Psalm 68:20 kjv
He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.
Psalm 68:20 nkjv
Our God is the God of salvation; And to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death.
Psalm 68:20 niv
Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death.
Psalm 68:20 esv
Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
Psalm 68:20 nlt
Our God is a God who saves!
The Sovereign LORD rescues us from death.
Psalm 68 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 3:8 | Salvation belongs to the LORD; Your blessing be upon Your people! | God is the source of all salvation. |
| Ps 27:1 | The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? | God provides security and deliverance. |
| Ps 68:19 | Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden... | Sets immediate context of God's daily care and deliverance. |
| Deut 32:39 | 'See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; I kill and I make alive...' | God's unique power over life and death. |
| 1 Sam 2:6 | The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. | God's sovereign control over mortality. |
| Isa 25:8 | He will swallow up death for all time... | Prophecy of death's ultimate defeat. |
| Isa 45:21 | And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior... | God's singular identity as both God and Savior. |
| Hos 13:14 | Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from death? | A prophetic question affirming God's power over death. |
| Jn 3:16 | For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son... that whoever believes... have eternal life. | God's ultimate provision for eternal life over death. |
| Jn 11:25 | Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life..." | Jesus embodies the "escapes from death." |
| Act 2:24 | But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death... | God’s power displayed in Christ's resurrection. |
| Act 4:12 | And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven... | Exclusive power of salvation through Christ. |
| Rom 6:9 | knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again... | Christ's victory over death as a permanent deliverance. |
| Rom 8:38-39 | For I am convinced that neither death... will be able to separate us from the love of God... | God's power prevents separation even by death. |
| 1 Cor 15:54-57 | "Death is swallowed up in victory... Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." | Paul's triumphant declaration of death's defeat through Christ. |
| Phil 3:20-21 | For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior... will transform the body... | Christ as the Savior who overcomes physical mortality. |
| Col 1:13 | For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son. | God's active rescue from spiritual death. |
| 2 Tim 1:10 | ...our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light... | Jesus nullifies the power of death. |
| Heb 2:14-15 | ...that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil... | Christ's death conquers death's power and fear. |
| 1 Jn 5:11-12 | And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. | Eternal life as a divine gift, escaping spiritual death. |
| Jude 1:25 | to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord... | God as the singular, powerful Savior. |
| Rev 1:18 | and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. | Christ holds dominion over death and the grave. |
Psalm 68 verses
Psalm 68 20 Meaning
Psalm 68:20 declares that God's very essence is that of a Deliverer, affirming His continuous and comprehensive saving power. Most profoundly, it states that ultimate control over death, and the sole ability to provide escape from its clutches, belongs exclusively to Him. It establishes God as the sovereign Master over life and mortality.
Psalm 68 20 Context
Psalm 68 is a majestic and complex psalm, often viewed as a triumphal procession hymn. It celebrates God's awesome power, His deliverance of His people Israel, and His establishment of Zion as His holy dwelling place. The psalm draws on imagery from the Exodus, the wilderness journey, and the conquest of Canaan, culminating in God’s triumphant ascent to Jerusalem. Verse 20 comes amidst declarations of God's daily provision (v. 19) and before statements of His shattering of enemies (vv. 21-23). It provides a fundamental theological underpinning for all of God’s other victories and deliverances: His capacity to deliver His people extends even to victory over death, making Him uniquely able to reign supremely and secure His people’s ultimate destiny against all foes. This was a profound assertion in a world often overshadowed by the fear of mortality and the apparent finality of death.
Psalm 68 20 Word analysis
God (`לָאֵ֣ל` - la-El; `אֲדֹנָ֥י` - Adonai; `יְהוִ֗ה` - YHWH): The verse uses multiple divine names. `El` (`לָאֵ֣ל`) signifies "God" as the mighty, powerful one. `Adonai` (`אֲדֹנָ֥י`) is a title meaning "Lord" or "Master," denoting supreme authority and sovereignty. `YHWH` (`יְהוִ֗ה`) is the personal, covenant name of God, revealed as the self-existent, faithful God of Israel. The combination "Adonai YHWH" is particularly powerful, emphasizing God’s absolute, majestic, and personal rule. This rich naming reinforces God's unique identity as the ultimate authority, powerful and intimate, whose power is absolute and personal.
of deliverances (`הַמּוֹשָׁעוֹת` - ha-mosha'ot): This term is the plural of `yeshu'ah` (salvation, deliverance, help). The use of the plural, "deliverances" or "salvations," underscores the comprehensive, manifold, and perpetual nature of God's saving acts. It points not to a singular event but to God's inherent character as the ceaseless provider of rescue, encompassing various forms of protection, restoration, and ultimate well-being, both physically and spiritually. It denotes His abundant and complete salvation.
escapes from death (`לַמָּ֥וֶת תּוֹצָאֽוֹת` - la-mavet totza'ot): This phrase highlights God's unique power over death itself. `לַמָּ֥וֶת` (la-mavet) translates "to death" or "for death," functioning in context to describe the sphere from which deliverance is made available. It implies a means of egress from death's domain. `תּוֹצָאֽוֹת` (totza'ot), plural of `totza'ah`, means "outgoings," "issues," "paths of escape," or "deliverances." It literally signifies being brought out from a confined space. Here, it denotes God’s exclusive capacity to provide ways out of, or direct rescue from, the finality and power of death.
Words-group Analysis: "God is to us a God of deliverances": This declaration affirms God's inherent nature as the source and dispenser of all salvation. It implies that His very being is characterized by His capacity to rescue and provide well-being. This serves as a foundational statement of confidence in His power and willingness to act on behalf of His people across all facets of life's struggles.
Words-group Analysis: "and to God the Lord belongs escapes from death": This clause attributes absolute dominion and unique authority over death directly and solely to God. It proclaims that no other entity holds the power to conquer death or provide liberation from its ultimate grasp. This sovereignty includes His capacity to overcome the physical grave and offer ultimate eternal life, positioning Him as the singular Lord over all mortality.
Psalm 68 20 Bonus section
- This verse carries profound eschatological implications, anticipating a time when death will be fully conquered. Its fullest realization is seen in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, who by His death rendered powerless the one who held the power of death (Heb 2:14) and provided eternal life for all who believe (Jn 3:16).
- The affirmation of God's singular power over death (`totza'ot` meaning paths from death) is a direct challenge to the fatalism or despair common in ancient cultures concerning mortality. It serves as a strong polemic against pagan deities often associated with underworlds or fate, declaring that YHWH alone possesses true mastery over death itself.
- The repetition of "God" through different names (`El`, `Adonai`, `YHWH`) in such close proximity underscores the unparalleled, unique, and powerful nature of the Divine deliverer. This rich theological naming reinforces the exclusiveness of God's power in offering salvation and triumph over death.
Psalm 68 20 Commentary
Psalm 68:20 stands as a foundational statement regarding God's omnipotence and character as Savior. It reveals that the God who daily cares for His people and grants countless deliverances also possesses the sole, sovereign power over death. This isn't just a promise of rescue from mortal peril, but a profound theological declaration that even death, the ultimate enemy and perceived end, is subject to His command. This verse offers immense comfort, assuring believers that their ultimate fate, even beyond the grave, rests in the capable and loving hands of the One who provides "escapes from death." It lays theological groundwork for the New Testament's ultimate triumph over death through Jesus Christ's resurrection.