Psalms 68:1

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. A song.

1 [a]May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him.

Psalms 68:1 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
1 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate him shall flee before him!
New Living Translation (NLT)
1 Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies. Let those who hate God run for their lives.
The Message Bible (MSG)
1 Up with God! Down with his enemies! Adversaries, run for the hills!
American Standard Version (ASV)
1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; Let them also that hate him flee before him.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
1 God will arise. His enemies will be scattered. Those who hate him will flee from him.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
1 God arises. His enemies scatter, and those who hate Him flee from His presence.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
1 May God rise up and scatter his enemies. May they turn and run away from him.

Psalms 68:1 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 68:1

Let God arise
Which, as Kimchi observes, is either by way of prayer, or by way of prophecy; and in either way the sense is the same: for, if it is considered as a prayer, it is a prayer of faith that so it would be; or, if as a prophecy, it is certain that so it should be. And this is to be understood of the same divine Person, whose chariots the angels are; who is said to be the "Adonai", or "Lord" in the midst of them; and of whom it is prophesied that he should ascend to heaven, ( Psalms 68:17 Psalms 68:18 ) ; even the Messiah, who is God over all. And this "arising", attributed to him, may be interpreted either of his incarnation, his exhibition and manifestation in the flesh; which is sometimes called in Scripture a raising of him up, as in ( Acts 3:26 ) ( 13:23 ) ; or of his resurrection from the dead, as it is interpreted by many of the ancients; which, as it was a certain thing, and previous to his ascension hereafter spoken of, so it was a proof of his deity; for though it was only the man that rose, who died and was buried, yet as in union with the divine Person of the Son of God, and who rose by virtue of that union; and thereby he was declared to be the Son of God with power. Or else rather this is to be understood of his arising and exerting his power as a man of war, as a mighty and victorious hero, on the behalf of his people, and against his enemies; as he did when he arose and met Satan, the prince of the world, and engaged with all the powers of darkness; see ( Psalms 45:3 Psalms 45:4 ) ( John 14:30 John 14:31 ) ; and this sense is confirmed by what follows:

let his enemies be scattered; let them also that hate him flee before
him:
the sense of these two clauses is the same; his enemies, and those that hate him, are the same persons; and to be scattered and flee express the same things; for enemies, being discomfited, flee and scatter. Some interpret this of the watch set to guard our Lord's sepulchre; who, upon his rising from the dead, were filled with great fear and dread, and scattered, and fled to the priests, to acquaint them with what was done: others, of the Jewish nation in general, who were enemies to Christ; and hated him, and would not have him to reign over them; against whom he rose up and exerted his great strength; came in his kingdom and power against them; poured out his wrath upon them to the uttermost; which issued in the utter destruction of them, as a body politic; and in the entire dispersion of them in all countries, which remains until quite recently. Or rather the whole is to be applied to Satan, and to his principalities and powers; the professed enemies of Christ, personal and mystical; who, when he arose and exerted his mighty power in his conflict with them, in the garden and on the cross, were spoiled and dissipated, and obliged to fly before him: and who at the same time overcame the world, made an end of sin, abolished death, as well as destroyed him which had the power of it; see ( Numbers 10:35 ) .

Psalms 68:1 In-Context

1 May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him.
2 May you blow them away like smoke— as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.
3 But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.
4 Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds ; rejoice before him—his name is the LORD.
5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Psalms 12:5; Psalms 132:8
  • 2. Psalms 18:14; Psalms 89:10; Psalms 92:9; Psalms 144:6
  • 3. Numbers 10:35; Isaiah 17:13; Isaiah 21:15; Isaiah 33:3

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. In Hebrew texts 68:1-35 is numbered 68:2-36.
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