Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 16:31
Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice. Let them say among the nations, ‘The LORD reigns!’
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — David’s liturgical address targets the created order and the nations immediately after declaring that the world is firmly established and unshakable.
The words — מָלָֽךְ (malakh) translates literally as “he reigns,” standing as the grammatical and theological anchor of the verse’s declaration.
The thread — The identical call for creation and nations to acknowledge Yahweh’s rule appears in Psalms 96:10, Psalms 97:1, and Psalms 99:1.
Why it lands — The text explicitly commands the heavens, the earth, and the nations to rejoice and verbally proclaim Yahweh’s sovereign rule, requiring the reader to adopt that same declarative posture.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigneth.
Cross-references
- Psalms 96:10 Declare among the nations: “The LORD reigns!” The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.
- Psalms 97:1 The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the distant shores be glad.
- Psalms 99:1 The LORD reigns; let the nations tremble! He is enthroned above the cherubim; let the earth quake!
- Revelation 19:6 And I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude, like the rushing of many waters, and like a mighty rumbling of thunder, crying out: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.
- Psalms 93:1 The LORD reigns! He is robed in majesty; the LORD has clothed and armed Himself with strength. The world indeed is firmly established; it cannot be moved.
- Psalms 98:4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth—let your cry ring out, and sing praises!
- Isaiah 49:13 Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; break forth in song, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, and He will have compassion on His afflicted ones.
- Psalms 19:1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
- Psalms 89:5 The heavens praise Your wonders, O LORD—Your faithfulness as well—in the assembly of the holy ones.
- Psalms 145:1 A Psalm of praise. Of David. I will exalt You, my God and King; I will bless Your name forever and ever.