Psalm 43 4

Psalm 43:4 kjv

Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.

Psalm 43:4 nkjv

Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God.

Psalm 43:4 niv

Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.

Psalm 43:4 esv

Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.

Psalm 43:4 nlt

There I will go to the altar of God,
to God ? the source of all my joy.
I will praise you with my harp,
O God, my God!

Psalm 43 verses

Psalm 43 4 Meaning

Psalm 43:4 expresses the psalmist's fervent desire and confident declaration to return to the active worship of God. Despite current distress and separation from the sanctuary, he anticipates entering God's very presence, specifically at the altar, to offer wholehearted and joyful praise accompanied by musical instruments. This verse signifies a powerful pivot from lament to expectant adoration, locating supreme happiness and deliverance solely in communion with God Himself, the ultimate source of profound and triumphant joy.

Psalm 43 4 Context

Psalm 43 is intimately linked to Psalm 42, often considered its direct continuation due to shared themes of lament, longing for God's presence, and a nearly identical concluding refrain (Pss 42:5, 42:11, 43:5). The psalmist is depicted in a state of deep distress, feeling abandoned and cut off from God's presence, possibly due to exile, oppression by ungodly enemies, or geographical distance from the Temple in Jerusalem. He longs for divine vindication against those who accuse him and prays for God to send His light and truth to guide him back to His holy mountain and dwelling place. Verse 4 represents the triumphant peak of this prayer, a hopeful declaration that once God answers his plea for restoration, his immediate response will be to joyfully and openly worship God, who is himself the ultimate source of his profoundest happiness, thus completing the psalmist's journey from lament to anticipated praise.

Psalm 43 4 Word analysis

• Then I will go (וְאָב֖וֹאָה və'āḇō'āh): This is an imperfect cohortative verb, expressing strong determination, desire, and resolve ("I will certainly go," "Let me come"). It denotes a proactive and intentional movement towards God's presence, born from deep spiritual longing and confidence in divine guidance.
• to the altar of God (אֶל־מִזְבַּ֥ח אֵל ’el-mizbaḥ ’ēl):
  • Altar (מִזְבַּ֥ח mizbaḥ): The primary place for sacrifice, atonement, and communion with God in ancient Israelite worship. Symbolically, it signifies drawing near to God on His terms, acknowledging His holiness, and finding forgiveness and acceptance.
  • God (אֵל ’ēl): A foundational Hebrew name for God, emphasizing His strength, power, and divine authority.
• to God my exceeding joy (אֶל־אֵ֥ל שִׂמְחַת־גִּילִֽי ’el-’ēl simḥat-gîlî): A unique and highly expressive phrase.
  • God (אֵל ’ēl): Repeated, emphasizing God as the ultimate destination and focus.
  • my exceeding joy (שִׂמְחַת־גִּילִֽי simḥat-gîlî): Literally "the joy of my exultation/triumph."
    • joy (שִׂמְחַת simḥat): General happiness or delight.
    • exultation/triumph (גִּילִֽי gîlî): From the root gil, meaning to rejoice with fervent, demonstrative, even ecstatic expression, often signifying triumphant delight. When combined with simchat, it emphasizes God as not just a source of joy but the very essence, the totality, and the crowning glory of the psalmist's most intense, exuberant, and victorious delight. His supreme happiness and vindication are found entirely in God.
• And on the harp (וְאוֹדֶ֖ךָ בְּכִנּוֹר və'odekā bəḵinnōr):
  • harp (כִּנּוֹר kinnōr): A stringed instrument, widely used in Israelite worship and closely associated with Davidic praise and the Levitical Temple musicians. It symbolizes praise offered through artistry, skill, and deep devotion.
• I will praise You (וְאוֹדֶ֖ךָ və'odekā): From the Hebrew root yadah, meaning to give thanks, to confess, to laud, or to praise. It implies acknowledgment of God's character, goodness, and mighty acts, rendering Him His due honor and worship.
• O God, my God (אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֱלֹהָֽי ’ĕlōhîm ’ĕlōhāy):
  • O God (אֱלֹהִ֣ים ’ĕlōhîm): The common, broader Hebrew term for God, often highlighting His omnipotence and majesty.
  • my God (אֱלֹהָֽי ’ĕlōhāy): The possessive suffix ("my") indicates a deeply personal, intimate, and covenantal relationship with the Lord. This phrase affirms both God's universal sovereignty and His particular, personal relationship with the psalmist, deepening the sincerity of the proclaimed praise.

Psalm 43 4 Word-groups/phrases analysis

• "Then I will go to the altar of God": This phrase highlights a proactive resolution to resume formal worship at the established place of encounter with God. It speaks of longing for renewed covenant fellowship and the confidence that God will enable access to His sacred presence, where reconciliation and spiritual nourishment were provided through ritual means.
• "to God my exceeding joy": This profound confession elevates God above all temporal joys and satisfactions. It's a declaration that God Himself, in His person and character, is the complete, overflowing, and triumphant source and object of the psalmist's profoundest delight and jubilant celebration. This identity makes the pilgrimage back to His presence so intensely desired.
• "And on the harp I will praise You": This expresses a determined commitment to expressive, liturgical worship once communion is restored. The harp signifies a dedicated form of praise that moves beyond mere thought to an active, outward demonstration of worship, indicating a heart full of gratitude and adoration ready to proclaim God’s goodness publicly and musically.
• "O God, my God": The juxtaposition of the general divine title "God" (Elohim) with the possessive "my God" (Elohai) encapsulates the vastness and transcendence of God intertwined with a deeply personal, intimate covenant relationship. It transforms abstract belief into fervent devotion, underlining the authenticity and depth of the psalmist’s adoration.

Psalm 43 4 Bonus section

The active "I will go" in Psalm 43:4 encapsulates the disciplined resolve of faith; it is not a passive wish but an intentional act of pilgrimage towards God's designated place of meeting. This movement towards the altar, despite feeling cut off, subtly anticipates the New Covenant reality where believers have bold access to God's presence through the singular sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our ultimate altar and High Priest (Heb 10:19-22). The "exceeding joy" is not a temporary emotion but a deep-seated spiritual reality—a profound shalom (peace and wholeness) found in God, even when circumstances are challenging. This spiritual joy is portrayed as triumphant, echoing Israel's joy in past salvations and pointing towards future deliverance.

Psalm 43 4 Commentary

Psalm 43:4 stands as a beacon of unwavering faith amidst despair, serving as the psalmist's confident anticipation of God's restorative work. Having voiced his deep distress and sense of divine abandonment, he firmly declares his intention to return to the worship of God. The phrase "Then I will go" is a powerful expression of resolute will, predicated on the conviction that God will indeed answer his plea for guidance back to His sanctuary. The destination, "the altar of God," is highly symbolic, representing the means of atonement, reconciliation, and intimate access to God in Old Covenant worship. The truly unique and striking phrase, "to God my exceeding joy," transcends mere emotional happiness; it proclaims God Himself as the ultimate source, the very essence, and the triumphant apex of the psalmist's profoundest delight. This identifies God as the one in whom all happiness, triumph, and jubilation are ultimately found, implicitly contrasting Him with any fleeting earthly source of comfort. The commitment to praise God "on the harp" indicates a full-hearted, instrumental, and communal celebration that awaits restoration. Finally, the intimate repetition "O God, my God" reinforces the deeply personal and covenantal relationship the psalmist cherishes, sealing his vow of praise. This verse offers an enduring testament to holding fast to hope and anticipating joyous worship, recognizing that our ultimate and surpassing joy is found solely in God Himself.