Psalms 68:35

Translation
King James Version
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.
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KJV (with Strong's)
O God H430, thou art terrible H3372 H8737 out of thy holy places H4720: the God H410 of Israel H3478 is he that giveth H5414 H8802 strength H5797 and power H8592 unto his people H5971. Blessed H1288 H8803 be God H430.
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Complete Jewish Bible
How awe-inspiring you are, God, from your holy places, the God of Isra'el, who gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be God!
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Berean Standard Bible
O God, You are awesome in Your sanctuary; the God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!
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American Standard Version
O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: The God of Israel, he giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.
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World English Bible Messianic
You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God!
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Geneva Bible (1599)
O God, thou art terrible out of thine holie places: the God of Israel is hee that giueth strength and power vnto the people: praised be God.
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Young's Literal Translation
Fearful, O God, out of Thy sanctuaries, The God of Israel Himself, Giving strength and might to the people. Blessed is God!
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See also
Psalms 29:11Psalms 65:5Colossians 1:11Isaiah 40:29Philippians 4:13Psalms 66:5Zechariah 10:12
In the KJVVerse 14,936 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Psalms 68:35 provides a climactic and doxological conclusion to a psalm celebrating God's majestic triumphs and unwavering covenant faithfulness. It powerfully declares the awe-inspiring nature of God, whose holiness and formidable presence emanate from His sacred dwelling places. The verse then extols Him as the ultimate and benevolent source of strength and power for His chosen people, Israel, culminating in a resounding call to bless God, thereby encapsulating profound themes of divine sovereignty, gracious provision, and the appropriate human response of worship and gratitude.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Psalm 68 is a complex and ancient processional hymn, often envisioned as accompanying the Ark of the Covenant's journey or celebrating God's victorious leadership. It opens with an invocation for God to arise and scatter His enemies, recalling the Exodus and wilderness wanderings where God led His people triumphantly. The psalm progresses through various historical allusions, celebrating God's dwelling in Zion, His ascension to power, and His gracious provision for the needy. The immediate preceding verses (Psalms 68:32-34) issue a universal call for all kingdoms of the earth to sing praises to God, acknowledging His might and majesty displayed in the heavens. Verse 35, therefore, functions as a powerful, climactic summary and benediction, bringing the psalm to a triumphant close by reiterating God's awe-inspiring presence and His active empowerment of His covenant people. It serves as a final, emphatic declaration of God's unique character and His intimate, empowering relationship with Israel, drawing together the psalm's diverse threads of divine power, presence, and provision.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: This psalm deeply resonates with Israel's foundational historical experiences, including the miraculous deliverance from Egyptian bondage, the journey through the wilderness with the Ark of the Covenant as God's visible presence, and the establishment of Jerusalem as the chosen city for His dwelling. The imagery of God as a "divine warrior" who "rides through the heavens" (Psalms 68:4) and scatters His enemies (Psalms 68:1) would have been profoundly meaningful to an ancient Near Eastern audience familiar with similar divine warrior motifs in surrounding cultures, yet distinct in its monotheistic focus. The "holy places" (Hebrew: miqdashim) could refer to the Tabernacle, the Temple in Jerusalem, or even the heavenly sanctuary, signifying the locus of God's manifest presence and power. The concept of God giving "strength and power" was not merely abstract but critically practical for a nation often facing formidable foes, emphasizing divine enablement for both military victory and daily sustenance. The designation "the God of Israel" underscores His unique covenant relationship established with Abraham, Moses, and David, sharply distinguishing Him from the pantheon of pagan deities.
  • Key Themes: Psalms 68:35 powerfully encapsulates several central themes prevalent throughout the psalm and broader Old Testament theology. Firstly, it underscores Divine Transcendence and Awe, portraying God as "terrible" (awe-inspiring) from His holy dwelling, demanding reverence and worship. This theme is echoed throughout scripture, such as in Isaiah's vision of God's holiness and the trembling of the earth at His presence (Psalms 114:7). Secondly, it highlights God's Covenant Faithfulness and Benevolent Provision, identifying Him as "the God of Israel" who actively "giveth strength and power unto his people." This speaks to His unwavering commitment to His chosen nation, providing them with the necessary resources and enablement to fulfill His purposes and endure trials. This divine enablement is a recurring promise, found for instance in Deuteronomy 8:18 and Isaiah 40:29. Finally, the verse culminates in Doxology and Worship, "Blessed be God," serving as a direct call to praise and thanksgiving for God's character and His mighty acts. This fitting response to divine majesty and grace is a pervasive theme throughout the Psalter, exemplified by the comprehensive call to praise in Psalms 150.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Terrible (Hebrew, yârêʼ', H3372): From the primitive root H3372, yârêʼ means "to fear," "to revere," or "to frighten." In this context, when applied to God, it denotes His overwhelming majesty, unapproachable holiness, and formidable power that evokes profound reverence, awe, and a sense of dread. This is not a negative fear of malevolence, but a recognition of God's absolute sovereignty and might, compelling worship and humble submission. It describes an attribute that inspires astonishment and deep respect.
  • Strength (Hebrew, ʻôz', H5797): ʻôz signifies might, power, vigor, and often refers to inherent fortitude or military prowess. In the context of God, it denotes His intrinsic, unassailable power and His ability to accomplish His will decisively. When God bestows ʻôz upon His people, it implies not only physical fortitude but also moral courage, resilience in the face of adversity, and the capacity to overcome adversaries and fulfill their divine calling.
  • Blessed (Hebrew, bârak', H1288): bârak is a primitive root meaning "to kneel," and by implication, "to bless God" (as an act of adoration) or "man" (as a benefit). In this final exclamation, "Blessed be God," it functions as a doxology, an act of adoring God. It signifies an expression of profound praise, thanksgiving, and acknowledgment of God's supreme goodness and faithfulness, recognizing Him as the source of all blessings.

Verse Breakdown

  • "O God, [thou art] terrible out of thy holy places": This opening clause declares God's awe-inspiring and majestic nature, which emanates from His sacred dwelling. "Holy places" (Hebrew: miqdashim, H4720) refers to sanctuaries or places where God's sacred presence is uniquely manifested, whether the Tabernacle, the Temple, or even the heavenly throne room. The declaration emphasizes that God's majesty and power are not confined but are revealed from His very essence and the loci of His divine presence, inspiring profound reverence and awe. His holiness is so potent that it evokes a sense of dread and wonder in those who encounter it.
  • "the God of Israel [is] he that giveth strength and power unto [his] people": This central declaration shifts from God's inherent nature to His active, benevolent relationship with His chosen nation. Identifying Him as "the God of Israel" (using H410 ʼêl and H3478 Yisrâʼêl) underscores His unique covenant faithfulness and His specific commitment to His people (H5971 ʻam). The phrase "giveth strength (H5797 ʻôz) and power (H8592 taʻătsumâh)" highlights God's active, gracious, and comprehensive provision. He is not a distant deity but one who intimately involves Himself in the lives of His people, empowering them with both the might and the ability necessary to face challenges, fulfill their purpose, and walk in His ways. This strength is multifaceted, encompassing spiritual, moral, and even physical enablement.
  • "Blessed [be] God": This concluding phrase is a classic doxology (H1288 bârak), a direct call to praise and an expression of profound gratitude and adoration. It serves as the appropriate human response to the preceding declarations of God's awe-inspiring majesty and His gracious provision of strength. It encourages a posture of continuous thanksgiving and worship, acknowledging God's supreme goodness and unwavering faithfulness. It is a fitting climax to a psalm that has celebrated God's mighty acts on behalf of His people.

Literary Devices

Psalms 68:35 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message. The most prominent is Doxology, as the verse culminates in the direct praise, "Blessed be God," a common feature in psalms and ancient Near Eastern hymns to conclude a section or an entire composition with an expression of worship and adoration. The description of God as "terrible" (awe-inspiring) from His "holy places" strongly implies Theophany, a manifestation or appearance of God, often accompanied by displays of overwhelming power and majesty that evoke fear and reverence. The phrase "the God of Israel" functions as a potent Divine Epithet, emphasizing God's unique covenant relationship, historical identity, and exclusive claim over His chosen nation. There is a subtle form of Hendiadys in the pairing of "strength and power," where two closely related terms are used together to emphasize the comprehensive and multifaceted nature of God's enablement. The overall tone is one of profound Exaltation, lifting up God's character and actions as supremely worthy of ultimate praise and adoration.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Psalms 68:35 stands as a profound theological statement, affirming God's absolute sovereignty, His unapproachable holiness, and His intimate, empowering relationship with His covenant people. It teaches that true strength and capability do not originate from human effort or worldly might, but are a divine bestowal, flowing from the very presence of the awesome God. This truth underpins the entire biblical narrative, where God consistently equips His chosen ones for His purposes, demonstrating His faithfulness through their weakness. The verse calls believers to a posture of reverent awe, recognizing God's transcendence, coupled with confident trust in His immanent provision. It reminds us that the appropriate response to such a mighty and gracious God is ceaseless praise and blessing, acknowledging His unique identity as the God who both inspires terror and imparts strength.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

For believers today, Psalms 68:35 offers profound encouragement and a vital call to worship. In a world that often values self-reliance, external displays of power, and human achievement, this verse redirects our gaze to the true source of all strength: the awe-inspiring God of Israel. When we face overwhelming challenges, personal weaknesses, spiritual battles, or the daunting call to live faithfully in a fallen world, we are powerfully reminded that our God is the one who "giveth strength and power unto his people." This divine enablement is not merely for grand, historical victories, but for the daily grind, for enduring trials, for resisting temptation, for exercising spiritual gifts, and for faithfully living out our calling. It cultivates a deep sense of reverent awe, recognizing that the God who empowers us is also the holy, transcendent Creator whose majesty demands our worship, not just our requests. Therefore, our response should always be one of "Blessed be God"—a continuous outpouring of praise and thanksgiving for His character, His mighty acts, and His unwavering faithfulness in empowering us for His glory, regardless of our circumstances.

Questions for Reflection

  • In what specific areas of your life do you most acutely feel a need for God's empowering strength and power?
  • How does understanding God as "terrible" (awe-inspiring) from His "holy places" deepen your reverence and worship of Him, moving beyond mere intellectual assent to profound adoration?
  • What does it mean practically to receive "strength and power" from God in your daily walk, beyond just physical or material provision, encompassing spiritual resilience and moral courage?
  • How can you cultivate a more consistent posture of "Blessed be God" in both your times of triumph and your moments of weakness, making praise a reflex rather than a last resort?

FAQ

What does "terrible" mean in Psalms 68:35?

Answer: In the King James Version, "terrible" does not carry its modern negative connotation of frightening or evil. Instead, it translates the Hebrew word yârêʼ (H3372), which means "to fear," "to revere," or "to be dreadful." When applied to God, as it is here, it signifies His immense, overwhelming majesty, holiness, and power that evokes profound reverence, astonishment, and a sense of awe. It speaks to His unapproachable glory and the fearful respect He commands, as seen in other passages describing God's presence, such as when dread and awe fell upon the enemies of Israel at the Red Sea. It highlights God's majestic and fearsome presence in a way that inspires worship and deep respect, not negative dread or malevolence.

How does God give strength and power to His people today?

Answer: God continues to give strength and power to His people in various, profound ways. Spiritually, He empowers believers through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, enabling them to live righteously, overcome sin, and bear spiritual fruit, as Paul prayed that believers would be strengthened with power through His Spirit in their inner being. Emotionally and mentally, He provides peace and resilience in times of trial, enabling them to endure and find hope, as the Apostle Paul declared, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". Practically, He equips believers with diverse gifts and abilities to serve Him and others, urging them to use their gifts to serve one another. Ultimately, this strength is not self-generated but is a divine impartation, allowing believers to accomplish His will and glorify His name, often made perfect in their weakness, as God told Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness".

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Psalms 68:35 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "terrible" (awe-inspiring) God, whose majesty emanates from His holy places, is perfectly revealed in Jesus, who is the "radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being" (Hebrews 1:3). While the Old Testament reveals God's power in judgment and deliverance, Christ demonstrates this power supremely in His triumph over sin and death through His crucifixion and resurrection, and His ascension to the heavenly "holy places" where He now intercedes for us (Hebrews 9:24). Furthermore, the promise that "the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people" is fulfilled in Christ, who, through the Holy Spirit, empowers His new covenant people—the Church. It is through union with Christ that believers receive spiritual strength to overcome temptation (Philippians 4:13), resilience in suffering (2 Corinthians 12:9-10), and the power to live a life pleasing to God, being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might. The concluding doxology, "Blessed be God," becomes a blessing of God the Father, through God the Son, by the power of God the Holy Spirit, for all the strength, salvation, and eternal life we receive in Him.

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Commentary on Psalms 68 verses 32–35

The psalmist, having prayed for and prophesied of the conversion of the Gentiles, here invites them to come in and join with the devout Israelites in praising God, intimating that their accession to the church would be the matter of their joy and praise (Psa 68:32): Let the kingdoms of the earth sing praises to the Lord; they all ought to do it, and, when they become the kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ, they will do it. God is here proposed to them as the proper object of praise upon several accounts:

I. Because of his supreme and sovereign dominion: He rides upon the heavens of heavens which were of old (Psa 68:33); compare Psa 68:4. He has from the beginning, nay from before all time, prepared his throne; he sits on the circuit of heaven, guides all the motions of the heavenly bodies; and from the highest heavens, which are the residence of his glory, he dispenses the influences of his power and goodness to this lower world.

II. Because of his awful and terrible majesty: He sends out his voice, and that a mighty voice. This may refer either generally to the thunder, which is called the voice of the Lord and is said to be powerful and full of majesty (Psa 29:3, Psa 29:4), or in particular to that thunder in which God spoke to Israel at Mount Sinai.

III. Because of his mighty power: Ascribe you strength unto God (Psa 68:34); 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. We must acknowledge his power, 1. In the kingdom of grace: His excellency is over Israel; he shows his sovereign care in protecting and governing his church; that is the excellency of his power, which is employed for the good of his people. 2. In the kingdom of providence: His strength is in the clouds, whence comes the thunder of his power, the small rain, and the great rain of his strength. Though God has his strength in the clouds, yet he condescends to gather his Israel under the shadow of his wings, Deu 33:26.

IV. Because of the glory of his sanctuary and the wonders wrought there (Psa 68:35): O God! thou art terrible out of thy holy places. God is to be admired and adored with reverence and godly fear by all those that attend him in his holy places, that receive his oracles, that observe his operations according to them, and that pay their homage to him. He displays that out of his holy places which declares aloud that he will be sanctified in those that come nigh unto him. Out of heaven, his holy place above, he does, and will, show himself a terrible God. Nor is any attribute of God more dreadful to sinners than his holiness.

V. Because of the grace bestowed upon his people: The God of Israel is he that gives strength and power unto his people, which the gods of the nations, that were vanity and a lie, could not give to their worshippers; how should they help them, when they could not help themselves? All Israel's strength against their enemies came from God; they owned they had no might of their own, Ch2 20:12. And all our sufficiency for our spiritual work and warfare is from the grace of God. It is through Christ strengthening us that we can do all things, and not otherwise; and therefore he must have the glory of all we do (Psa 115:1) and our humble thanks for enabling us to do it and accepting the work of his own hands in us. If it be the God of Israel that vies strength and power unto his people, they ought to say, Blessed be God. If all be from him, let all be to him.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 32–35. Public domain.
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Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 68
Lastly, lest of anything else the clouds be understood, he has in continuation added, "Wonderful is God in His saints, the God of Israel" [Psalm 68:35]. For at that time even most truly and most fully there shall be fulfilled the name Israel itself, which is one "seeing God:" for we shall see Him as He is. [1 John 3:2] "He Himself shall give virtue and strength to His people, blessed be God:" to His people now frail and weak. For "we have this treasure in earthen vessels." [2 Corinthians 4:7] But then by a most glorious changing even of our bodies, "He Himself shall give virtue and strength to His people." For this body is sown in weakness, shall rise in virtue. [1 Corinthians 15:43] He Himself then shall give the virtue which in His own flesh He has sent before, whereof the Apostle says, "the power of His Resurrection." [Philippians 3:10] But strength whereby shall be destroyed the enemy death. [1 Corinthians 15:26] Now then of this long and difficultly understood Psalm we have at length by His own aid made an end. "Blessed be God. Amen."
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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