Psalms 68:34
in Psalms 68Ascribe the power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose strength is in the skies.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Ascribe ye strength unto God: His excellency is over Israel, And his strength is in the skies.
KJV
Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.
⋯
This verse in Psalms 68
Commentary
13 notes on this verseBehold, he will give to his voice a voice of power; his magnificence is over Israel. The magnificence of God is in Israel, who sees God. And his power is in the clouds, that is, in the prophets and apostles. "I have commanded my clouds, that they rain no rain upon Israel."
This site's exposition
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth
on Psalms 68:32-35
The call widens to every kingdom of the earth. Verse 34 tells them to ascribe the power to God, and verse 35 says He gives that same strength and power to His people. The last line is Blessed be God.
This site's exposition
Ascribe the power to God
The verb is literally give, and Albert Barnes compares Psalm 29:1. He reads the two halves together: God's majesty shows in His protection of Israel, and His power in the clouds. Matthew Henry adds that it is folly to contend with such power and wisdom to submit to it.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"Give ye glory to God, above Israel is the magnificence of Him" [Psalm 68:34]. Of whom says the Apostle, "Upon the Israel of God." [Galatians 6:16] For "not all that are out of Israel, are Israelites:" [Romans 9:6] for there is also an Israel after the flesh. Whence he says, "See ye Israel after the flesh." [1 Corinthians 10:18] "For not they that are sons of the flesh, are sons of God, but sons of promise are counted for a seed." [Romans 9:8] Therefore at that time when without any intermixture of evil men His people shall be, like a heap purged by the fan, [Matthew 3:12] like Israel in whom guile is not, [John 1:47] then most pre-eminent "above Israel" shall be "the magnificence" of "Him: and the virtue of Him in the clouds." For not alone He shall come to judgment, but with the elders of His people: [Isaiah 3:14] to whom He has promised that they shall sit upon thrones to judge, [Matthew 19:28] who even shall judge angels. [1 Corinthians 6:3] These be the clouds.
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
Excellency - His excellent power and goodness. Is over - Dwells among them. He is indeed the universal Lord, but in a special manner, he is the God of Israel.
); acknowledge him to be a God of such irresistible power that it is folly to contend with him and wisdom to submit to him; acknowledge that he has power sufficient both to protect his faithful subjects and to destroy his stubborn adversaries; and give him the glory of all the instances of his omnipotence. Thine is the kingdom and power, and therefore thine is the glory.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. 3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. 4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
Ascribe ye strength unto God,....
5 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century5 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
To Him who is presented as riding in triumph through His ancient heavens and proclaiming His presence--to Him who, in nature, and still more in the wonders of His spiritual government, out of His holy place (Ps 43:3), is terrible, who rules His Church, and, by His Church, rules the world in righteousness--let all nations and kingdoms give honor and power and dominion evermore.
Ascribe ye strength unto God. When even his voice rends the rocks and uproots the cedars, what cannot his hand do? His finger shakes the earth; who can conceive the power of his arm? Let us never by our doubts or our daring defiances appear to deny power unto God; on the contrary, by yielding to him and trusting in him, let our hearts acknowledge his might. When we are reconciled to God, his omnipotence is an attribute of which we sing with delight. His excellency is over Israel. The favoured nation is protracted by his majesty; his greatness is to them goodness, his glory is their defence. And his strength is in the clouds. He does not confine his power to the sons of men, but makes it like a canopy to cover the skies. Rain, snow, hail, and tempest are his artillery; he rules all nature with awe inspiring majesty. Nothing is so high as to be above him, or too low to be beneath him; praise him, then, in the highest.
Ascribe ye strength unto God. When even his voice rends the rocks and uproots the cedars, what cannot his hand do? His finger shakes the earth; who can conceive the power of his arm? Let us never by our doubts or our daring defiances appear to deny power unto God; on the contrary, by yielding to him and trusting in him, let our hearts acknowledge his might. When we are reconciled to God, his omnipotence is an attribute of which we sing with delight. His excellency is over Israel.
His strength is in the clouds - This refers to the bursting, rattling, and pounding of thunder and lightning; for all nations have observed that this is an irresistible agent; and even the most enlightened have looked on it as an especial manifestation of the power and sovereignty of God.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Ascribe ye strength unto God - literally, “give.” That is, Acknowledge him as a God of power. Recognise his omnipotence in your worship. See the notes at Psa 29:1. His excellency is over Israel - His majesty; his glory; his protecting care. The idea is, that his glorious character - his majesty - was manifested particularly in his protection of his people. And his strength is in the clouds - Margin, “heavens.” The Hebrew word rather means “clouds.” The idea is, that while his character as Protector was evinced particularly in his care of his people, his “power” was particularly seen in the clouds - the storm - the thunder - the lightning. Thus, all the manifestations of his character, alike in nature, and toward his people, are adapted to produce a deep and solemn impression in regard to his majesty and glory, or to lay the just foundation of praise.
The words behind it
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| תְּנ֥וּ | tenu | ascribe | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| עֹ֗ז | ʾoz | strength | H5797 → | 92 times |
| לֵֽאלֹ֫הִ֥ים | lelohim | to God | H430 → | 2601 times |
| עַֽל־ | ʾal- | [is] over | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| גַּאֲוָת֑וֹ | gaavato | majesty his | H1346 → | 19 times |
| וְ֝עֻזּ֗וֹ | veuzo | and strength his | H5797 → | 92 times |
| בַּשְּׁחָקִֽים׃ | bashechakim | [is] in the clouds | H7834 → | 21 times |
תְּנ֥וּascribe
tenuH5414 →2011 times
עֹ֗זstrength
ʾozH5797 →92 times
לֵֽאלֹ֫הִ֥יםto God
lelohimH430 →2601 times
עַֽל־[is] over
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
יִשְׂרָאֵ֥לIsrael
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
גַּאֲוָת֑וֹmajesty his
gaavatoH1346 →19 times
וְ֝עֻזּ֗וֹand strength his
veuzoH5797 →92 times
בַּשְּׁחָקִֽים׃[is] in the clouds
bashechakimH7834 →21 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
2 Peter 1:17For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
it leads to
- Mark 9:7
Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!”
- Matthew 17:5
While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”
- Matthew 3:17
And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”
- Luke 3:22
and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
- Luke 9:34–35
While Peter was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.
- Mark 9:7
Through
Psalms 150:1Hallelujah! Praise God in His sanctuary. Praise Him in His mighty heavens.
it leads to
- Psalms 149:1
Hallelujah! Sing to the LORD a new song— His praise in the assembly of the godly.
- Psalms 134:2
Lift up your hands to the sanctuary and bless the LORD!
- Psalms 149:1
Through
Deuteronomy 33:26“There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to your aid, and the clouds in His majesty.
it leads to
- Exodus 15:11
Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders?
- Exodus 15:11
Where this verse is studied
About Psalms
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; 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; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 3; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Homily 7, on Psalm 67; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.