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

2Blow them away like smoke. Let wicked people melt in God’s presence like wax next to a fire. 3But let righteous people rejoice. Let them celebrate in God’s presence. Let them overflow with joy. Sing to God; make music to praise his name. Make a highway for him to ride through the deserts. The Lord is his name. Celebrate in his presence. 5The God who is in his holy dwelling place is the father of the fatherless and the defender of widows. 6God places lonely people in families. He leads prisoners out of prison into productive lives, but rebellious people must live in an unproductive 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 earth will worship you. It will make music to praise you. It will make music to praise your name.” Selah
• Psalms 67:4Let the nations be glad and sing joyfully because you judge everyone with justice and guide the nations on the earth. Selah
• Isaiah 12:4At that time you will say, “Praise the Lord. Call on his name. Make his deeds known among the nations. Make them remember that his name is highly honored.
• Psalms 68:33God rides through the ancient heaven, the highest heaven. Listen! He makes his voice heard, his powerful voice.
• Psalms 18:10He rode on one of the angels as he flew, and he soared on the wings of the wind.
• Psalms 104:3You lay the beams of your home in the water. You use the clouds for your chariot. You move on the wings of the wind.
• Deuteronomy 33:26“There’s no one like your God, Jeshurun! He rides through the heavens to help you. In majesty he rides through the clouds.
• Isaiah 19:1This is the divine revelation about Egypt. The Lord is riding on a fast-moving cloud and is coming to Egypt. Egypt’s idols will tremble in his presence. Egypt’s courage will fail.
• Exodus 3:14God answered Moses, “I Am Who I Am. This is what you must say to the people of Israel: ‘I Am has sent me to you.’ ”
• Exodus 6:3I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but I didn’t make myself known to them by my 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