Psalms 68:3
in Psalms 68But the righteous will be glad and rejoice before God; they will celebrate with joy.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God: Yea, let them rejoice with gladness.
KJV
But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
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This verse in Psalms 68
Commentary
9 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
His enemies are scattered
on Psalms 68:1-3
The opening words are the ark's own marching prayer. Numbers 10:35 has Moses say at every setting out, May Your enemies be scattered. Smoke blown away and wax melting are the pictures of that scattering, and the righteous are glad before the same presence.
This site's exposition
glad and rejoice before God
The line answers verse 2 across one presence. The fire is where the righteous rejoice, and Charles Spurgeon calls that presence the dread of the wicked and the delight of the saints. Albert Barnes notes that the Hebrew doubles the word, rejoicing with gladness, for joy multiplied and prolonged.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Lastly, there followeth, "And let just men be joyous, and exult in the sight of God, let them delight in gladness" [Psalm 68:3]. For then shall they hear, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, receive ye the kingdom." "Let them be joyous," therefore, that have toiled, "and exult in the sight of God." For there will not be in this exultation, as though it were before men, any empty boasting; but (it will be) in the sight of Him who unerringly looketh into that which He hath granted. "Let them delight in gladness:" no longer exulting with trembling as in this world, so long as "human life is a trial upon earth."
And let the just feast. Those who remain in their righteousness, who have no vices, let them be delighted in the Lord. Let them exult in the sight of God, and let them be delighted with gladness. It is great confidence, to exult in the sight of the Lord. Just as a steward who has badly handled and lost the substance entrusted to him by his master fears his master's presence; so also he who has managed it well exults in his master's presence.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Light is sown for the righteous. He praises God for his glorious appearances, and calls upon us to praise him, to sing to his name, and extol him, 1. As a great God, infinitely great (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
But let the righteous be glad,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
But let the righteous be glad. The presence of God on the throne of grace is an overflowing source of delight to the godly; and let them not fail to drink of the streams which are meant to make them glad. Let them rejoice before God. The courtiers of the happy God should wear the garments of gladness, for in his presence is fulness of joy. That presence, which is the dread and death of the wicked, is the desire and delight of the saints. Yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. Let them dance with all their might, as David did, for very joy. No bounds should be set to joy in the Lord. "Again, I say, rejoice, "says the apostle, as if he would have us add joy to joy without measure or pause. When God is seen to shine propitious from above the mercyseat in the person of our Immanuel, our hearts must needs leap within us with exultation, if we are indeed among those made righteous in his righteousness, and sanctified by his Spirit. Move on, O army of the living God, with shouts of abounding triumph, for Jesus leads the van.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
But let the righteous be glad. The presence of God on the throne of grace is an overflowing source of delight to the godly; and let them not fail to drink of the streams which are meant to make them glad. Let them rejoice before God. The courtiers of the happy God should wear the garments of gladness, for in his presence is fulness of joy. That presence, which is the dread and death of the wicked, is the desire and delight of the saints. Yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
But let the righteous be glad - That is, Let them be prosperous and happy; let them be under thy protecting care, and partake of thy favor. While the wicked are driven away like smoke, let the righteous live, and flourish, and be safe. Compare Psa 32:11. Let them rejoice beore God - In the presence of God; or as admitted to his presence. The wicked will be driven far off; the righteous will be admitted to his presence, and will rejoice before him. Yea, let them exceedingly rejoice - Margin, as in Hebrew, rejoice with gladness. The expression is designed to express great joy; joy that is multiplied and prolonged. It is joy of heart accompanied with all the outward expressions of joy.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְֽצַדִּיקִ֗ים | vetzadikim | and righteous [people] | H6662 → | 206 times |
| יִשְׂמְח֣וּ | yismechu | may they be glad | H8055 → | 155 times |
| יַֽ֭עַלְצוּ | yaaltzu | may they exult | H5970 → | 8 times |
| לִפְנֵ֥י | lifnei | <to> before | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| אֱלֹהִ֗ים | ʾelohim | God | H430 → | 2601 times |
| וְיָשִׂ֥ישׂוּ | veyasisu | and may they rejoice | H7797 → | 27 times |
| בְשִׂמְחָֽה׃ | vesimchah | with gladness | H8057 → | 94 times |
וְֽצַדִּיקִ֗יםand righteous [people]
vetzadikimH6662 →206 times
יִשְׂמְח֣וּmay they be glad
yismechuH8055 →155 times
יַֽ֭עַלְצוּmay they exult
yaaltzuH5970 →8 times
לִפְנֵ֥י<to> before
lifneiH6440 →2123 times
אֱלֹהִ֗יםGod
ʾelohimH430 →2601 times
וְיָשִׂ֥ישׂוּand may they rejoice
veyasisuH7797 →27 times
בְשִׂמְחָֽה׃with gladness
vesimchahH8057 →94 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Thessalonians 5:16Rejoice at all times.
it leads to
- Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.
- Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
- Matthew 5:12
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.
- 2 Corinthians 6:10
sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
- Luke 10:20
Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
- Romans 12:12
Through
Psalms 64:10Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in Him; let all the upright in heart exult.
it leads to
- Psalms 32:11
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, O righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
- Psalms 40:3
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
- 1 Corinthians 1:30–31
It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.
- Psalms 32:11
Where this verse is studied
About Psalms
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 68; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 3; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms; Jerome, Homily 7, on Psalm 67; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.