The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just announcing that God is going to speak; it emphasizes the scope of His address. By calling "the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting," the Psalm highlights that God's word and judgment are not limited to one nation or region, but encompass all humanity. This powerful image underscores the universal authority and reach of the Almighty, who summons everyone to hear His message.
The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This Psalm opens with God, the supreme Mighty One, making a grand pronouncement and summoning all of creation to attend. It's not just a small gathering; it's the entire earth, from horizon to horizon, being called to witness a divine proceeding, setting the stage for a profound judgment and revealing the true nature of acceptable worship. This powerful declaration immediately establishes the immense authority and scope of the One who is speaking.
Ever noticed how the Bible uses different names for God? This verse packs a punch with three powerful titles. What's the big deal?
The verse opens with a potent combination of divine names: "El Elohim, Jehovah." This isn't just a random string of words; it's a deliberate declaration of God's identity.
The Mighty One (El)
'El' speaks to God's supreme power and strength. He is the ultimate force in the universe, capable of anything.
God of Gods (Elohim)
'Elohim' is a plural form, often translated as 'God.' It points to God's majesty, His manifold perfections, and His role as Creator and Sustainer of all things, including heavenly beings and earthly rulers often called 'gods' in comparison.
The LORD (Jehovah)
'Jehovah' (Yahweh) is God's personal, covenant name. It speaks of His eternal existence, His faithfulness, and His desire for a relationship with His people.
When combined, these names declare that the One speaking is the all-powerful, majestic Creator, and the faithful covenant God, the supreme authority over all creation.
The Bible often speaks of God's involvement with specific people or places. But this verse announces something much bigger. What does it mean that God summons the entire earth?
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The phrase "speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting" is a powerful image of God's universal declaration and authority.
More Than Just Noise
God isn't just making a sound; He is speaking with divine authority. His voice commands attention from every corner of the globe.
From East to West
The imagery of "rising of the sun to its setting" encompasses the entire inhabited world. It’s a poetic way of saying that no place, no people, are excluded from this summons. Everyone, everywhere, is called to hear.
A Prelude to Judgment or Revelation
This grand announcement serves as a preface. Whether it's to witness His justice, to hear His Word, or to acknowledge His sovereignty, the entire earth is being gathered for something significant.
Understand the original words
El Elohim YHWH · Hebrew Noun phrase
Used in reference to God, this indicates His supreme power, authority, and unrivaled strength as the Creator and Sustainer of all things. It emphasizes that He is the ultimate victor and sovereign over all creation.
qara' · Hebrew Verb
Refers to the act of calling or inviting, often with official authority. In a theological context, it often denotes God calling creation into accountability or summoning His people for a specific purpose.
This passage is a direct call for the heavens and the earth to listen, mirroring the summoning of the earth in Psalms 50:1 to bear witness to God's dealings.
Isaiah 43:9-10These verses speak of God's unique ability to reveal and declare future events, which aligns with the idea of God speaking and calling the earth in Psalms 50:1, setting the stage for a significant divine pronouncement.
Matthew 25:31-32This New Testament passage describes the Son of Man returning in glory and all the nations being gathered before him, which is a fulfillment and expansion of the universal call to the earth seen in Psalms 50:1.
Malachi 1:11This prophecy envisions God's name being honored and praised from the rising to the setting of the sun, echoing the global scope of God's pronouncements and authority introduced in Psalms 50:1.
Revelation 20:11-12The description of a great white throne and the dead, small and great, standing before God for judgment directly corresponds to the universal summons of the earth in Psalms 50:1 for a divine adjudication.
gillPsalms 50:1: "A Psalm of Asaph. The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof."
The mighty God,.... In the Hebrew text it is "El", "Elohim", which Jarchi renders the "God of gods"; that is, of angels, who are so called, Psalm 8:5 ; so Christ, who is God over all, is over them; he is their Creator, and the object of their worship, Hebrews 1:6 ; or of kings, princes, judges, and all civil magistrates, called gods, Psalm 82:…
clarkePsalms 50:1: "A Psalm of Asaph. The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof."
The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken - Here the essential names of God are used: אל אלהים יהוה El, Elohim, Yehovah, hath spoken. The six first verses of this Psalm seem to contain a description of the great judgment: to any minor consideration or fact it seems impossible, with any propriety, to restrain them. In this light I shall consi…
This verse isn't just announcing that God is going to speak; it emphasizes the scope of His address. By calling "the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting," the Psalm highlights that God's word and judgment are not limited to one nation or region, but encompass all humanity. This powerful image underscores the universal authority and reach of the Almighty, who summons everyone to hear His message.
This Psalm opens with God, the supreme Mighty One, making a grand pronouncement and summoning all of creation to attend. It's not just a small gathering; it's the entire earth, from horizon to horizon, being called to witness a divine proceeding, setting the stage for a profound judgment and revealing the true nature of acceptable worship. This powerful declaration immediately establishes the immense authority and scope of the One who is speaking.
This Psalm opens with God, the supreme Mighty One, making a grand pronouncement and summoning all of creation to attend. It's not just a small gathering; it's the entire earth, from horizon to horizon, being called to witness a divine proceeding, setting the stage for a profound judgment and revealing the true nature of acceptable worship. This powerful declaration immediately establishes the immense authority and scope of the One who is speaking.
"The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting." — This verse isn't just announcing that God is going to speak; it emphasizes the scope of His address. By calling "the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting," the Psalm highlights that God'…
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Last reviewed October 2026