Psalms 96:4-6 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

For the Lord Hebrew, Jehovah, is great Infinite in his nature and attributes; and greatly to be praised All our most exalted praises fall infinitely short of his greatness. He is to be feared above all gods The gods of the heathen, as the next words expound it. For all the gods of the nations are idols Or, nothing, as they are called 1 Corinthians 8:4; 1 Corinthians 10:19; and, as אלילים, elilim, here rendered idols, signifies; or, vain things, as others translate the word. The sense is, Though they have usurped the name and place of the Divine Majesty, yet they have nothing of his nature or power in them. Honour and majesty are before him That is, in his presence, like beams shot from his face, who is the Sun of righteousness. There is an inconceivable glory and majesty in his countenance, and in the place of his presence. Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary Or, in his holy place; that is, where he records his name, and vouchsafes his presence, there are the manifestations of his power and grace, or goodness, and of all his perfections.