Psalm 68 3

Psalm 68:3 kjv

But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.

Psalm 68:3 nkjv

But let the righteous be glad; Let them rejoice before God; Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly.

Psalm 68:3 niv

But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.

Psalm 68:3 esv

But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!

Psalm 68:3 nlt

But let the godly rejoice.
Let them be glad in God's presence.
Let them be filled with joy.

Psalm 68 verses

Psalm 68 3 Meaning

Psalm 68:3 conveys that in the presence of God, particularly as He demonstrates His power and acts righteously, His upright people will experience profound and exuberant joy. This joy is not merely superficial but stems from a deep gladness, leading them to exult and triumph in Him.

Psalm 68 3 Context

Psalm 68 begins with a powerful invocation, echoing Moses' words concerning the moving of the Ark of the Covenant: "Let God arise! Let His enemies be scattered" (v. 1). This sets the stage for God's dramatic appearance as a victorious Warrior-King, bringing judgment upon His foes. Verses 1-2 depict the wicked melting like wax and perishing from God's presence. In stark contrast, verse 3 immediately presents the opposite outcome for "the righteous." The context establishes God's absolute sovereignty and power over all, contrasting the fear and destruction faced by His adversaries with the liberation and ecstatic joy experienced by His faithful people when He manifests His presence and power. The psalm generally celebrates God's triumphal procession, likely reflecting the movement of the Ark to Zion, a significant military victory, or looking forward to the establishment of His universal kingdom.

Psalm 68 3 Word analysis

• But (ו - waw): A strong adversative conjunction, "and" or "but." It clearly contrasts the fate of the righteous (v. 3) with that of the wicked (v. 1-2).
• let the righteous (וְצַדִּיקִים - v'tzaddiqim):
  • Tzaddiqim (צַדִּיקִים): Plural of tzaddiq, meaning "just," "upright," "righteous," "vindicated." These are those whose character and conduct align with God's ways, who are in right standing with Him. They are distinguished from the "wicked" in the preceding verses.
• be glad (יִשְׂמָחוּ - yismachu):
  • Samach (שָׂמַח): To be joyful, cheerful, glad, to rejoice. This is a common Hebrew verb for experiencing delight or pleasure. It expresses an emotional state of happiness. The verb is in the jussive mood, a command or wish: "let them be glad."
• let them rejoice (וְיַעַלְצוּ - v'ya'al'tzoo):
  • Alaz (עָלַץ): To exult, be jubilant, triumph, shout for joy. This verb indicates a stronger, more outward and expressive joy than samach, often accompanied by leaping or shouting. The repetition and intensification underscore the depth of their gladness.
• before God (לִפְנֵי אֱלֹהִים - lifney Elohim):
  • Lifney (לִפְנֵי): Literally "to the face of," "in the presence of," "before."
  • Elohim (אֱלֹהִים): A common Hebrew name for God, emphasizing His divine power and sovereignty. "Before God" signifies that their joy is experienced directly in His divine presence, aware of His glory and majesty. It implies a reverent and pure joy, not mere human exhilaration. It suggests that their joy is for God and in His sight.
• yea, let them exceedingly rejoice (וְיָשִׂישׂוּ - v'yasisoo):
  • Sus or Sis (שׂוּשׂ / שִׂישׂ): To show triumph, be greatly joyful, exult, be jubilant, leap for joy. This is another powerful verb for rejoicing, often implying an ecstatic or highly demonstrative form of joy, even "skipping" or "leaping." Its presence, after two prior verbs for joy, highlights an escalating degree of exhilaration.
• with gladness (בְשִׂמְחָה - b'sim'chah):
  • Simchah (שִׂמְחָה): Noun form of samach, meaning joy, gladness, rejoicing, mirth. This functions adverbially, describing how they exceedingly rejoice – namely, with an abundance of gladness. It functions as an intensifier, doubling the concept of "gladness" for emphasis.

Words-group analysis:

• But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: This establishes the core contrast. While God's enemies are destroyed by His presence, those in right relationship with Him respond with deep joy and exultation. The joy is specific: "before God," signifying its source and its proper expression in His presence.
• yea, let them exceedingly rejoice with gladness: This phrase dramatically heightens the sense of joy. The combination of the intense verb sus/sis ("exceedingly rejoice/exult") with the noun simchah ("gladness") is a powerful Hebrew parallelism or intensification. It is a doubling effect, indicating not just happiness but overflowing, overwhelming, and even outwardly demonstrative jubilation. This tripartite expression of joy (samach, alaz, sus + simchah) is rhetorical, emphasizing the ultimate and absolute joy of God’s people in His victory.

Psalm 68 3 Bonus section

The progressive intensity of the joy described in this verse (from "glad" to "rejoice" to "exceedingly rejoice with gladness") paints a picture of growing spiritual exhilaration. It suggests that as the righteous more fully perceive and experience God's power and righteous judgments, their inner joy wells up and bursts forth into unrestrained exultation. This joy is an internal reality expressed outwardly. It also highlights the relational aspect: joy "before God" indicates a profound and unhindered fellowship with the Divine, unburdened by fear or guilt that plague the wicked. It is not just a general happiness, but a specific, sacred joy linked to divine vindication and triumph.

Psalm 68 3 Commentary

Psalm 68:3 beautifully contrasts the terror of God's enemies with the triumphant joy of His righteous ones. As God "arises" (v. 1) to scatter those who oppose Him, His manifest presence, which is a consuming fire to the wicked, becomes the very source of overflowing gladness for His faithful. This joy is depicted with three escalating Hebrew verbs, culminating in an emphatic expression of "exceeding rejoicing with gladness," underscoring its depth, exuberance, and outward manifestation. It is a joy found "before God," meaning it is experienced in His direct, powerful, and holy presence, demonstrating a proper reverence even in their jubilation. It is a sanctified joy, rooted not in worldly pleasures but in the certainty of God's righteous character, His victorious actions, and the secure reality of belonging to Him. This joy is a defining characteristic of those who walk uprightly with Him. It is the appropriate response to the divine order where God's justice prevails, vindicating His people and crushing evil.