Psalms 97:5 Meaning and Explanation
“The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The earth's solid structures dissolve before God's presence.
The Context of Psalms 97:5
Material creation rendered powerless in the presence of God.
What Does Psalms 97:5 Mean?
Hills, typically symbols of stability and permanence, melt like wax. This hyperbolic imagery emphasizes that nothing in the material world can resist God's presence. The softening of stone represents absolute powerlessness of all earthly things before divine reality. The repeated phrase 'at the presence of the LORD' stresses that nearness to God unmakes all resistance.
The doubling—'the LORD' and 'the Lord of the whole earth'—extends God's dominion from the local to the universal. Nothing on earth can withstand Him because He rules the whole earth. Mountains and hills melt not from divine anger but simply from proximity to God's power, the way wax cannot endure fire.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 97:5
What does Psalms 97:5 mean?
The earth's solid structures dissolve before God's presence.
What is the context of Psalms 97:5?
Material creation rendered powerless in the presence of God.