Psalms 68:4

Psalms 68:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah, and rejoice before him.
• New International Version (NIV)Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the Lord; exult before him!
• New King James Version (NKJV)Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds, By His name Yah, And rejoice before Him.

Context of Psalms 68:4

2God, blow them away, as wind blows smoke away. Destroy those wicked people, as wax melts near a fire! 3But righteous people will be happy, when they come near to you. They will shout with joy, because they are so happy! Sing songs to God! Sing to praise his name! He is the one who rides on the clouds, so praise him aloud! His name is the Lord! Shout with joy to worship him! 5God is a father for those who have no father. He takes care of widows. He rules from his holy home. 6God gives homes and a family to lonely people. He makes prisoners go free so that they are happy. But people who turn against him have to live in a hot, dry land.

Psalms 68:4 word by word

שִׁ֤ירוּ׀ לֵֽאלֹהִים֮ זַמְּר֪וּ שְׁ֫מ֥וֹ סֹ֡לּוּ לָרֹכֵ֣ב בָּ֭עֲרָבוֹת בְּיָ֥הּ שְׁמ֗וֹ וְעִלְז֥וּ לְפָנָֽיו׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Singשִׁירshîyr shûr · to singH7891
• unto Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• sing praisesזָמַרzâmar · to singH2167
• to his nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
• extolסָלַלsâlal · to buildH5549
• him that ridethרָכַבrâkab · to rideH7392
• upon the heavensעֲרָבָה‛ărâbâh · plainH6160
• Jahיָהּyâhh · LORDH3050
• and rejoiceעָלַז‛âlaz · to exultH5937
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440

Cross-references for Psalms 68:4

• Psalms 66:4The whole world bends down to worship you. Everyone sings to praise your name.’ Selah.
• Psalms 67:4May the nations be so happy that they sing aloud with joy! Because you are fair when you judge people, and you are a guide for all the nations of the world. Selah.
• Isaiah 12:4At that time, you will say, ‘Praise the Lord! Thank him for his help! Tell all the nations about the great things that God has done. Tell them that he is very great!
• Psalms 68:33He is the one who rides in the sky, as he has done from the beginning of time. Listen! He shouts with a powerful voice.
• Psalms 18:10He sat on a cherub and he flew. The wind carried him as he travelled.
• Psalms 104:3You have built the beams of your home on the clouds of rain. The clouds carry you as you travel, and you ride on the wind.
• Deuteronomy 33:26Israelites, there is no god like your God. He rides across the sky to help you. He travels with great authority on the clouds.
• Isaiah 19:1This is a message about Egypt. Look! The Lord is coming to Egypt! He is riding quickly on a cloud and he will soon arrive! The idols of Egypt will shake with fear when he comes. All the people in Egypt will be very afraid.
• Exodus 3:14God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am! Say this to the Israelite people: “I AM has sent me to you.” ’
• Exodus 6:3I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I showed them that I am God Almighty. But I did not let them know me by my special name, the Lord.

Commentaries on Psalms 68:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah - "Extol him who sitteth on the throne of glory, in the ninth heaven; Yah is his name; and rejoice before him." - Targum. בערבות baaraboth, which we render in the high heavens, is here of doubtful signification. As it comes from the root ערב arab, to mingle, (hence ereb the evening or twilight, because it appears to be formed of an equal mixture of light and darkness; the Septuagint translate it…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Sing unto God, sing praises to his name - That is, to him; the name being often put for the person himself. The repetition denotes intensity of desire; a wish that God might be praised with the highest praises. Extol him - The word here rendered “extol” - סלל sâlal - means to lift up, to raise, to raise up, as into a heap or mound; and especially to cast up and prepare a way, or to make a way level before an army by casting up earth; that is, to prepare…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Him who rides on the clouds: This is an ancient description of Baal, a Canaanite god. The psalmist uses it to describe the Lord as the true God "who rides upon the highest heavens" (see Psalms 68:33; 104:3). God has power over the clouds and the rain.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. extol him ... heavens--literally, "cast up for Him who rideth in the deserts," or "wilderness" (compare Psa 68:7), alluding to the poetical representation of His leading His people in the wilderness as a conqueror, before whom a way is to be prepared, or "cast up" (compare Is 40:3; 62:10). by his name JAH--or, "Jehovah," of which it is a contraction (Ex 15:3; Is 12:2) (Hebrew). name--or, "perfections" (Psa 9:10; 20:1), which--Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 68:4

• Music
• Praise

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Ascribe
• Chief
• Drops
• Extol
• Issue
• Jah
• Mighty
• Psalms

Commentaries on Psalms 68

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings