rev. 1]
Key Concepts of Mizmor 096 (Singing a New Song)
This is the seventh in the series of 11 mizmorim that were originally composed by Moshe Rabbeinu and subsequently incorporated into Tehilim by David. Like the previous mizmorim, this mizmor is addressed to a generation in Galus, such as our own. However, the mizmor focuses our attention on the eagerly anticipated Geulah (Redemption), when all of mankind will unite in recognition of the One true G-d of the universe.
The mizmor is in the form of a call to the peoples of the world to join in singing a new song of devotion and praise to the King that they will have finally acknowledged. It is called a new song because it celebrates a time of universal peace and spiritual renewal that that has never existed before.
David originally sang a variation of this mizmor in conjunction with Mizmor 105 when the Holy Aron was first brought to Yerushalayim. It was subsequently adapted to be sung at the ingathering of the exiles.
Exploring the Mizmor
PART 1. INVITATION TO SONG. The mizmor begins with a call to the people of the world to join together in a song of praise to Hashem. The purpose of the song is to announce the great yeshuah that has just taken place. People throughout the world are encouraged to tell of the great wonders that have occurred.
(א) שִׁירוּ לַה’ שִׁיר חָדָשׁ שִׁירוּ לַה’ כָּל־הָאָרֶץ: (ב) שִׁירוּ לַה’ בָּרֲכוּ שְׁמוֹ בַּשְּׂרוּ מִיּוֹם־לְיוֹם יְשׁוּעָתוֹ: (ג) סַפְּרוּ בַגּוֹיִם כְּבוֹדוֹ בְּכָל־הָעַמִּים נִפְלְאוֹתָיו:
(1) Sing a new song to Hashem. Sing to Hashem all the earth. (2) Sing to Hashem, bless His Name. Announce His salvation daily. (3) Tell of His grandeur among the nations, and his wonders among all peoples.
PART 2. THE GREATNESS OF HASHEM. The singer launches into praise of Hashem that is the central theme of the mizmor. Hashem is once and for all clearly identified as the only G-d of the universe. All the false gods of the nations of the world are exposed as delusions.
(ד) כִּי גָדוֹל ה’ וּמְהֻלָּל מְאֹד נוֹרָא הוּא עַל־כָּל־אֱלֹהִים: (ה) כִּי כָּל־אֱלֹהֵי הָעַמִּים אֱלִילִים וַה’ שָׁמַיִם עָשָׂה: (ו) הוֹד־וְהָדָר לְפָנָיו עֹז וְתִפְאֶרֶת בְּמִקְדָּשׁוֹ:
(4) Hashem is great and much clorified. He stands in awesomeness above all heavenly beings. (5) For all the gods of the peoples are delusions, but Hashem made the entire cosmos. (6) Majesty and grandeur are in His presence. Might and splendor are in His holy domain.
PART 3. CALL FOR DEVOTION. The singer calls for all the nations of the world to give their devotion and loyalty to Hashem, the one true G-d. They are asked to send emissaries to the Bais Hamikdash in Yerushalayim with symbolic gifts and offerings. They are also asked to circulate the news that Hashem has now revealed Himself as King. In His role as King He will be the universal Judge of all mankind to ensure fairness and peace.
(ז) הָבוּ לַה’ מִשְׁפְּחוֹת עַמִּים הָבוּ לַה’ כָּבוֹד וָעֹז: (ח) הָבוּ לַה’ כְּבוֹד שְׁמוֹ שְׂאוּ־מִנְחָה וּבֹאוּ לְחַצְרוֹתָיו: (ט) הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַה’ בְּהַדְרַת־קֹדֶשׁ חִילוּ מִפָּנָיו כָּל־הָאָרֶץ: (י) אִמְרוּ בַגּוֹיִם ה’ מָלָךְ אַף־תִּכּוֹן תֵּבֵל בַּל־תִּמּוֹט יָדִין עַמִּים בְּמֵישָׁרִים:
(7) Give [your recognition] to Hashem, all you families of the peoples. Give [your recognition] of His honor and might to Hashem . (8) Give honor [worthy of] His Name to Hashem. Carry gift offerings and come to His courtyards. (9) Bow before Hashem in the splendor of His holy place. Tremble before Him, all the earth. (10) Tell it among the nations: “Hashem has revealed Himself as King.” Indeed, He has established the world so that it will not falter. He will judge the peoples with fairness.
PART 4. UNIVERSAL JOY. The singer calls upon all of nature to share in the universal joy of mankind in appreciation for the blessings of peace and the happiness in being under the faithful care of Hashem.
(יא) יִשְׂמְחוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְתָגֵל הָאָרֶץ יִרְעַם הַיָּם וּמְלֹאוֹ: (יב) יַעֲלֹז שָׂדַי וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־בּוֹ אָז יְרַנְּנוּ כָּל־עֲצֵי־יָעַר: (יג) לִפְנֵי ה’ כִּי בָא כִּי בָא לִשְׁפֹּט הָאָרֶץ יִשְׁפֹּט־תֵּבֵל בְּצֶדֶק וְעַמִּים בֶּאֱמוּנָתוֹ:
(11) The heavens will rejoice and the earth will exult. The sea and all that is within it will roar. (12) The field and that is within it will exult. Then all the trees of the forest will sing with joy … (13) in the presence of Hashem. For He will have arrived. He will have arrived to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and peoples with His truth.
Learning the Mizmor
PART 1. INVITATION TO SONG.
(א) שִׁירוּ לַה‘ שִׁיר חָדָשׁ
שִׁירוּ לַה‘ כָּל הָאָרֶץ:
שִׁירוּ לַה‘ כָּל הָאָרֶץ:
At the final Redemption when all of mankind unites in peace, let everyone sing a new song to Hashem — שִׁירוּ לַה’ שִׁיר חָדָשׁ for such a phenomenon has never occurred before in the history of mankind. The old songs no longer do justice to the wonders of the current era. Sing praises to Hashem, upon all the earth — שִׁירוּ לַה’ כָּל־הָאָרֶץ . Every person is encoraged to take the time and effort to gain new appreciation for the wonders of the universe and to praise Hashem for them.
(ב) שִׁירוּ לַה‘ בָּרֲכוּ שְׁמוֹ
בַּשְּׂרוּ מִיּוֹם לְיוֹם יְשׁוּעָתוֹ:
בַּשְּׂרוּ מִיּוֹם לְיוֹם יְשׁוּעָתוֹ:
As for you, Yisrael, sing to Hashem in your distinctive way, bless His Name and spread your special knowledge of Him — שִׁירוּ לַה’ בָּרֲכוּ שְׁמוֹ , especially His having gathered you from the four corners of the world and united the Jewish people once more; announce His salvation daily — בַּשְּׂרוּ מִיּוֹם־לְיוֹם יְשׁוּעָתוֹ . It will be newly inspiring even after being retold day after day. Furthermore, some of the wonders are subtle and not everyone realizes how miraculous they are. Point out the special aspects of each wonderful event and phenomenon.
(ג) סַפְּרוּ בַגּוֹיִם כְּבוֹדוֹ
בְּכָל הָעַמִּים נִפְלְאוֹתָיו:
בְּכָל הָעַמִּים נִפְלְאוֹתָיו:
Tell of His grandeur among the nations and their arrogant leaders who have been mindlessly competing with each other — סַפְּרוּ בַגּוֹיִם כְּבוֹדוֹ . He is the Creator of all existence. Tell of his wonders among all peoples, — בְּכָל־הָעַמִּים נִפְלְאוֹתָיו , revealing His true greatness in contrast to the petty concerns of mankind. Make the aware of their foolishness in reviling the Jewish people.
PART 2. THE GREATNESS OF HASHEM.
(ד) כִּי גָדוֹל ה‘ וּמְהֻלָּל מְאֹד
נוֹרָא הוּא עַל כָּל אֱלֹהִים:
נוֹרָא הוּא עַל כָּל אֱלֹהִים:
But even after extoling His magnificence they must realize that He is beyond human ability to describe. To say that Hashem is great and much glorified — כִּי גָדוֹל ה’ וּמְהֻלָּל מְאֹד is insufficient for He stands in awesome exaltation above the cosmos and He is far superior to all beings, even the heavenly beings — נוֹרָא הוּא עַל־כָּל־אֱלֹהִים that we can only imagine.
(ה) כִּי כָּל אֱלֹהֵי הָעַמִּים אֱלִילִים
וַה‘ שָׁמַיִם עָשָׂה:
וַה‘ שָׁמַיִם עָשָׂה:
For all the gods of the peoples are mere delusions — כִּי כָּל־אֱלֹהֵי הָעַמִּים אֱלִילִים but Hashem actually made the entire cosmos — וַה’ שָׁמַיִם עָשָׂה and the heavenly bodies that the nations have worshipped!
(ו) הוֹד וְהָדָר לְפָנָיו
עֹז וְתִפְאֶרֶת בְּמִקְדָּשׁוֹ:
עֹז וְתִפְאֶרֶת בְּמִקְדָּשׁוֹ:
When you you look at the universe of stars and galaxies you can see that there is majesty and grandeur in His presence — הוֹד־וְהָדָר לְפָנָיו , there is might and splendor in the heavens, which have always been thought of as His holy domain — עֹז וְתִפְאֶרֶת בְּמִקְדָּשׁוֹ . And now that He has granted a yeshuah to Yisrael, Hashem has chosen to reveal His full glory.
PART 3. CALL FOR DEVOTION.
(ז) הָבוּ לַה‘ מִשְׁפְּחוֹת עַמִּים
הָבוּ לַה‘ כָּבוֹד וָעֹז:
הָבוּ לַה‘ כָּבוֹד וָעֹז:
Through your song give your unified recognition to Hashem alone, all you groupings and families of the peoples — הָבוּ לַה’ מִשְׁפְּחוֹת עַמִּים despite all your different nationalties and your powerful associations. Give your recognition of both His honor and might to Hashem — הָבוּ לַה’ כָּבוֹד וָעֹז , acknowledging His active control of the universe.
(ח) הָבוּ לַה‘ כְּבוֹד שְׁמוֹ
שְׂאוּ מִנְחָה וּבֹאוּ לְחַצְרוֹתָיו:
שְׂאוּ מִנְחָה וּבֹאוּ לְחַצְרוֹתָיו:
When you come to the Bais HaMikdash, give honor worthy of His Name to Hashem — הָבוּ לַה’ כְּבוֹד שְׁמוֹ even though you cannot see Him. Carry your symbolic gift offerings from far and wide to demonstrate your devotion and come to His courtyards in humility — שְׂאוּ־מִנְחָה וּבֹאוּ לְחַצְרוֹתָיו:
(ט) הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַה‘ בְּהַדְרַת קֹדֶשׁ
חִילוּ מִפָּנָיו כָּל הָאָרֶץ:
חִילוּ מִפָּנָיו כָּל הָאָרֶץ:
Demonstrate your submission to His infinite power as you bow before Hashem in the reflected splendor of His holy place — הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַה’ בְּהַדְרַת־קֹדֶשׁ ; tremble before Him, all peoples of the earth — חִילוּ מִפָּנָיו כָּל־הָאָרֶץ for being allowed to enter His courtyards.
(י) אִמְרוּ בַגּוֹיִם ה‘ מָלָךְ
אַף תִּכּוֹן תֵּבֵל בַּל תִּמּוֹט
יָדִין עַמִּים בְּמֵישָׁרִים:
אַף תִּכּוֹן תֵּבֵל בַּל תִּמּוֹט
יָדִין עַמִּים בְּמֵישָׁרִים:
And when your emissaries return from their mission to Hashem’s holy place, let them tell it among the nations — אִמְרוּ בַגּוֹיִם , “Hashem has revealed Himself as King — “ה’ מָלָךְ . Indeed, His reign is firm and He has established the world so that it will not falter — אַף־תִּכּוֹן תֵּבֵל בַּל־תִּמּוֹט and there will be peace throughout the world. As the King of the world He will judge all of the peoples with fairness — יָדִין עַמִּים בְּמֵישָׁרִים , rendering to each what it deserves.
PART 4. UNIVERSAL JOY.
(יא) יִשְׂמְחוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְתָגֵל הָאָרֶץ
יִרְעַם הַיָּם וּמְלֹאוֹ:
יִרְעַם הַיָּם וּמְלֹאוֹ:
The joy that the people of the world experience in this blessed era will be symbolically reflected in nature. The heavens will rejoice and the earth will exult — יִשְׂמְחוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְתָגֵל הָאָרֶץ at the opportunity to fulfill the will of the King. Likewise, the sea and all the creatures that are within it will roar — יִרְעַם הַיָּם וּמְלֹאוֹ , ito celebrate the rejuvenation of nature in concert with mankind’s return to their morally pure destiny under G-d.
(יב) יַעֲלֹז שָׂדַי וְכָל אֲשֶׁר בּוֹ
אָז יְרַנְּנוּ כָּל עֲצֵי יָעַר:
אָז יְרַנְּנוּ כָּל עֲצֵי יָעַר:
The field and all the creatures in it will exult — יַעֲלֹז שָׂדַי וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־בּוֹ . Then all the trees of the forest will sing with joy — אָז יְרַנְּנוּ כָּל־עֲצֵי־יָעַר at being given the opportunity to be turned into dwelling places that support a way of life that is truly human.
(יג) לִפְנֵי ה‘ כִּי בָא
כִּי בָא לִשְׁפֹּט הָאָרֶץ
יִשְׁפֹּט תֵּבֵל בְּצֶדֶק וְעַמִּים בֶּאֱמוּנָתוֹ:
כִּי בָא לִשְׁפֹּט הָאָרֶץ
יִשְׁפֹּט תֵּבֵל בְּצֶדֶק וְעַמִּים בֶּאֱמוּנָתוֹ:
All of nature will seethe with joyous anticipation as it looks forward to fulfilling its destiny in the presence of Hashem — לִפְנֵי ה’ , for He will have arrived — כִּי בָא . He will have arrived to judge the earth — כִּי בָא לִשְׁפֹּט הָאָרֶץ . He will judge the world with righteousness — יִשְׁפֹּט־תֵּבֵל בְּצֶדֶק , and peoples with His truth — וְעַמִּים בֶּאֱמוּנָתוֹ .
Sources
The primary sources used in the interpretation of the verses in this mizmor are listed below.
א – רש”י, רד”ק, אלשיך, רשר”ה, נר לרגלי
ב – רד”ק, מלבי”ם, אלשיך, ספורנו, אבן יחייא, רשר”ה נר לרגלי
ג – רד”ק, ספורנו, רשר”ה, נר לרגלי
ד – אבן עזרא, רד”ק, אלשיך, רשר”ה
ה – רד”ק, מלבי”ם
ו – רד”ק, המאירי, אלשיך, ספורנו
ז – אבן עזרא, מלבי”ם, אלשיך, רשר”ה, נר לרגלי
ח – רד”ק, מצודות, מלבי”ם, אלשיך
ט – אבן עזרא, רד”ק, אלשיך, רשר”ה
י – אבן עזרא, רד”ק, מצודות, אלשיך, אבן יחייא, רשר”ה
יא – רד”ק, מצודות, רשר”ה
יב – רד”ק, מצודות,
יג – רד”ק, רשר”ה