Psalms 50:2

Psa 50:2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.

Ver. 2. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty] Heb. the whole perfection, or the universality of beauty, Perfectissimae pulchritudinis locus (Trem.); because there especially was God’s glory set forth in his holy ordinances, and more clearly manifested than in all his handiwork besides. See Psa 48:2.

God hath shined] Like the sun in his strength, sometimes for the comfort of his people, as Psa 80:1; sometimes for the terror of evildoers, as Psa 94:1, and here. But evermore God is terrible out of his holy places, Psa 68:35; Psa 89:7.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Psa_50:2

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.

Zion the abode of God

I. That God dwells in the church.

1. In the congregation of the righteous.

2. In the hearts of His people.

II. That the church is the perfection of beauty only when God dwells in it. Otherwise the Church is as the world without the sun; an army in battle without its general; a ship in distress without the pilot.

III. That the church is Gods most beautiful dwelling-place.

1. Here His love is most of all shown, and--

2. His praises most celebrated. (W. Nicholson.)

The beauty and lustre of the Church

I. Justify and illustrate this designation of Zion.

1. Its nature, not alone natural, but yet more spiritual. And so in regard to any Church to-day. Its beauty is not in that which worldly men admire--riches, rank, etc., but in the deep spirituality of its members.

2. Its source--Divine grace.

3. Its medium--Christ.

4. How wrought--by the Holy Spirit.

5. Its contrast to the deformity all around.

II. In what sense God hath shined out of Zion.

1. There His nature and character are revealed.

2. Thence the blessings of salvation flow down to men.

3. In her midst Christ will judge the world.

III. Conclusion.

1. Value spiritual beauty beyond all else.

2. Such beauty is the glory of every Church.

3. Be concerned that God may shine out of the midst of the Church with which we are connected.

4. You unsaved ones, if God shines in the midst of the Church, what is to become of you who will not come to Him? (Joseph Davis.)

The perfection and beauty of Zion

I. The internal perfection and beauty of Zion.

1. It is because of the indwelling of the Divine presence that we have a Church.

2. Only as God dwells in us individually is it possible for Him to dwell in His Church as a body.

3. The Church of Christ is the aggregate of holy living; the aggregate of simple faith; the aggregate of personal consecration; the aggregate of personal devotion to God and to our fellow-men.

II. The external beauty and perfection of Zion, the Church of the redeemed, depends upon the shining forth or manifestation of this indwelling presence of God. Christs Church is not a dark lantern, but a chandelier with its lights trimmed and burning--a lighthouse. And what a responsibility this wonderful bequest to believers, this marvellous endowment of the Church, carries with it! (F. M. Ellis, D. D.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Psa 50:2. Out of Zion — The place where he was supposed to reside, and where he would now sit in judgment; the perfection of beauty — The most amiable place of the whole world, because of the presence, and worship, and blessing of God; God hath shined — Hath manifested himself in a glorious manner; hath illustriously displayed his infinite and glorious perfections. Some versions read it, Out of Zion, with perfection of beauty, God hath shined, or will shine.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2. (Psa 50:2) Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. He comes forth, in a splendid and imposing manner, from his royal residence, the seat of the theocracy, which is described as perfectly beautiful, not only in a moral and spiritual sense, but in reference also to its lofty situation, celebrated in Psa 48:3 (2) above. The Hebrew verb is borrowed from the sublime theophany in Deu 33:2; see also Psa 80:2 (1), Psa 94:1.

Joseph Addison Alexander, The Psalms Translated and Explained (1850) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Because God had chosen it to have his Name there called upon, and also his image shined there, in the doctrine of the Law.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(2) Perfection of beauty—i.e., Zion, because the Temple, the residence of Jehovah, was there. (Comp. Psa_48:2; Lam_2:15; 1Ma_2:12.)

Hath shined.—Comp. Psa_80:1; Deu_33:2. A natural figure of the Divine manifestation, whether taken from the dawn or from lighting.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty] This rendering is certainly preferable to that of P.B.V., ‘Out of Zion hath God appeared in perfect beauty.” Cp. Psa_48:2; and Lam_2:15, which unites phrases taken from both Psalms. In 1Ma_2:12 the Temple is called “our beauty and our glory.” Zion is now the abode of Jehovah, where He sits enthroned upon the cherubim (Psa_80:1). From thence, as of old from Sinai, He hath shined forth (R.V.): a word specially used of that dazzling blaze of light which is the symbol of God’s Presence. Cp. Deu_33:2; Psa_80:1; Psa_94:1.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. Or "shall shine" (p); the past for the future, as Kimchi observes; or "the perfection of the beauty of God hath shined out of Zion" (q); that is, Christ; he is the perfection of beauty; he is fairer than the children of men; he is more glorious than the angels in heaven: as Mediator, he is full of grace and truth, which makes him very lovely and amiable to his people: he is the express image of his Father's person; and the glory of all the divine perfections is conspicuous in his work of salvation, as well as in himself: now as he was to come out of Zion, Psa 14:7; that is, not from the fort of Zion, or city of Jerusalem; for he was to be born at Bethlehem; only he was to be of the Jews, and spring from them; so he shone out, or his appearance and manifestation in Israel was like the rising sun; see Mal 4:2; and the love and kindness of God in the mission and gift of him appeared and shone out in like manner, Tit 3:4; or else the Gospel may be meant, which has a beauty in it: it is a glorious Gospel, and holds forth the beauty and glory of Christ. All truth is lovely and amiable, especially evangelical truth: it has a divine beauty on it; it comes from God, and bears his impress; yea, it is a perfection of beauty: it contains a perfect plan of truth, and is able to make the man of God perfect; and this was to come out of Zion, Isa 2:3; and which great light first arose in Judea, and from thence shone out in the Gentile world, like the sun in all its lustre and glory, Tit 2:11; or, according to our version, "God hath shined out of Zion"; which, as Ben Melech on the text observes, is the perfection of beauty; see Lam 2:15; by which is meant the church under the Gospel dispensation, Heb 12:22; which, as in Gospel order, is exceeding beautiful; and as its members are adorned with the graces of the Spirit, by which they are all glorious within; and especially as they are clothed with the righteousness of Christ, and so are perfectly comely through the comeliness he hath put upon them and here it is that Christ, who is the great God, and our Saviour, shines forth upon his people, grants his gracious presence, and manifests himself in his ordinances, to their great joy and pleasure.

(p) "emicabit", Tigurine version; "vel effulgebit", Vatablus; "illucescet", Amama, Grotius. (q) So De Dieu.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Out of Zion - The place where God was worshipped, and where he dwelt. Compare the notes at Isa 2:3.

The perfection of beauty - See the notes at Psa 48:2.

God hath shined - Has shined forth, or has caused light and splendor to appear. Compare Deu 33:2; Psa 80:2; Psa 94:1 (see the margin) The meaning here is, that the great principles which are to determine the destiny of mankind in the final judgment are those which proceed from Zion; or, those which are taught in the religion of Zion; they are those which are inculcated through the church of God. God has there made known his law; he has stated the principles on which he governs, and on which he will judge the world.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

The place where he was supposed to reside, and where he would now sit in judgment; or from whence he would come to a more public and conspicuous place, where all the world might see and hear the transactions.

The perfection of beauty; the most beautiful and amiable place of the whole world, because of the presence, and worship, and blessing of God, which was there, and there only. God hath shined, i.e. hath appeared or manifested himself in a glorious manner, as judges do when they come to the judgment-seat.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Ver. 2. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. The Lord is represented not only as speaking to the earth, but as coming forth to reveal the glory of his presence to an assembled universe. God of old dwelt in Zion among his chosen people, but here the beams of his splendour are described as shining forth upon all nations. The sun was spoken of in the first verse, but here is a far brighter sun. The majesty of God is most conspicuous among his own elect, but is not confined to them; the church is not a dark lantern, but a candlestick. God shines not only in Zion, but out of her. She is made perfect in beauty by his indwelling, and that beauty is seen by all observers when the Lord shines forth from her.

Observe how with trumpet voice and flaming ensign the infinite Jehovah summons the heavens and the earth to hearken to his word.

Ver. 2. Out of Zion, the perfection of God's beauty hath shined; or, God has caused the perfection of beauty to shine out of Zion. Martin Geier.

Ver. 2. God hath shined. Like the sun in his strength, sometimes for the comfort of his people, as Ps 80:1; sometimes for the terror of evil doers, as Ps 94:1, and here. But evermore God is terrible out of his holy places. Ps 68:35 89:7. John Trapp.

Ver. 2. God hath shined. The proper meaning of (epy) is to scatter rays from afar, and from a lofty place, and to glitter. It is a word of a grand sound, says Ch. Schultens, which is always used of a magnificent and flashing light...It is apparently used of the splendid symbol of God's presence, as in De 34:2, where he is said to scatter beams from Mount Paran. From which it is manifest that it may refer to the pillar of cloud and fire, the seat of the Divine Majesty conspicuous on Mount Sinai, or on the tabernacle, or the loftiest part of the temple. Hermann Venema.

Ver. 2.

1. The internal beauty of Zion.

1. Positive beauty of wisdomholinesslove.

2. Comparative with the beauty of Paradise and the heaven of angels.

3. Superlative all the perfections of God combined.

2. Its external glory. Out of it God hath shined.

1. On this world.

2. On gracious souls.

3. On angels who desire to look, etc.

4. On the universe. "All the creatures heard I, "etc.

Psalms 50:3*

Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

2. Out of Zion—The seat and source of supreme authority.

Perfection of beauty—Not to be taken physically, but morally, as the abode of God. Psa_48:2

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty. (comp. Psa_48:2 Lam_2:15 RAPC 1Ma 2:12) God hath shined; i.e. has shown himself in his dazzling radiance. The psalmist, however, does not mean to announce a material, but a spiritual, fact.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Zion - The place where he was supposed to reside, and where he would now sit in judgment. The perfection - The most amiable place of the whole world, because, of the presence and worship, and blessing of God. Shined - Hath manifested himself in a glorious manner.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

מִכְלַל is a noun, parement in Old French, adornment. He [Asaph] prophesies concerning the future redemption.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.