New International Version
Psalms 68:4
4Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Sing praises to God and to his name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the Lord— rejoice in his presence!
Context of Psalms 68:4
2May you blow them away like smoke— as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God. 3But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord. 5A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. 6God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
Read all of Psalms 68Psalms 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 66:4All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name.”
- Psalms 67:4May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth.
- Isaiah 12:4In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.
- Psalms 68:33to him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens, who thunders with mighty voice.
- Psalms 18:10He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.
- Psalms 104:3and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.
- Deuteronomy 33:26“There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty.
- Isaiah 19:1A prophecy against Egypt: See, the Lord rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble before him, and the hearts of the Egyptians melt with fear.
- Exodus 3:14God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”
- Exodus 6:3I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself fully known to them.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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