Psalms 99:5 Meaning and Explanation
“Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Believers are called to honor God at His holy footstool with appropriate reverence.
The Context of Psalms 99:5
Calling for exaltation and worship in response to God's holiness.
What Does Psalms 99:5 Mean?
To exalt the LORD is to lift Him up, to magnify His importance and acknowledge His supremacy. This exaltation is coupled with worship at His footstool—an image of submission and approach. The footstool represents the place where God's authority rests visibly. In Temple imagery, it refers to the mercy seat or the earth itself as God's footstool, emphasizing both His transcendence and His accessible presence to worshippers.
The reason for this exaltation and worship is again His holiness. Holiness demands response: worship that honors the distinction between the divine and human realms. Believers approach the footstool not as equals but in humble recognition that they stand before what is sacred and separate. This posture—exalting while worshipping—captures the proper human stance before God's holiness.
Psalms 99:5 in the Original Language
haddom (הַדֹּם), 'footstool' — literally a footrest; used metaphorically for a place of subjection or the seat of authority's reach.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 99:5
What does Psalms 99:5 mean?
Believers are called to honor God at His holy footstool with appropriate reverence.
What is the context of Psalms 99:5?
Calling for exaltation and worship in response to God's holiness.