Psalm 68 5

Psalm 68:5 kjv

A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

Psalm 68:5 nkjv

A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation.

Psalm 68:5 niv

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.

Psalm 68:5 esv

Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.

Psalm 68:5 nlt

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows ?
this is God, whose dwelling is holy.

Psalm 68 verses

Psalm 68 5 Meaning

Psalm 68:5 is a resounding call to worship the Most High God. It commands joyous vocal and musical praise directed to God Himself and to His revealed character, symbolized by "His name." The verse specifically identifies Him as the sovereign ruler who majestically "rides on the clouds," signifying His ultimate authority over creation and His transcendent power. It concludes with an exhortation for His people to celebrate before Him with exultant joy, acknowledging His unique identity as "the Lord" (Yah) and the proper response of awe and delight in His majestic presence.

Psalm 68 5 Context

Psalm 68 is a triumphant processional psalm, celebrating God's glorious presence and victorious march on behalf of His people. It recalls significant moments in Israel's history: God's manifest presence leading them from the wilderness (Sinai) to the promised land, His establishment of Zion as His dwelling place, and His care for the vulnerable (like the fatherless and widows) contrasted with His judgment on the rebellious. Verse 5 (Hebrew Psa 68:4) is an immediate summons to worship at the outset of this celebratory ode. The imagery of God "riding on the clouds" connects to ancient Near Eastern storm deity motifs, but here, it emphatically portrays Yahweh as the true and sole sovereign over nature and nations, a clear polemic against contemporary pagan gods. The psalm looks forward to God's full manifestation of His rule from Zion over all peoples.

Psalm 68 5 Word analysis

• "Sing" (שִׁ֤ירוּ shiru): A plural imperative, a direct command to everyone present to engage in vocal praise. It implies active, public, and often communal worship, expressing adoration and devotion.
• "to God" (לֵאלֹהִ֨ים le'Elohim): Specifies the object of worship – Elohim, the Mighty Creator God, indicating His supreme power and authority over all things.
• "sing praises" (זַמְּר֣וּ zammeru): Another plural imperative, often associated with musical accompaniment (from a root meaning to 'pluck' strings). It refers to heartfelt, joyous musical praise, highlighting the celebratory aspect of worship.
• "to His name" (שְׁמֽוֹ shemo): Not merely an address, but a call to praise God's very essence, character, and revealed being. The "Name" in biblical thought encompasses God's attributes, power, and covenant faithfulness as made known to His people.
• "extol Him" (סֹ֫לּוּ solu): Hebrew root salal, meaning "to cast up, make a highway, elevate." It is an imperative, urging active preparation for the majestic King. It denotes making the way smooth and elevated, akin to preparing a triumphal road for a grand arrival, signifying profound honor and acknowledging His sovereign procession.
• "who rides" (רֹכֵ֣ב rokhev): A participle implying ongoing action, presenting God as actively in control, a majestic king or divine warrior mounted on a chariot or in majestic procession, demonstrating dynamic power and irresistible movement.
• "on the clouds" (בָּ֭עֲרָבֹ֣ות ba'aravot): While the Hebrew word `aravot commonly denotes "deserts" or "arid plains," in the context of divine majesty and biblical parallelism with other "riding" imagery (e.g., God riding on the heavens/cherubim, storm clouds as His chariot), it signifies God's transcendence and sovereignty over the cosmos. This imagery demonstrates His supreme power over both heavenly phenomena and earthly desolate places, confirming His universal control and superiority over any purported pagan deities.
• "His name is the Lord" (יָ֥הּ שְׁמֽוֹ Yah shemo): A powerful theological declaration. "Yah" (יָהּ) is a shortened, ancient, poetic form of God's covenant name, Yahweh (YHWH). This emphasizes His unique identity as the covenant-keeping God of Israel, confirming who the majestic "rider" truly is—the eternally existent, incomparable God, worthy of all praise and trust.
• "be jubilant before Him" (וְעִלְצ֖וּ לְפָנָֽיו ve'iltzu lefanav): A final, passionate imperative for intense, unrestrained, and exuberant joy and rejoicing in God's presence. It calls for an open and uninhibited celebration befitting the magnificent, sovereign, and benevolent character of God.

Psalm 68 5 Bonus section

The imagery of "extol Him who rides on the clouds," particularly with the verb solu meaning "to cast up a highway for," connects deeply with biblical prophecies of preparation for the Lord's coming. This implies an active, intentional "making ready" of hearts and circumstances for God's manifest presence or action. It can refer to spiritual preparation (Mal 3:1) or a call to clear obstacles to allow the King of Glory to enter fully, physically and spiritually, echoing ancient customs where a road was literally prepared for a monarch's triumphal procession. The combination of God's transcendent sovereignty ("rides on the clouds") with His immanent action in history ("making a way for Him") is a beautiful tension that undergirds much of biblical theology.

Psalm 68 5 Commentary

Psalm 68:5 serves as a foundational command for worship, calling God's people to vocally and musically glorify His character and revelation ("His name"). The verse uniquely describes God as "who rides on the clouds" (or through the desolate places), a powerful visual depicting His supreme authority and dynamic sovereignty over all creation, effectively dethroning any rival cosmic deities envisioned in the ancient world. This "rider" is then definitively identified by His covenant name "Yah" (the Lord), reinforcing His unique and trustworthy identity. The culminating call to "be jubilant before Him" invites His people to express profound and unreserved joy in His magnificent presence. It's an invitation to active, communal worship that celebrates God's majestic reign and covenant faithfulness.This verse practically reminds believers to make God central to their praise, acknowledging His limitless power, His distinctive identity revealed in His Name, and responding with genuine, exuberant joy, recognizing that true worship stems from a profound understanding of who God is.