Psalm 68 35

Psalm 68:35 kjv

O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.

Psalm 68:35 nkjv

O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!

Psalm 68:35 niv

You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!

Psalm 68:35 esv

Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel ? he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!

Psalm 68:35 nlt

God is awesome in his sanctuary.
The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.
Praise be to God!

Psalm 68 verses

Psalm 68 35 Meaning

Psalm 68:35 declares God as an awe-inspiring and formidable sovereign who acts from His holy dwelling place. It highlights His specific covenant relationship with Israel, affirming Him as the exclusive source of all might and endurance for His people. The verse culminates in a doxology, a joyous and profound acclamation of blessing and praise to God, acknowledging His supreme power and provision.

Psalm 68 35 Context

Psalm 68 is a majestic and triumphant psalm, often described as a victory hymn. It portrays God as a divine warrior leading His people in procession, scattering His enemies, and establishing His dwelling place on Mount Zion. The psalm recalls significant moments in Israel's history, from the Exodus through the wilderness wanderings and conquest, to the establishment of the Tabernacle/Temple in Jerusalem. Verse 35 serves as a grand conclusion to this recounting of God's powerful deeds, shifting focus to His character and His relationship with His chosen people, affirming Him as the benevolent source of their power and worthy of ultimate praise. The setting suggests a public procession, possibly involving the Ark of the Covenant, underscoring God's visible presence and might among Israel.

Psalm 68 35 Word analysis

• Awesome (נֹ֫רָא, nora): This term denotes something awe-inspiring, dreadful, or reverent. It is not merely "great" but conveys a profound sense of majestic power that commands reverence and can instill fear, highlighting God's incomparable and holy nature. This "awesomeness" stems from His powerful acts, such as delivering His people and vanquishing enemies as described in the psalm.
• is God (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim): This is a plural noun but is used here with singular verbs and modifiers, emphasizing the singular, supreme deity, brimming with inherent power and majesty. It highlights Him as the one true, universal God, distinct from any false deities.
• from his sanctuary (מִמִּקְדָּשָׁיו, mimmiqdashâyv): Literally "from his holy places" (plural). This can be interpreted in several layers:
  • Heavenly Sanctuary: God's ultimate dwelling place in heaven, the source of all divine authority and power.
  • Earthly Sanctuaries: The Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem, representing specific manifestations of His presence among His people. The plural may indicate the various manifestations or phases of His dwelling with Israel, or an intensive plural signifying superlative holiness.
  • The People Themselves: As His redeemed community, a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Exod 19:6), God manifests His glory through them. The verse implies that God's power emanates directly from His holy essence, manifested wherever His presence is known.
• the God of Israel (אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, Elohei Yisra'el): This title emphasizes God's unique and exclusive covenant relationship with Israel. While "Elohim" signifies universal deity, adding "of Israel" highlights His particular election and care for this specific nation, to whom He grants power and strength. It distinguishes Him from the generic gods of the nations.
• he gives (ה֥וּא נֹתֵ֣ן, hu notēn): "He is giving." The participle "noten" signifies an ongoing, continuous act of giving, emphasizing God's constant provision and enablement. It is an active, present manifestation of His divine will.
• power (עֹ֭ז, oz): Denotes strength, might, security, and courage. It refers to a foundational, inner strength, enabling His people to face challenges.
• and strength (תַּעֲצֻמ֥וֹת, ta'ătsumōt): Refers to overwhelming, invincible power; great deeds of might. Paired with "oz," it implies both inward fortitude and outward might to overcome obstacles, conquer enemies, and persevere. This encompasses spiritual, moral, and physical capacities, all divinely bestowed.
• to his people (לָעָ֑ם, lā'ām): Emphasizes that this divine enablement is specifically directed towards His chosen community, those in covenant with Him. It's not a generic offer but a personal, directed outpouring for His beloved.
• Blessed be God! (בָּר֖וּךְ אֱלֹהִֽים, bârûkh Elohim): This is a common Hebrew doxology, an exclamation of praise and adoration. It expresses recognition of God's ultimate worth, His benevolent character, and His worthiness of all blessing. It concludes the psalm, bringing it to a climax of worship.

• Words-group Analysis:
• "Awesome is God from his sanctuary": This phrase sets the tone of profound reverence. It declares God's character as utterly majestic and deserving of awe, stemming from His holy dwelling place—the source from which His power and authority emanate into the world. It reminds us that His power is holy and just, not arbitrary.
• "the God of Israel--he gives power and strength to his people": This phrase defines the specific relationship and beneficence. The universal God, identified intimately as "the God of Israel," actively bestows comprehensive strength (both 'oz' - inner fortitude, and 'ta'atsumot' - overwhelming might) upon those whom He has chosen and covenanted with. This is not strength for self-glory but for fulfilling His purposes and enduring for His Name's sake.
• "Blessed be God!": This final acclamation is both a declarative statement of God's blessed nature and a prescriptive call to worship Him. It encapsulates the psalm's central theme of praising the delivering and empowering God, inviting the audience to join in magnifying Him for who He is and what He has done. It’s a call to profound worship and acknowledgment of His supreme benevolence and authority.

Psalm 68 35 Bonus section

The strong affirmation of God's sole power and strength given "to His people" serves as a subtle polemic against the surrounding polytheistic cultures where power often derived from mythical battles or arbitrary divine whims. The psalmist highlights YHWH as the singular and reliable source of genuine power for His covenanted community, unlike the uncertain aid offered by pagan gods. Furthermore, the progression from God dwelling in the Tabernacle/Temple (His sanctuary) to Him dwelling among and within believers (the spiritual temple, as fulfilled in the New Testament), highlights the continuity of God's presence and His desire to empower His people across all generations, making the divine strength of Psalm 68:35 accessible through Christ and the Spirit to all who are His today. This verse provides an enduring spiritual principle: true strength for life's challenges is divinely imparted.

Psalm 68 35 Commentary

Psalm 68:35 distills the essence of God's character and His active relationship with humanity. He is "awesome" (nora'), embodying a holy, dreadful majesty that inspires reverent fear and profound respect. This awesomeness emanates "from His sanctuary," whether referring to His transcendent heavenly dwelling or the physical places He sanctified among His people, signifying that His power and presence are holy and set apart. Critically, this awesome God is identified as "the God of Israel," emphasizing His covenant fidelity and personal care for His chosen ones. Far from being a distant deity, He is actively involved, continuously "giving power and strength" to His people. This provision includes both inner fortitude and outward might, enabling them to stand firm, overcome obstacles, and fulfill His purposes. The verse concludes with the communal, emphatic declaration, "Blessed be God!"—a doxology acknowledging Him as the supreme source of all good and worthy of all praise for His character and His benevolent provision. It moves from observation of God's nature and actions to an explicit call to worship, encouraging absolute trust and adoration for the empowering, ever-present God.