Lexical Summary nut: To waver, to wander, to stagger, to be unstable Original Word: נוּט Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be moved To quake -- be moved. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to dangle, shake NASB Translation shake (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [נוּט] verb dangle, shake (ᵑ7 [נוט] Aph`el scare, sld., LevyChWB ii. 97 JastrDict. 886; Arabic  a bag hanging down,  suspend, hang); — Qal Imperfect3feminine singular תָּנוּט Psalm 99:1 let (the earth) shake ("" רָגַז). — Ol We proposes תָּמוּג. נוית see below I. נוה. Topical Lexicon Sense of Sacred TremblingThe single biblical occurrence of נוּט in Psalm 99:1 (“The LORD reigns; let the nations tremble! … Let the earth quake.”) expresses awe that is more than emotion; it is a visceral response to the revealed presence of the covenant-keeping King. The verb depicts a physical quivering that mirrors an inner reverence. Far from depicting mindless fear, the Psalm calls every people group to bow before Yahweh’s sovereign throne, acknowledging His moral authority and righteous rule. Theophanic Context Psalm 99 is part of the “Enthronement Psalms” (Psalms 93; 95–99). In each, creation reacts to the divine presence—seas roar, rivers clap their hands, mountains melt. נוּט extends this pattern: the earth itself convulses when God “is enthroned between the cherubim,” recalling the Shekinah glory that rested upon the mercy seat of the ark (Exodus 25:22). The trembling earth therefore functions as a liturgical proclamation that the God who once dwelt in the Most Holy Place still rules over all creation. Covenantal Kingship By linking cosmic shaking to divine kingship, Psalm 99:1 affirms the unwavering continuity of God’s covenant promises. The nations may rage (Psalm 2:1), but they ultimately tremble before the same sovereign who upheld Israel through exodus, conquest, exile, and restoration. נוּט thus belongs to the biblical motif that portrays God’s reign as unassailable, even while earthly powers are transient and unstable. Prophetic and Eschatological Resonance Later prophets echo the imagery of global trembling (Isaiah 24:19; Joel 2:10; Haggai 2:6–7) as they anticipate the day when the LORD will “shake all nations,” culminating in universal recognition of His glory. Though Psalm 99:1 is historical praise, its use of נוּט anticipates the final eschatological shaking described in Hebrews 12:26–27, where all that can be shaken will be removed so that the unshakable kingdom remains. Christological Fulfillment The New Testament identifies Jesus Christ as the enthroned King whose presence elicits holy trembling. At the crucifixion, “the earth quaked” (Matthew 27:51). At the resurrection, “there was a great earthquake” (Matthew 28:2). These seismic events serve as narrative reflections of נוּט, affirming that the divine glory once located between the cherubim now resides bodily in the risen Christ (Colossians 2:9). Ultimately every knee will bow—another form of reverent trembling—before Him (Philippians 2:10). Liturgical and Pastoral Applications 1. Worship Planning – Congregational readings of Psalm 99 invite believers to approach corporate worship with solemn joy. Musicians and liturgists can underscore God’s holiness by combining the psalm with other passages that portray creation’s response to His presence. 2. Preaching and Teaching – Sermons on divine kingship should emphasize that true fear of the LORD leads to covenant obedience, not paralyzing dread (Proverbs 9:10). נוּט clarifies that holy fear and joyful trust coexist. 3. Counseling and Discipleship – When believers face cultural upheaval, Psalm 99:1 reminds them that apparent chaos still lies beneath God’s enthroned rule. The earth may tremble, but His kingdom cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28). 4. Missions – The call for “nations” to tremble challenges the church to proclaim Christ globally, confident that the same Word that once shook Sinai will accomplish its purpose among every tribe and tongue. Historical Usage in the Church Early Jewish liturgies recited Psalm 99 on major feast days, highlighting God’s kingship over Israel and the world. Patristic writers such as Athanasius applied its imagery to Christ’s ascension. Reformation-era hymnody (e.g., paraphrases by Isaac Watts) preserved the theme of holy trembling, reminding worshipers that God’s holiness remains unchanged under the New Covenant. Conclusion Though נוּט appears only once, it encapsulates a theology of divine presence that spans Scripture: when the holy God reveals Himself, creation reverberates, nations tremble, and believers respond with awe-struck obedience. That reality sustains the church’s worship, mission, and hope until the final shaking gives way to the everlasting reign of Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations תָּנ֥וּט תנוט tā·nūṭ taNut tānūṭLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 99:1 HEB: יֹשֵׁ֥ב כְּ֝רוּבִ֗ים תָּנ֥וּט הָאָֽרֶץ׃ NAS: let the earth shake! KJV: let the earth be moved. INT: is enthroned the cherubim shake the earth |
    |