Psalm 68:26 kjv
Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.
Psalm 68:26 nkjv
Bless God in the congregations, The Lord, from the fountain of Israel.
Psalm 68:26 niv
Praise God in the great congregation; praise the LORD in the assembly of Israel.
Psalm 68:26 esv
"Bless God in the great congregation, the LORD, O you who are of Israel's fountain!"
Psalm 68:26 nlt
Praise God, all you people of Israel;
praise the LORD, the source of Israel's life.
Psalm 68 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 22:22 | I will declare Your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly... | Call to praise God publicly |
| Ps 107:32 | Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of the people... | Exalt God in public worship |
| Ps 149:1 | Sing to the LORD a new song, His praise in the assembly of the saints. | Communal worship and praise |
| 1 Chr 29:20 | Then David said to all the assembly, "Now bless the LORD your God." | Public call to bless God |
| Ps 103:1 | Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! | Individual and corporate blessing |
| Ps 134:1-3 | Behold, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD... | Call to bless God in sanctuary |
| Deut 33:28 | Israel then shall dwell in safety, the fountain of Jacob alone... | "Fountain of Jacob" parallel to "fountain of Israel" |
| Isa 48:1 | ...who swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel. | Reference to the origin of Israel |
| Jer 2:13 | My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain... | God as the living fountain/source |
| Ps 36:9 | For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light. | God as the ultimate source of life |
| Isa 41:17-18 | ...I, the LORD, will answer them, the God of Israel will not forsake them. | God provides springs in desert for Israel |
| Jn 4:10-14 | ...whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst... | Jesus as the living water/fountain |
| Rev 21:6 | I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him... | God as the ultimate source of life in eternity |
| Ex 17:6 | Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you... | God provides water from the rock for Israel |
| Num 20:11 | Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod... | God providing water for Israel's journey |
| Ps 68:1-3 | Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered... | Broader context of God's triumph |
| Ps 68:24-27 | They have seen Your procession, O God, the procession of my God, my King... | Direct context of a procession into sanctuary |
| Heb 10:25 | Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner... | Importance of communal assembly in NT |
| 1 Cor 10:4 | And all drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual... | Christ as the spiritual rock/fountain for Israel |
| Gal 3:29 | And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs... | Spiritual Israel encompassing all believers |
| Rom 2:28-29 | For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly... but he is a Jew who is one inwardly. | True Israel defined by heart, not just lineage |
Psalm 68 verses
Psalm 68 26 Meaning
This verse is an imperative call for all people, specifically within the assemblies of God’s people, to bless God. It emphasizes that the Lord, who is the very source and wellspring for Israel’s existence and blessings, is to be glorified and praised communally, connecting current worship to God's faithful historical actions from the nation's inception.
Psalm 68 26 Context
Psalm 68 is a grand and triumphant psalm celebrating God's power as a divine Warrior King. It likely commemorates a specific victory, the movement of the Ark of the Covenant, or a procession to the sanctuary in Jerusalem. The chapter opens with an ancient battle cry (Ps 68:1-3), recalling God's leading of Israel through the wilderness. It portrays God's majesty and care for the needy, His triumph over rebellious nations, and His establishment of Zion as His dwelling place. Verse 26 appears within a section (Ps 68:24-27) describing a solemn, majestic procession entering the sanctuary. This procession includes singers, musicians, maidens with tambourines, and representatives from the tribes of Israel, all marching before the King. Amidst this celebratory and awe-inspiring scene, the command in verse 26 serves as a central call to communal worship, urging the assembled multitude to bless the Lord who has displayed such power and faithfulness from Israel's very beginnings.
Psalm 68 26 Word analysis
- Bless ye (בָּרְכוּ, _bar'khu_): This is an imperative verb, a command, urging immediate and collective action. From the root בָּרַךְ (_barakh_), which means to kneel, praise, or show reverence. It implies a conscious act of bestowing honor, worship, and recognition of God's greatness, flowing from a heart of gratitude. This is not merely an outward ritual but a call to inner devotion expressed publicly.
- God (אֱלֹהִים, _Elohim_): A plural noun used with a singular verb, emphasizing the supreme power and unique divinity of the God of Israel. While generally a generic term for deity, in the context of the Bible, it refers specifically to the one true, almighty God, the Creator and Sustainer.
- in the congregations (בְּמַקְהֵלִים, _b'maqhelîm_): The prefix _b_ means "in" or "among." The word _maqhelîm_ comes from קָהַל (_qahal_), to assemble. It denotes public, organized gatherings or assemblies, specifically for worship. This emphasizes the communal aspect of praise; God is to be blessed not only individually but within the corporate body of His people. It highlights the importance of public worship and shared testimony.
- even the Lord (אֲדֹנָי, _Adonai_): This sacred title for God signifies absolute mastership, sovereignty, and authority. Often used by reverent Israelites in place of the Tetragrammaton (YHWH), it conveys a personal yet supreme relationship of God as Master over His people, demanding their submission and obedience. Its inclusion after "God" adds emphasis and specifies which God is being praised – the one who is the sovereign master of Israel.
- from the fountain (מִמְּקוֹר, _mim'qôr_): The prefix _mim_ means "from" or "out of." _Maqor_ refers to a literal spring or wellspring, a source of flowing water. Figuratively, it signifies the origin, source, or wellspring of life, blessing, and sustenance. It indicates the place from which something continually flows.
- of Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל, _Yis'rā'ēl_): Refers to Jacob, the patriarch, whose name was changed to Israel (Gen 32:28), and by extension, his descendants, the nation of Israel. It represents the collective identity of God's covenant people.
- "from the fountain of Israel": This powerful phrase can be understood in a few interconnected ways. Firstly, it could mean from among the descendants of Israel, emphasizing that praise should spring forth from the very people God chose and blessed from their origin. Secondly, and more profoundly, it refers to God Himself as the ultimate source of Israel's existence, life, blessings, and very being. He is the original wellspring from which the nation flowed and continues to draw life. This acknowledges God's faithful and continuous provision from the foundational patriarch Jacob through the entire history of the nation. It points to God's enduring covenant and unfailing supply to His chosen people from their very beginning.
Psalm 68 26 Bonus section
The imagery of a "fountain" in biblical literature often signifies not only physical sustenance but also spiritual vitality, truth, and life-giving provision. In this verse, God is not merely for Israel but the very fountain of Israel, implying a complete dependency of the nation on Him for its being. This resonates with the New Testament understanding of God being the ultimate source of spiritual life for all who believe, transcending ethnic boundaries to include a "spiritual Israel" drawn from all nations. The emphasis on corporate worship "in the congregations" highlights the biblical understanding that worship is a communal act of faith and remembrance, binding individuals together in shared acknowledgment of God's greatness and enduring faithfulness from ages past to eternity.
Psalm 68 26 Commentary
Psalm 68:26 encapsulates a profound call to corporate worship, grounding present praise in God’s faithful actions throughout history. It commands the assembled community of God’s people to offer blessings to God, identifying Him specifically as the Lord (Adonai), highlighting His absolute sovereignty and mastership. The crucial phrase, “from the fountain of Israel,” points to God’s enduring relationship with His people. It reminds worshippers that the Lord is not a distant deity but the foundational source and constant wellspring of all life, identity, and blessings for Israel since its very inception. This calls for an active, communal acknowledgment of God as the unchanging provider, one who has led, protected, and sustained His chosen people through every generation. It implies that true praise must acknowledge God's continuous and historic role as the giver of life and covenant promises, connecting the assembly’s present worship to God’s ancient acts of salvation. It reminds the faithful that all blessings, past, present, and future, flow from this divine, inexhaustible source.